UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (date of earliest event reported): July 29, 2014

 

 

TETRA Technologies, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-13455   74-2148293
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

24955 Interstate 45 North

The Woodlands, Texas 77380

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (281) 367-1983

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Purchase Agreement

On July 29, 2014, Compressco Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”) and a consolidated subsidiary of TETRA Technologies, Inc. (“TETRA”), Compressco Finance Inc., a Delaware corporation and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership (“Compressco Finance” and, together with the Partnership, the “Issuers”), and the guarantors named therein (the “Guarantors” and, together with the Issuers, the “Obligors”), entered into the Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated on behalf of the initial purchasers named therein (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”) related to the issuance and sale by the Issuers to the Initial Purchasers of $350 million aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Notes”) in a private offering (the “Offering”) exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). TETRA is not a party to the Purchase Agreement and is not an Obligor with respect to the Notes.

The Issuers closed the Offering on August 4, 2014. Their obligations under the Notes are jointly and severally, and fully and unconditionally, guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis initially by each of the Partnership’s domestic restricted subsidiaries (other than Compressco Finance) that guarantee the Partnership’s other indebtedness. The Notes and the subsidiary guarantees thereof (together, the “Securities”) were issued pursuant to an indenture described below under “Indenture.”

The Initial Purchasers intend to resell the Securities (i) to “qualified institutional buyers,” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”), in private sales exempt from registration under the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144A, and (ii) to investors other than U.S. persons, pursuant to offers and sales that occur outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The offer and sale of the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws, and the Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws.

The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the parties thereto and indemnification and contribution provisions under which the Obligors, on one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other, have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In addition, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, upon closing of the Offering, the Obligors entered into the Registration Rights Agreement (defined below) pursuant to which they agreed to conduct a registered exchange offer to exchange the Securities for similar securities that are free of transfer restrictions under the Securities Act, or otherwise register the resale of the Securities under the Securities Act. The Registration Rights Agreement is further described below under “Registration Rights Agreement.”

The Partnership used the net proceeds of the Offering of approximately $334.8 million (after deducting estimated fees and offering expenses) to fund a portion of the $825.0 million cash purchase price for the acquisition (the “CSI Acquisition”) of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Compressor Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CSI”), to pay certain acquisition expenses and to repay a portion of outstanding borrowings under the Partnership’s existing credit facility.

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, CSI and any domestic subsidiaries of CSI required to guarantee the Notes pursuant to the indenture governing the Notes were joined as parties to the Purchase Agreement pursuant to a purchase agreement joinder, dated August 4, 2014 (the “Joinder Agreement”).

The description set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Purchase Agreement and the Joinder Agreement, copies of which are filed as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2, respectively, hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.

Indenture

The Obligors issued the Securities pursuant to the Indenture dated as of August 4, 2014 (the “Indenture”) by and among the Obligors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Notes accrue interest at a rate of 7.25% per annum. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning February 15, 2015. The Notes are scheduled to mature on August 15, 2022.

 

2


On and after August 15, 2017, the Partnership may on one or more occasions redeem the notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30-days’ nor more than 60-days’ prior notice, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest and liquidated damages thereon, if any, to the applicable redemption date, subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on August 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Date

   Price  

2017

     105.438

2018

     103.625

2019

     101.813

2020 and thereafter

     100.000

In addition, any time or from time to time before August 15, 2017, the Partnership may redeem all or a part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to the Make-Whole Price, subject to the rights of holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date. “Make-Whole Price” with respect to any Notes to be redeemed, means an amount equal to the greater of: (1) 100% of the principal amount of such Notes, and (2) the sum of the present values of (a) the redemption price of such Notes at August 15, 2017 (as set forth above) and (b) the remaining scheduled payments of interest from the redemption date to August 15, 2017 (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the redemption date) discounted back to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined in the Indenture) plus 50 basis points; plus, in the case of both (1) and (2), accrued and unpaid interest and liquidated damages on such Notes, if any, to the redemption date.

Prior to August 15, 2017, the Partnership may on one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the principal amount of the Notes with an amount of cash not greater than the amount of the net cash proceeds from one or more equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 107.250% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and liquidated damages, if any, to the date of redemption, subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, as long as (a) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued on the issue date (excluding notes held by the Partnership and its subsidiaries) remains outstanding after each such redemption; and (b) the redemption occurs within 180 days after the date of the closing of the equity offering.

If the Partnership experiences certain kinds of changes of control, each holder of the Notes will be entitled to require the Partnership to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of that holder’s Notes pursuant to an offer on the terms set forth in the Indenture. The Partnership will offer to make a cash payment equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and liquidated damages, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of repurchase, subject to the rights of holders of the Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

The Indenture contains customary covenants restricting the Partnership’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to: (i) pay dividends and make certain distributions, investments and other restricted payments; (ii) incur additional indebtedness or issue certain preferred shares; (iii) create certain liens; (iv) sell assets; (v) merge, consolidate, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets; (vi) enter into transactions with affiliates; and (vii) designate its subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries under the Indenture. These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions, including certain provisions permitting the Partnership, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, to transfer assets to certain of its unrestricted subsidiaries. Moreover, if the Notes receive an investment grade rating from at least two rating agencies and no default has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture, many of the restrictive covenants in the Indenture will be terminated. The Indenture also contains customary events of default and acceleration provisions relating to such events of default, which provide that upon an event of default under the Indenture, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may declare all amounts owing under the Notes to be due and payable.

 

3


The description set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indenture (including the forms of Global Notes attached as exhibits thereto), a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the Offering of the Notes, the Obligors entered into the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 4, 2014 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the Initial Purchasers, obligating the Obligors to use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) registering an exchange offer by the Obligors that would allow holders of the Securities to exchange their restricted Securities for registered freely tradable notes having substantially the same terms as the Securities and evidencing the same indebtedness as the restricted Securities. Under certain circumstances, in lieu of a registered exchange offer, the Obligors must use commercially reasonable efforts to file a shelf registration statement for the resale of the Securities. If, among other things, such exchange offer registration statement is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to 365 days after the closing of the Offering, or the exchange offer has not been consummated within 30 business days following the expiration of the 365-day period following the closing of the Offering to have an exchange offer registration statement declared effective by the SEC, the Obligors will be required to pay to the holders of the Notes liquidated damages in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum on the principal amount of the Notes held by such holder during the 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such registration default, and if such registration default is not cured, such amount of liquidated damages shall increase by 0.25% per annum at the end of such 90-day period, such that the maximum amount of liquidated damages for all registration defaults would be one-half of one percent (0.5%) per annum.

The description set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.2 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

New Credit Agreement

On August 4, 2014, the Partnership and Compressco Partners Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership (“Compressco Sub”), as borrowers, entered into a Credit Agreement (the “New Credit Agreement”) with the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”), Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent, collateral agent, letter of credit issuer and swing line issuer, and the other parties thereto. All of the Partnership’s obligations under the New Credit Agreement will be guaranteed by all of its existing and future domestic subsidiaries (other than domestic subsidiaries that are wholly owned by foreign subsidiaries). The New Credit Agreement will include a maximum credit commitment of $400.0 million available for letters of credit (with a sublimit to be determined) and swingline loans (with a sublimit of $60.0 million). Such maximum credit commitment may be increased by $150.0 million in accordance with the terms and conditions of the New Credit Agreement. After giving effect to the initial borrowings under the New Credit Agreement and the other transactions on the closing of the CSI Acquisition, total borrowings under the New Credit Agreement shall be no more than $250.0 million and the remaining availability may not be less than $150.0 million.

The Partnership may borrow funds under the New Credit Agreement to fund, in part, the CSI Acquisition and related acquisition expenses, to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the CSI Acquisition or the Offering or the Partnership’s entry into the New Credit Agreement, to repay in full all borrowings outstanding under its existing credit facility, for the Partnership’s working capital needs and for general partnership purposes. So long as the Partnership is not in default, at the option of the board of directors of Compressco Partners GP Inc., a Delaware corporation and the Partnership’s sole general partner (the “General Partner”), the Partnership may also borrow funds under the New Credit Agreement to fund its quarterly distributions (provided that, after giving effect to such distributions, the Partnership will be in compliance with the financial covenants of the New Credit Agreement). TETRA is not party to the New Credit Agreement and has no obligations with respect to the indebtedness thereunder.

The maturity date of the New Credit Agreement is August 4, 2019.

 

4


Borrowings under the New Credit Agreement will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to, at the option of the Partnership, either (i) London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) (adjusted to reflect any required bank reserves) for an interest period equal to one, two, three or six months (as selected by the Partnership, subject to availability) plus a leverage-based margin or (ii) a base rate plus a leverage-based margin; such base rate shall be determined by reference to the highest of (a) the prime rate of interest announced from time to time by Bank of America, N.A., (b) the Federal Funds (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) rate plus 0.50% per annum and (c) LIBOR (adjusted to reflect any required bank reserves) for a one-month interest period on such day plus 1.00% per annum. Initially, from August 4, 2014 until the delivery of the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, LIBOR-based loans will have an applicable margin of 2.75% per annum and base-rate loans will have an applicable margin of 1.75% per annum; thereafter, the applicable margin will range between 1.75% and 2.50% per annum for LIBOR-based loans and 0.75% and 1.50% per annum for base-rate loans, according to consolidated total leverage ratio when financial statements are delivered. In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the New Credit Agreement, the Partnership will be required to pay a commitment fee in respect of the unutilized commitments thereunder, initially at the rate of 0.50% per annum until the delivery of the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 and thereafter at the applicable rate ranging from 0.375% to 0.50% per annum, paid quarterly in arrears based on the Partnership’s consolidated total leverage ratio. The Partnership will also be required to pay a customary letter of credit fee equal to the applicable margin on revolving credit LIBOR loans and fronting fees.

The New Credit Agreement will require the Partnership to maintain (i) a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio (ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest charges) of 3.0 to 1.0, (ii) a maximum consolidated total leverage ratio (ratio of consolidated total indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA) of 5.5 to 1.0 (with step downs to 5.0 to 1.0), and (iii) a maximum consolidated secured leverage ratio (consolidated secured indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA) of 4.0 to 1.0, in each case, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, calculated on a trailing four-quarters basis. In addition, the New Credit Agreement will include customary negative covenants that, among other things, may limit the ability of the Partnership to incur additional debt, incur or permit certain liens to exist, or make certain loans, investments, acquisitions or other restricted payments. The New Credit Agreement provides that the Partnership may make distributions to holders of its common and subordinated units, so long as there is no default under the New Credit Agreement.

All obligations under the New Credit Agreement and the guarantees of those obligations are secured, subject to certain exceptions, by a first-lien security interest in substantially all of the Partnership’s assets and the assets of its existing and future domestic subsidiaries, and all of the capital stock of the Partnership’s existing and future subsidiaries (limited, in the case of foreign subsidiaries, to 65% of the voting stock of first-tier foreign subsidiaries).

Certain of the lenders under the New Credit Agreement and their affiliates have in the past provided, and may from time to time in the future provide, commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services to the Partnership and TETRA. They have received, and may receive in the future, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

The description set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the New Credit Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

On August 4, 2014, in connection with its entry into the New Credit Agreement, the Partnership repaid all outstanding borrowings and obligations under its existing credit facility, and terminated this credit facility.

 

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets

As previously disclosed in Item 1.01 of the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 21, 2014, Compressco Sub entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Warren Equipment Company, a Delaware corporation, on July 20, 2014, for the CSI Acquisition. On August 4, 2014, Compressco Sub completed the CSI Acquisition and, as of the closing of the CSI Acquisition, CSI and its subsidiaries became indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of the Partnership.

 

5


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

Issuance of Notes

The information set forth under the headings “Purchase Agreement,” “Indenture” and “Registration Rights Agreement” in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is hereby incorporated by reference in this Item 2.03 hereof.

Credit Agreement

The information set forth under the heading “New Credit Agreement” in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is hereby incorporated by reference in this Item 2.03 hereof.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On August 4, 2014, TETRA issued a press release announcing the closing of the CSI Acquisition, as disclosed in Item 2.01 hereof. A copy of this press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

6


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a)-(b) Financial statements of businesses acquired; Pro forma financial information.

Pursuant to Item 9.01(a)(4) and Item 9.01(b)(2) of Form 8-K, TETRA will amend this filing not later than 71 calendar days after August 8, 2014, to file the financial statements required by Rule 3-05(b) of Regulation S-X and Article 11 of Regulation S-X.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

4.1    Indenture, dated as of August 4, 2014, by and among Compressco Partners, L.P., Compressco Finance Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee.
4.2    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2014, by and among Compressco Partners, L.P., Compressco Finance Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the Initial Purchasers named therein.
10.1    Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2014, by and among Compressco Partners, L.P., Compressco Finance Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as representative of the Initial Purchasers named therein.
10.2    Purchase Agreement Joinder, dated as of August 4, 2014, by and among the Guarantors party thereto and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as Representative of the Initial Purchasers named therein.
10.3    Credit Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2014, by and among Compressco Partners, L.P., Compressco Partners Sub, Inc., the lenders from time to time party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the lenders and collateral agent, and the other parties thereto.
99.1    Press Release dated August 4, 2014, announcing the closing of the CSI Acquisition.

 

7


SIGNATURES

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

 

    TETRA Technologies, Inc.
Date: August 4, 2014     By:   /s/ Bass C. Wallace
      Bass C. Wallace
      Sr. Vice President & General Counsel

 

8


E XHIBIT I NDEX

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

4.1    Indenture, dated as of August 4, 2014, by and among Compressco Partners, L.P., Compressco Finance Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee.
4.2    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2014, by and among Compressco Partners, L.P., Compressco Finance Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the Initial Purchasers named therein.
10.1    Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2014, by and among Compressco Partners, L.P., Compressco Finance Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as representative of the Initial Purchasers named therein.
10.2    Purchase Agreement Joinder, dated as of August 4, 2014, by and among the Guarantors party thereto and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as Representative of the Initial Purchasers named therein.
10.3    Credit Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2014, by and among Compressco Partners, L.P., Compressco Partners Sub, Inc., the lenders from time to time party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the lenders and collateral agent, and the other parties thereto.
99.1    Press Release dated August 4, 2014, announcing the closing of the CSI Acquisition.

 

9

Exhibit 4.1

Execution Version

 

 

COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.,

COMPRESSCO FINANCE INC.

AND EACH OF THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO

7.25% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2022

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of August 4, 2014

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Trustee

 

 


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

Trust Indenture

Act Section

   Indenture Section

310(a)(1)

   7.10

      (a)(2)

   7.10

      (a)(3)

   N.A.

      (a)(4)

   N.A.

      (a)(5)

   7.10

      (b)

   7.08; 7.10

      (c)

   N.A.

311(a)

   7.11

      (b)

   7.11

      (c)

   N.A.

312(a)

   2.05

      (b)

   12.03

      (c)

   12.03

313(a)

   7.06

      (b)(2)

   7.06; 7.07

      (c)

   7.06; 12.02

      (d)

   7.06

314(a)

   4.03; 4.04; 12.02; 12.05

      (c)(1)

   12.04

      (c)(2)

   12.04

      (c)(3)

   N.A.

      (e)

   12.05

      (f)

   N.A.

315(a)

   7.01

      (b)

   7.05,12.02

      (c)

   7.01

      (d)

   7.01

      (e)

   6.11

316(a) (last sentence)

   2.09

      (a)(1)(A)

   6.05

      (a)(1)(B)

   6.04

      (a)(2)

   N.A.

      (b)

   6.07; 9.02

      (c)

   2.12; 9.04

317(a)(1)

   6.08

      (a)(2)

   6.09

      (b)

   2.04

318(a)

   12.01

      (b)

   N.A.

      (c)

   12.01

N.A. means not applicable.

 

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


TABLE OF CONTENTS   
         Page  
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
    
Section 1.01   Definitions.      1   
Section 1.02   Other Definitions.      31   
Section 1.03   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.      31   
Section 1.04   Rules of Construction.      32   
ARTICLE 2   
THE NOTES   
Section 2.01   Form and Dating.      32   
Section 2.02   Execution and Authentication.      34   
Section 2.03   Registrar and Paying Agent.      34   
Section 2.04   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.      35   
Section 2.05   Holder Lists.      35   
Section 2.06   Transfer and Exchange.      35   
Section 2.07   Replacement Notes.      48   
Section 2.08   Outstanding Notes.      48   
Section 2.09   Treasury Notes.      48   
Section 2.10   Temporary Notes.      48   
Section 2.11   Cancellation.      49   
Section 2.12   Defaulted Interest.      49   

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

  

  

Section 3.01   Notices to Trustee.      49   
Section 3.02   Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.      49   
Section 3.03   Notice of Redemption.      50   
Section 3.04   Effect of Notice of Redemption.      51   
Section 3.05   Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.      51   
Section 3.06   Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.      51   
Section 3.07   Optional Redemption.      52   

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

  

  

Section 4.01   Payment of Notes.      53   
Section 4.02   Maintenance of Office or Agency.      53   
Section 4.03   Reports.      54   
Section 4.04   Compliance Certificate.      55   
Section 4.05   Taxes.      55   
Section 4.06   Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.      55   
Section 4.07   Restricted Payments.      56   
Section 4.08   Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.      60   
Section 4.09   Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.      62   
Section 4.10   Asset Sales.      65   
Section 4.11   Transactions with Affiliates.      69   
Section 4.12   Liens.      71   

 

i


Section 4.13   Business Activities of Finance Corp.      71   
Section 4.14   Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.      71   
Section 4.15   Additional Note Guarantees.      73   
Section 4.16   Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.      74   
Section 4.17   Termination of Covenants.      74   

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

  

  

Section 5.01   Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Substantially All Assets.      75   
Section 5.02   Successor Entity Substituted.      76   

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

  

  

Section 6.01   Events of Default.      77   
Section 6.02   Acceleration.      79   
Section 6.03   Other Remedies.      79   
Section 6.04   Waiver of Past Defaults.      79   
Section 6.05   Control by Majority.      79   
Section 6.06   Limitation on Suits.      80   
Section 6.07   Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.      80   
Section 6.08   Collection Suit by Trustee.      80   
Section 6.09   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.      80   
Section 6.10   Priorities.      81   
Section 6.11   Undertaking for Costs.      81   

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

  

  

Section 7.01   Duties of Trustee.      82   
Section 7.02   Rights of Trustee.      82   
Section 7.03   Individual Rights of Trustee.      83   
Section 7.04   Trustee’s Disclaimer.      83   
Section 7.05   Notice of Defaults.      83   
Section 7.06   Reports by Trustee to Holders of Notes.      84   
Section 7.07   Compensation and Indemnity.      84   
Section 7.08   Replacement of Trustee.      85   
Section 7.09   Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.      86   
Section 7.10   Eligibility; Disqualification.      86   
Section 7.11   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.      86   

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

  

  

Section 8.01   Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.      86   
Section 8.02   Legal Defeasance and Discharge.      87   
Section 8.03   Covenant Defeasance.      87   
Section 8.04   Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.      87   
Section 8.05   Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.      89   
Section 8.06   Repayment to Company.      89   
Section 8.07   Reinstatement.      89   

 

ii


ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
   
Section 9.01   Without Consent of Holders of Notes.      90   
Section 9.02   With Consent of Holders of Notes.      90   
Section 9.03   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.      92   
Section 9.04   Revocation and Effect of Consents.      92   
Section 9.05   Notation on or Exchange of Notes.      92   
Section 9.06   Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.      92   

ARTICLE 10

NOTE GUARANTEES

  

  

Section 10.01   Guarantee.      93   
Section 10.02   Limitation on Guarantor Liability.      94   
Section 10.03   Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee Notation.      94   
Section 10.04   Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.      95   
Section 10.05   Releases.      95   

ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

  

  

Section 11.01   Satisfaction and Discharge.      96   
Section 11.02   Application of Trust Money.      97   

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

  

  

Section 12.01   Trust Indenture Act Controls.      97   
Section 12.02   Notices.      98   
Section 12.03   Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.      99   
Section 12.04   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.      99   
Section 12.05   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.      99   
Section 12.06   Rules by Trustee and Agents.      100   
Section 12.07   No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders.      100   
Section 12.08   Governing Law.      100   
Section 12.09   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.      100   
Section 12.10   Successors.      100   
Section 12.11   Severability.      100   
Section 12.12   Counterpart Originals.      100   
Section 12.13   Table of Contents, Headings, etc.      100   
EXHIBITS   
Exhibit A1   FORM OF NOTE   
Exhibit A2   FORM OF REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE   
Exhibit B   FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER   
Exhibit C   FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE   
Exhibit D   FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR   
Exhibit E   FORM OF NOTATION OF NOTE GUARANTEE   
Exhibit F   FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE   

 

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INDENTURE dated as of August 4, 2014 among Compressco Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Company ”), Compressco Finance Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Finance Corp. ” and, together with the Company, the “ Issuers ”), the Guarantors (as defined) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

The Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined) of the 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “ Notes ”):

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01 Definitions.

“144A Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

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

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, regardless of whether such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person, but excluding Indebtedness which is extinguished, retired or repaid in connection with such Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person; and

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

“Additional Assets” means:

(1) any property or assets (other than Indebtedness and Capital Stock) to be used by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a Permitted Business;

(2) the Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; or

(3) outstanding Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary held by Persons other than Affiliates; provided that all the Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary held by the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiaries shall entitle the Company or such other Restricted Subsidiary to not less than a pro rata portion of all dividends or other distributions made by such Restricted Subsidiary upon any of such Capital Stock;

provided, however , that, in the case of clauses (2) and (3) above, such Restricted Subsidiary is primarily engaged in a Permitted Business.

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

 

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“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

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

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

“Asset Sale means:

(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights by the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by Section 4.14 and/or Section 5.01 and not by Section 4.10; and

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

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

(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having a Fair Market Value of less than $10.0 million;

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

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

(4) the sale, lease or other disposition of equipment, inventory, products, services, accounts receivable or other assets in the ordinary course of business (including in connection with any compromise, settlement or collection of accounts receivable), and any sale or other disposition of damaged, worn-out or obsolete assets or assets that are no longer useful in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the abandonment or other disposition of intellectual property that is, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, no longer economically practicable to maintain or useful in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole);

(5) (a) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents, and (b) the sale or disposition of obligations under Hedging Contracts or other financial instruments in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(6) (a) a Restricted Payment that does not violate Section 4.07, including, without limitation, the issuance or sale of Equity Interests or the sale, lease or other disposition of products, services, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other assets pursuant to any such Restricted Payment, or (b) a Permitted Investment, including, without limitation, unwinding any obligations under Hedging Contracts, and including the issuance or sale of Equity Interests or the sale, lease or other disposition of products, services, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other assets pursuant to any such Permitted Investment;

(7) the creation or perfection of a Lien that is not prohibited by Section 4.12, including a Permitted Lien and the exercise by any Person in whose favor a Permitted Lien is granted of any of its rights in respect of that Permitted Lien;

(8) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;

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

(10) the grant in the ordinary course of business of any licenses or sublicenses of patents, trademarks, registrations therefor, software and other intellectual property;

(11) the issuance, sale or other disposition of Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(12) any trade or exchange by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of assets for properties or assets owned or held by another Person used or useful in a Permitted Business (including Capital Stock of a Person engaged primarily in a Permitted Business that is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary within 180 days of such trade or exchange); provided that (a) the assets or properties exchanged or received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may not include cash or Cash Equivalents except for relatively minor amounts necessary in order to achieve an exchange of equivalent value and (b) the Fair Market Value of the assets traded or exchanged by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (together with any cash or Cash Equivalents to be delivered by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary) is reasonably equivalent to the Fair Market Value of the assets (together with any cash or Cash Equivalents) to be received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary; and provided, further , that any cash received must be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10.

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

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

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms “ Beneficially Owns ” and “ Beneficially Owned ” have correlative meanings. For purposes of this definition, a Person shall be deemed not to Beneficially Own securities that are the subject of a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement, amalgamation agreement, arrangement agreement or similar agreement until consummation of the transactions or, as applicable, series of related transactions contemplated thereby.

 

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Board of Directors means:

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

(2) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership;

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

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

So long as the Company is organized as a limited partnership, references to its Board of Directors are to the Board of Directors of the General Partner.

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

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

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

Capital Stock means:

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

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

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

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock, regardless of whether such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

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Cash Equivalents means:

(1) United States dollars;

(2) Government Securities having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;

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

(4) certificates of deposit, demand deposit accounts and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million and a Thomson BankWatch Rating of “B” or better;

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

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

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

(8) deposits in any currency available for withdrawal on demand with any commercial bank that is organized under the laws of any country in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary maintains its chief executive office or is engaged in a Permitted Business; provided that all such deposits are made in such accounts in the ordinary course of business.

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

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

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

(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than a Qualifying Owner, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the General Partner, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like; or

(4) the removal of the General Partner by the limited partners of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement.

 

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

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, S.A.

Company” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Indenture.

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means, with respect to Notes to be redeemed, the U.S. Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to August 15, 2017, that would be utilized at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity; provided that if such period is less than one year, then the U.S. Treasury security having a maturity of one year shall be used.

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Trustee obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

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

(1) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale (together with any related provision for taxes and any related non-recurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write-off of deferred financing costs or other financial recapitalization charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity), to the extent that such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

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

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

(4) depreciation, depletion, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period), abandonment, impairment, non-cash equity based compensation expense and other non-cash items (excluding

 

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

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

(6) all extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items of loss or expense and, without duplication, Transaction Costs, in each case, to the extent decreasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period; minus

(7) all extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items of gain or revenue increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period; minus

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

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

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

(1) the net income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included, but only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person;

(2) the net income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person that is not a Guarantor will be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that net income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, partners or members; provided , however , that the operation of this clause (2) shall be suspended with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary that is acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (regardless of whether such acquisition is effected pursuant to a merger or otherwise), but such suspension shall cease immediately after the first six months following such acquisition;

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

(4) any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any property, plant or equipment of such Person or its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any sale and leaseback transaction) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person will be excluded;

 

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(5) any unrealized losses and gains for such period under derivative instruments included in the determination of Consolidated Net Income, including, without limitation, those resulting from the application of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 815, will be excluded;

(6) all non-cash equity-based compensation expense, including all non-cash charges related to restricted Equity Interests and redeemable Equity Interests granted to officers, directors and employees, will be excluded;

(7) any charges associated with any write-down, amortization or impairment of goodwill or other tangible or intangible assets will be excluded; and

(8) any non-cash or other charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write off of deferred financing costs or other financial recapitalization charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity (including, without limitation, premiums or penalties paid to counterparties in connection with the breakage, termination or unwinding of Hedging Contracts) will be excluded.

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets means, with respect to any Person at any date of determination, the aggregate amount of total assets included in such Person’s most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, after deducting therefrom the following amounts: (a) all current liabilities reflected in such balance sheet (other than (i) any current liabilities that by their terms are extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than 12 months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed and (ii) current maturities of long-term debt) and (b) the value, net of any applicable reserves, of all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and other like intangible assets reflected in such balance sheet.

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

“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” means the office of the Trustee at its address specified in Section 12.02 or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

Credit Agreement means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of August 4, 2014 among the Company and a syndicate of lenders including Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent, collateral agent, letter of credit issuer and swing line lender, including any related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

Credit Facilities ” means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement), indentures or commercial paper facilities or secured or unsecured capital markets financings, in each case, with banks or other institutional lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, capital market financings, private placements, receivables financing (including, without limitation, through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including refinancing with any capital markets transaction or otherwise by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

 

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

Customary Recourse Exceptions ” means, with respect to any Non-Recourse Debt of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture, (i) Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Joint Venture owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent securing otherwise Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture and (ii) exclusions from the exculpation provisions with respect to such Non-Recourse Debt for the voluntary bankruptcy of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture, fraud, misapplication of cash, environmental claims, waste, willful destruction and other circumstances customarily excluded by lenders from exculpation provisions or included in separate indemnification agreements in non-recourse financings.

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

“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06, substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

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

Designated Non-cash Consideration means consideration (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of an Asset Sale that is so designated by the Company as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate that sets forth the Fair Market Value of such consideration (as determined in good faith by the Company) at the time such Asset Sale is consummated; provided, however, that no such consideration may be so designated, unless the sum of the Fair Market Value thereof and the Fair Market Value of all other consideration previously so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents previously received in connection with a sale of any previously received Designated Non-cash Consideration, does not exceed the greater of (i) $15.0 million and (ii) 2% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being determined in good faith by the Company at the time received in respect of an Asset Sale, and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).

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

 

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

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

Equity Offering ” means a sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) made for cash on a primary basis by the Company after the Issue Date.

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

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

“Exchange Notes” means an issue of notes with terms identical to the Notes (except that the Exchange Notes will not be subject to restrictions on transfer, registration rights or Liquidated Damages) issued in an Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 2.06(f).

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

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

“Existing Indebtedness” means the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, intercompany Indebtedness, the Notes and the Note Guarantees) in existence on the Issue Date, until such amounts are repaid.

Fair Market Value ” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company in the case of amounts of $30.0 million or more and otherwise by an officer of the General Partner (unless otherwise provided in this Indenture).

FASB ASC 815 ” means Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 815.

Finance Corp. ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Indenture.

Fitch ” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. or any successor to the ratings business thereof.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means with respect to any specified Person for any four-quarter reference period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, Guarantees, repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges

 

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any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “ Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the average rate in effect from the beginning of such period to the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any interest Hedging Contract applicable to such Indebtedness, but if the remaining term of such interest Hedging Contract is less than twelve months, then such interest Hedging Contract shall only be taken into account for that portion of the period equal to the remaining term thereof). If any Indebtedness that is being given pro forma effect bears an interest rate at the option of such Person, the interest rate shall be calculated by applying such option rate chosen by such Person. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a Eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as such Person may designate.

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

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers, consolidations or otherwise (including acquisitions of assets used or useful in a Permitted Business), or any Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and including in each case any related financing transactions (including repayment of Indebtedness) and including increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period, including any Consolidated Cash Flow and any pro forma expense and cost reductions or operating improvements and synergies that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur within the next 12 months, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of such Person or of its general partner, if applicable (regardless of whether those pro forma expenses, cost reductions, operating improvements or synergies could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the SEC related thereto);

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

(1) the consolidated interest expense (less interest income) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (excluding write-off of deferred financing costs and accretion of interest charges on future retirement benefits and other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, but including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Contracts in respect of interest rates; plus

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

(3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, regardless of whether such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

(4) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and regardless of whether in cash, on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person,

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

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, that are in effect from time to time. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture will be computed in conformity with GAAP. At any time after the Issue Date, the Company may elect to apply International Financial Reporting Standards (“ IFRS ”) accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture); provided that any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable; provided, further , that any calculation or determination in this Indenture that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Company’s election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company shall give written notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Trustee and the Holders of Notes.

 

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General Partner ” means Compressco Partners GP Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of the Company or as the business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of the Company.

“Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(2) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

“Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, Section 2.06(b)(3), Section 2.06(b)(4), Section 2.06(d)(2), Section 2.06(d)(3) or Section 2.06(f).

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

Guarantee ” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness. When used as a verb, “ Guarantee ” has a correlative meaning.

Guarantors ” means any of: (1) the Subsidiaries of the Company, other than Finance Corp., executing this Indenture as initial Guarantors; and (2) the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that become Guarantors in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns, in each case, until the Note Guarantee of such Person has been released in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

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

(1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements;

(2) foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements;

(3) any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of Hydrocarbons used, produced, processed or sold by that Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time; and

(4) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk or protect such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in commodity prices or currency exchange rates.

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

Hydrocarbons ” means crude oil, natural gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all constituents, elements or compounds thereof and products refined or processed therefrom.

 

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IAI Global Note ” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold to Institutional Accredited Investors.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, regardless of whether contingent:

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

(2) evidenced by or issued in exchange for bonds, notes, credit agreements, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

(3) in respect of bankers’ acceptances;

(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations;

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

(6) representing any obligations under Hedging Contracts,

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and obligations under Hedging Contracts) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes (a) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (regardless of whether such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person); provided , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (i) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination and (ii) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person, and (b) to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person. Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to the effects of FASB ASC 815 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness.

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

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

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

(3) in the case of any letter of credit, the face amount thereof;

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

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

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

 

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall not constitute “Indebtedness:”

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

(ii) any indebtedness that has been defeased in accordance with GAAP or defeased pursuant to the deposit of cash or Government Securities (in an amount sufficient to satisfy all such indebtedness obligations at maturity or redemption, as applicable, and all payments of interest and premium, if any) in a trust or account created or pledged for the sole benefit of the holders of such indebtedness, and subject to no other Liens, and the other applicable terms of the instrument governing such indebtedness;

(iii) Hydrocarbon balancing liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(iv) any unrealized losses or charges in respect of obligations under Hedging Contracts (including those resulting from the application of the FASB ASC 815) incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(v) any obligations in respect of (a) bid, performance, completion, surety, appeal and similar bonds, (b) bankers’ acceptances, (c) workers’ compensation claims, health or other types of social security benefits, unemployment or other insurance or self-insurance obligations, reclamation and statutory obligations and (d) any Guarantees or standby letters of credit functioning as or supporting any of the foregoing bonds or obligations, to the extent not drawn; provided, however , that such bonds or obligations mentioned in subclause (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this clause (v) are incurred in the ordinary course of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and do not relate to obligations for borrowed money;

(vi) any obligation arising from any agreement providing for indemnities, guarantees, purchase price adjustments, holdbacks, earnouts, contingency payment obligations based on the performance of the acquired or disposed assets or similar obligations (other than Guarantees of Indebtedness) incurred by any Person in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock;

(vii) any obligation arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided that such obligation is extinguished within five Business Days of its incurrence;

(viii) any Treasury Management Arrangement;

(ix) any obligation arising out of advances on trade receivables, factoring of receivables, customer prepayments and similar transactions in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; and

 

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(x) all contracts and other obligations, agreements, instruments or arrangements described in clauses (17), (28) and (29) of the definition of “Permitted Liens.”

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

Independent Investment Banker ” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, RBC Capital Markets LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC or one of their respective successors, or, if such firms or their respective successors, if any, as the case may be, are unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company.

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

“Initial Notes” means the first $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.

“Initial Purchasers” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Capital One Securities Inc. and Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

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

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

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than:

(1) Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s;

(2) BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P; or

(3) BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch,

or, if any such Rating Agency ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the control of the Company, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any other Rating Agency.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding (1) commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business and (2) advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Equity Interests of such

 

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Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07(c). The acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment made by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Investment held by the acquired Person in such third Person on the date of any such acquisition in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07(c). Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment.

Issue Date ” means the first date on which Notes are issued under this Indenture.

Issuers ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Indenture.

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

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

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

“Liquidated Damages” means all liquidated damages then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement .

Make-Whole Price ” with respect to any Notes to be redeemed, means an amount equal to the greater of:

(1) 100% of the principal amount of such Notes; and

(2) the sum of the present values of (a) the redemption price of such Notes at August 15, 2017 (as set forth in Section 3.07(e)) and (b) the remaining scheduled payments of interest from the redemption date to August 15, 2017 (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the redemption date) discounted back to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points;

plus , in the case of both clauses (1) and (2), accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes, if any, to the redemption date.

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

 

 

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Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate amount of cash proceeds and Cash Equivalents received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale, but excluding any non-cash consideration deemed to be cash for purposes of Section 4.10), net of:

(1) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, all legal, accounting, investment banking, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expense incurred, and all federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under GAAP (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing agreements), as a consequence of such Asset Sale;

(2) all payments made on any Indebtedness that is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Sale, in accordance with the terms of such Indebtedness, or that must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Sale, or by applicable law be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Sale;

(3) all distributions and other payments required to be made to holders of minority interests in Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures as a result of such Asset Sale; and

(4) the deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, or held in escrow, in either case for as long as required to be held as reserve or in escrow for adjustment in respect of the sale price or for indemnification or any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Sale.

Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness:

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

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

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

Note Guarantee ” means any Guarantee of the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes by any Guarantor in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

“Notes” has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble of this Indenture.

Obligations ” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person (or, with respect to the Company, so long as it remains a partnership, the General Partner).

 

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Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company or two Officers of the General Partner, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of such Person, that meets the requirements of this Indenture pertaining to such certificates.

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

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

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

Partnership Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Company dated as of June 20, 2011 as in effect on the Issue Date and as such may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

“Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock was Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of:

(1) a Subsidiary prior to the date on which such Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary; or

(2) a Person that was merged or consolidated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

provided that on the date such Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or the date such Person was merged and consolidated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, after giving pro forma effect thereto and to any related financing transaction as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period:

(A) the Restricted Subsidiary or the Company, as applicable, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09; or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Restricted Subsidiary or the Company, as applicable, would be greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for such Restricted Subsidiary or the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

Permitted Business ” means either (a) gathering, transporting, compressing, treating, processing, marketing, distributing, storing or otherwise handling Hydrocarbons, or activities or services reasonably related or ancillary thereto, including entering into obligations under Hedging Contracts in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes to support these businesses and the development, manufacture and sale of equipment or technology related to these activities], or (b) any other business that generates any gross income that constitutes “qualifying income” under Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

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

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

(2) if such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture has outstanding Indebtedness at the time of such Investment, either (a) all such Indebtedness is Non-Recourse Debt or (b) any such Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture that is recourse to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (which shall include, without limitation, all Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture for which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may be directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, obligated to pay, whether pursuant to the terms of such Indebtedness, by law or pursuant to any guarantee, including, without limitation, any “claw-back,” “make-well” or “keep-well” arrangement) could, at the time such Investment is made, be incurred at that time by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a); and

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

Permitted Investments ” means:

(1) any Investment in the Company (including, without limitation, through purchases of Notes) or in a Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

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

(A) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; or

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

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

(5) any Investment in any Person to the extent in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

(6) any Investment received in compromise or resolution of (a) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar

 

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arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer, or as a result of a foreclosure by, or other transfer of title to, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment in default, or (b) litigation, arbitration or other disputes;

(7) Investments represented by obligations under Hedging Contracts;

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

(9) advances to or reimbursements of employees for moving, entertainment and travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business;

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

(11) repurchases of the Notes;

(12) advances and prepayments for asset purchases in the ordinary course of business in a Permitted Business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(13) receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided, however , that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;

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

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

(16) surety and performance bonds and workers’ compensation, utility, lease, tax, performance and similar deposits and prepaid expenses in the ordinary course of business;

(17) guarantees by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of operating leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(18) Permitted Business Investments;

(19) Investments received as a result of the foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

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

(21) other Investments in any Person (including Investments in any Joint Venture) having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (21) that are at the time outstanding, that do not exceed the greater of (a) $35.0 million and (b) 5% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; provided, however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (21) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (21) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary.

Permitted Liens ” means:

(1) any Lien securing Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Facilities that is permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;

(2) Liens in favor of any Issuer or any of the Guarantors;

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

(4) Liens on property (including Capital Stock) existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to such acquisition;

(5) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by clause (4) of the definition of Permitted Debt in Section 4.09(b) covering only the assets acquired with or financed by such Indebtedness;

(6) Liens, pledges or deposits by such Person under workers’ compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits or cash or United States government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import or customs duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(7) landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or similar Liens arising by contract or statute in the ordinary course of business and with respect to amounts that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(8) Liens on any asset or property acquired, constructed or improved by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that:

(A) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Indenture and does not exceed the greater of (i) the cost of the asset or property so acquired, improved or constructed plus related financing costs and (ii) the Fair Market Value of the asset or property so acquired, improved or constructed, measured at the date of such acquisition, or the date of completion of such improvement or construction; and

(B) such Liens are created within 180 days of the later of the acquisition, lease, completion of improvements, development, construction, repairs or additions or commencement of full operation of the assets or property subject to such Lien and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto (including the proceeds thereof, accessions thereto, upgrades thereof and improvements thereto);

(9) Liens to secure Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors permitted under Section 4.09; provided that such Liens may not extend to any property or assets of the Company or any Guarantor other than the Capital Stock of any non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries;

(10) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

(11) Liens to secure the performance of tenders, bids, statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, trade contracts, government contracts, operating leases, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

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

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

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

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

 

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(16) Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law;

(17) Liens arising under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, construction agreements, oil and gas leases, farmout agreements, division orders, contracts for the purchase, gathering, processing, treatment, sale, transportation or exchange of Hydrocarbons, unitization and pooling designations, declarations, orders and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, development agreements, participating agreements, gas balancing agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, and other agreements arising in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are customary in the Permitted Business;

(18) Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture; provided, however , that the new Lien is limited to all or part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to such property or proceeds or distributions thereof) and that such Lien has the same priority as such prior Lien;

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

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

(21) Liens created for the benefit of (or to secure) the Obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes or the Note Guarantees, as the case may be;

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

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

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

(25) Liens to secure performance of obligations under Hedging Contracts of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and/or Obligations with respect to Treasury Management Arrangements, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

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

 

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(27) grants of software and other technology licenses in the ordinary course of business;

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

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

(30) Liens on, or related to, properties or assets to secure all or part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of a Permitted Business for gathering, transporting, compressing, treating, processing, marketing, distributing, storing or otherwise handling Hydrocarbons, or activities or services reasonably related or ancillary thereto, including entering into Hedging Contracts to support these businesses and the development, manufacture or sale of equipment or technology related to these activities;

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

(32) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, with respect to obligations at any one time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (a) $60.0 million and (b) 5% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and

(33) any Lien renewing, extending, refinancing or refunding a Lien permitted by clauses (2) and (3) above, provided that (a) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien is not increased except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection therewith and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (b) no assets encumbered by any such Lien other than the assets permitted to be encumbered immediately prior to such renewal, extension, refinance or refund are encumbered thereby (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof).

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any Disqualified Stock of the Company or any preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary (a) issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease, refund, discharge or otherwise retire for value, in whole or in part, or (b) constituting an amendment, modification or supplement to or a deferral or renewal of (clauses (a) and (b), collectively a “ Refinancing ,” and the term “ Refinanced ” has a correlative meaning) any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness), any Disqualified Stock of the Company or any preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary in a principal amount or, in the case of Disqualified Stock of the Company or preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, liquidation preference, not to exceed (after deduction of reasonable and customary fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Refinancing) the lesser of:

(1) the principal amount, or in the case of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, liquidation preference, of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock so Refinanced (plus in the case of Indebtedness, the amount of premium, if any paid in connection therewith); and

 

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(2) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced was issued with any original issue discount, the accreted value of such Indebtedness (as determined in accordance with GAAP) at the time of such Refinancing.

Notwithstanding the preceding, no Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock will be deemed to be Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, unless:

(A) such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock has a final maturity date no earlier than the final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being Refinanced;

(B) if such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being Refinanced is subordinated or otherwise junior in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, such Indebtedness (and any related Guarantee), Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is subordinated or otherwise junior in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being Refinanced at the time of the Refinancing; and

(C) such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is incurred or issued by the Company or such Indebtedness or preferred stock are incurred or issued by the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being Refinanced or the issuer of the Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being Refinanced; provided that a Restricted Subsidiary that is also a Guarantor may guarantee Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred by the Company, regardless of whether such Restricted Subsidiary was an obligor or guarantor of the Indebtedness being Refinanced.

Notwithstanding the preceding, any Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Agreement pursuant to Section 4.09 shall be subject only to the refinancing provision in the definition of Credit Facilities and not pursuant to the requirements set forth in this definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

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

preferred stock ” of any Person, means (a) Disqualified Stock of such Person and (b) any Capital Stock of such Person of any class or classes (however designated) that ranks prior, as to the payment of dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of such Person, to shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.

Primary Treasury Dealer ” means a U.S. government securities dealer in the City of New York.

“Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(1) to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

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

Qualifying Owners ” means any of (i) TETRA Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiaries, (ii) the officers, directors and management employees of the General Partner, the Company and the subsidiaries of the Company and (iii) any Person controlled by any of the Persons described in any of clauses (i) or (ii) of this definition.

 

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Rating Agency ” means each of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, or if (and only if) any of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch shall not make a rating on the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company, which shall be substituted for S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, as the case may be.

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means each of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, RBC Capital Markets LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and two additional Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Company, and their respective successors; provided , however , that if any such firm or any such successor, as the case may be, shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, no later than the fourth Business Day preceding such redemption date.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Notes issued on the Issue Date, the registration rights agreement dated the Issue Date among the Issuers, the Guarantors on the Issue Date, and the initial purchasers of such Notes that are signatories thereto and (2) with respect to any Additional Notes, any registration rights agreement among the Issuers and the other parties thereto relating to the registration by the Issuers of such Additional Notes under the Securities Act.

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

“Regulation S Global Note” means a Regulation S Temporary Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as appropriate.

“Regulation S Permanent Global Note” means a permanent Global Note in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon expiration of the Restricted Period.

“Regulation S Temporary Global Note” means a temporary Global Note in the form of Exhibit A2 hereto deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

Reporting Default ” means an Event of Default described in subclause (b) of Section 6.01(5).

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

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

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

 

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

“Restricted Note” means a Restricted Definitive Note or a Restricted Global Note.

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

Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

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

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

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

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

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor to the rating business thereof .

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

Senior Debt ” means:

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

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

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

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

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

(B) any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture; or

(C) any trade payables or taxes owed or owing by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

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

 

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

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

Subordinated Debt ” means Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor that is contractually subordinated in right of payment (by its terms or the terms of any document or instrument relating thereto) to the Notes or the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor, as applicable.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

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

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

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

Transaction Costs ” means any legal, professional and advisory fees or other transaction costs and expenses paid (regardless of whether incurred) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with (i) any acquisitions by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) any incurrence of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any refinancing thereof, or any issuance of other equity securities or (iii) any reorganization or recapitalization of the capital structure of the Company, the Company or the General Partner or Subsidiaries thereof, in each case permitted under this Indenture.

Treasury Management Arrangement ” means any agreement or other arrangement governing the provision of treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overdraft, credit or debit card, funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services and other cash management services.

 

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Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(159)” or any successor publication that is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and that establishes yields on actively traded U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the stated maturity, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined, and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date. The Treasury Rate shall be calculated no later than the fourth Business Day preceding the redemption date.

“Trustee” means the party named as such in the preamble of this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

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

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

“Unrestricted Note” means an Unrestricted Definitive Note or an Unrestricted Global Note.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp.) that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

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

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

(3) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except to the extent such Guarantee or credit support would be released upon such designation.

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

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

Voting Stock ” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person entitling the holders thereof (whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of Capital Stock has

 

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voting power by reason of any contingency) to vote in the election of members of the Board of Directors of such Person; provided that, with respect to a limited partnership or other entity which does not have a Board of Directors, Voting Stock means the Capital Stock of the general partner of such limited partnership or other business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of such Person.

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

(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

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

Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined
in
Section
 

“Affiliate Transaction”

     4.11   

“Alternate Offer”

     4.14   

“Asset Sale Offer”

     4.10   

“Authentication Order”

     2.02   

“Change of Control Offer”

     4.14   

“Change of Control Payment”

     4.14   

“Change of Control Settlement Date”

     4.14   

“Covenant Defeasance”

     8.03   

“DTC”

     2.03   

“Event of Default”

     6.01   

“Excess Proceeds”

     4.10   

“Incremental Funds”

     4.07   

“incur”

     4.09   

“Legal Defeasance”

     8.02   

“Offer Amount”

     4.10   

“Offer Period”

     4.10   

“Paying Agent”

     2.03   

“Payment Default”

     6.01   

“Permitted Debt”

     4.09   

“Purchase Date”

     4.10   

“Registrar”

     2.03   

“Restricted Payments”

     4.07   

“Trailing Four Quarters”

     4.07   

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.

 

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

“indenture securities” means the Notes;

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

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

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

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

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

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

(4) “including” is not limiting;

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

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

(7) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(8) all references to Sections or Articles refer to Sections or Articles of this Indenture unless otherwise indicated; and

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

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating.

(a) General . The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form of Exhibits A1 and A2 hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note will be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

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

(b) Global Notes . Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibits A1 or A2 hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06.

(c) Temporary Global Notes. Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S will be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which will be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, at its Houston, Texas office, as custodian for the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, duly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Restricted Period will be terminated upon the receipt by the Trustee of:

(1) a written certificate from the Depositary, together with copies of certificates from Euroclear and Clearstream certifying that they have received certification of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note (except to the extent of any beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act and who will take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as contemplated by Section 2.06(b)); and

(2) an Officers’ Certificate from the Issuers.

Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note will be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Regulation S Permanent Global Note pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously with the authentication of the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, the Trustee will cancel the Regulation S Temporary Global Note. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interests therein as hereinafter provided.

(3) Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable. The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of

 

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Clearstream will be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

(d) Additional Notes. Subject to compliance with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuers may issue Additional Notes under this Indenture after the Issue Date in an unlimited aggregate principal amount.

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication.

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

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

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

The Trustee will authenticate: (i) for original issue on the Issue Date, Initial Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $350,000,000, (ii) Exchange Notes for original issue, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, for a like principal amount of Initial Notes, and (iii) any amount of Additional Notes specified by the Issuers, in each case, upon receipt of a written order of the Issuers signed by two Officers (an “ Authentication Order ”). Such order shall specify (a) the amount of the Notes to be authenticated and the date of original issue thereof and (b) whether the Notes are Restricted Notes or Unrestricted Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance by the Issuers pursuant to one or more Authentication Orders, except as provided in Section 2.07.

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

The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes (and, in each case, any Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor) shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes (and, in each case, any Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor). Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to modify, replace or otherwise affect the restrictions on transfer applicable to Restricted Notes set forth in Section 2.06.

Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Issuers will maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“ Registrar ”) and an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where Notes may be presented for payment (“ Paying Agent ”). Unless otherwise designated by the Issuers by written notice to the Trustee, each such office or agency shall be the Trustee’s office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

The Registrar will keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuers may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Issuers

 

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may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Issuers will notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuers fail to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. Either Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

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

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

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

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

Section 2.05 Holder Lists.

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

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

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

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

(2) the Issuers in their sole discretion determine that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and deliver a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; provided that in no event shall the Regulation S Temporary Global Note be exchanged by the Issuers for Definitive Notes prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act; or

 

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

Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (1) or (2) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Section 2.07 and Section 2.10. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06, Section 2.07 or Section 2.10, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f).

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes . The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

(1) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note . Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however , that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(1).

(2) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(1), the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

(A) both:

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

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

 

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(B) both:

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

(ii) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in Section 2.06(b)(1); provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903 under the Securities Act. Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Issuers in accordance with Section 2.06(f), the requirements of this Section 2.06(b)(2) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h).

(3) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) and the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

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

(4) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) and:

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

 

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

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

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h), and the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(1) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

(2) Beneficial Interests in Regulation S Temporary Global Note to Definitive Notes. Notwithstanding Section 2.06(c)(1)(A) and Section 2.06(c)(1)(C), a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act, except in the case of a transfer pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.

 

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

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

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

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

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

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

(4) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(2), the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Unrestricted Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h), and the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(4) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such

 

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beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(4) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

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

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(2), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

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

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (2)(B), (2)(D) or (3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note

 

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has not yet been issued, the Issuers will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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(D) the Registrar receives the following:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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(1) Private Placement Legend .

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

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE ‘‘SECURITIES ACT’’), OR ANY STATE OR OTHER SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A ‘‘QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER’’ (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (B) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), OR (C) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN ‘‘OFFSHORE TRANSACTION’’ PURSUANT TO RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR OF ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS SECURITY) AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P. AND COMPRESSCO FINANCE INC. (COLLECTIVELY, THE ‘‘ISSUERS’’) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUERS WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS SECURITY, OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUERS OR ANY OF THEIR SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A ‘‘QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER’’ AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED THAT THE ISSUERS AND THE TRUSTEE SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATION OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING IN THE INDENTURE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFER TO THE TRUSTEE.”

(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(4), (c)(3), (c)(4), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e)(2), (e)(3) or (f) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

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

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

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

(3) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend . The Regulation S Temporary Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR DEFINITIVE NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.”

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

 

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(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Section 2.07 Replacement Notes.

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

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

Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes.

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

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

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

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

Section 2.09 Treasury Notes.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by any Issuer or Guarantor, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with any Issuer or Guarantor, will be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee actually knows are so owned will be so disregarded.

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes.

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

 

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

Section 2.11 Cancellation.

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

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest.

If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes, they will pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus , to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01. The Issuers will notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Issuers will fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date, provided that no such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Issuers (or, upon the written request of the Issuers, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers) will send or cause to be sent to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.

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

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

(2) the redemption date;

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

(4) the redemption price.

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption or purchase on a pro rata basis (or, in the case of Notes issued in global form pursuant to Article 2, based on the method of the Depositary that most nearly approximates a pro rata selection), unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange or depository requirements.

 

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In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption or purchase date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase.

The Trustee will promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.

Subject to the provisions of Section 4.10 and Section 4.14, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail (or, in the case of Notes in global form, pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary), a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article 8 or Article 11.

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

(1) the redemption date;

(2) the redemption price;

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

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

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

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

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

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

(9) if such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, that, in the Issuers’ discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as

 

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any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed.

At the Issuers’ request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Issuers’ names and at their expense; provided , however , that the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date (unless a shorter time is acceptable 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.

Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, the notice of redemption with respect to a redemption pursuant to Section 3.07(b) need not set forth the Make-Whole Price but only the manner of calculation thereof. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the Make-Whole Price with respect to any redemption promptly after the calculation (in the case of Definitive Notes, at least two days prior to the redemption date), and the Trustee shall not be responsible for such calculation.

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is sent in accordance with Section 3.03, Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption, unless the redemption is subject to a condition precedent that is not satisfied or waived. Any redemption or notice of redemption may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent and, in the case of a redemption pursuant to Section 3.07(a), be given prior to and conditioned on the completion of the related Equity Offering.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.

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

If the Issuers comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Issuers to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01.

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.

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

 

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Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) Prior to August 15, 2017, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding under this Indenture (which may include Additional Notes) with an amount of cash not greater than the amount of the net cash proceeds from one or more Equity Offerings at a redemption price equal to 107.250% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes to be redeemed to the redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the relevant interest payment date); provided that

(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued on the Issue Date (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding after each such redemption; and

(2) the redemption occurs within 180 days after the closing of such Equity Offering.

(b) At any time or from time to time prior to August 15, 2017, the Company may also redeem all or a part of the Notes, at a redemption price equal to the Make-Whole Price, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the relevant interest payment date.

(c) In the event that Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer and the Company (or any third party making such Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company as set forth in Section 4.14(c)) purchases all of the Notes held by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer described in Section 4.14, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the Change of Control Payment plus , to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes that remain outstanding, to the date of redemption (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).

(d) Except as provided in the preceding paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to August 15, 2017.

(e) On and after August 15, 2017, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes, from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes to be redeemed to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on August 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2017

     105.438

2018

     103.625

2019

     101.813

2020 and thereafter

     100.000

 

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

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

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes.

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

The Issuers will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful. The Issuers will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Issuers will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers fail to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

The Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however , that no such designation or rescission will in any manner relieve the Issuers of their obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such purposes. The Issuers will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

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

 

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Section 4.03 Reports.

(a) Regardless of whether required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will file with the SEC (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations, and upon request, the Company will furnish (without exhibits) to the Trustee for delivery to the Holders of Notes:

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

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

(b) The Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and information described above in Section 4.03(a) to the Holders of Notes (and the Trustee shall be deemed to have delivered such reports and information to the Holders of Notes) if the Company has filed such reports or information, respectively, with the SEC using the EDGAR filing system (or any successor filing system of the SEC) or, if the SEC will not accept such reports or information, if the Company has posted such reports or information, respectively, on its website, and such reports or information, respectively, are available to Holders of Notes through internet access.

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, (i) such information will not be required to contain the separate financial information for Guarantors as contemplated by Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X or any financial statements of unconsolidated subsidiaries or 50% or less owned Persons as contemplated by Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X or any schedules required by Regulation S-X, or in each case any successor provisions, and (ii) such information shall not be required to comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act or Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K with respect to any non-GAAP financial measures contained therein.

(d) Except as provided above, all such reports will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules and regulations applicable to such reports.

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

(f) Any and all Defaults or Events of Default arising from a failure to furnish in a timely manner any financial information required by this Section 4.03 shall be deemed cured (and the Company shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Section 4.03) upon furnishing such financial information as contemplated by this Section 4.03 (but without regard to the date on which such financial statement or report is so furnished); provided that such cure shall not otherwise affect the rights of the Holders under the provisions of Article 6 if the principal of, premium, if any, on, and interest, if any, on, the Notes have been accelerated in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such acceleration has not been rescinded or cancelled prior to such cure.

 

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

(h) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.03 is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officers’ Certificate).

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

(a) The Issuers and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of each Issuer and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Issuers have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Issuers have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and are not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

(b) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Issuers will deliver to the Trustee, within five Business Days of any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.05 Taxes.

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

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

Each of the Issuers and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and each of the Issuers and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

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Section 4.07 Restricted Payments.

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

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

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

(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, any Subordinated Debt (other than any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), except a payment of interest or principal within one year of the Stated Maturity thereof; or

(4) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (1) through (4) of this Section 4.07(a) being collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, no Default or Event of Default (except a Reporting Default) has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment and either:

(I) if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (the “ Trailing Four Quarters ”) is not less than 1.75 to 1.0, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the fiscal quarter in which such Restricted Payment is made (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (12) of Section 4.07(b)), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

(A) Available Cash from Operating Surplus with respect to the Company’s preceding fiscal quarter; plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds, and the Fair Market Value of any Capital Stock of Persons engaged primarily in a Permitted Business or other long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business, in each case, received by the Company since the Issue Date from (i) a contribution to the common equity capital of the

 

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Company from any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary) or (ii) the issuance and sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or from the issuance or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock); plus

(C) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the Issue Date is sold for cash or Cash Equivalents or otherwise cancelled, liquidated or repaid for cash or Cash Equivalents, the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any); plus

(D) the amount equal to the net reduction in Restricted Investments since the Issue Date resulting from (i) dividends, repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of assets, in each case, to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from any Person (including, without limitation, any Unrestricted Subsidiary) or (ii) designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries, to the extent such amounts have not been included in Available Cash from Operating Surplus for any period commencing on or after the Issue Date (items (B), (C) and (D) being collectively referred to as “Incremental Funds ”); minus

(E) the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds previously expended pursuant to this clause (I) and clause (II) below; or

(II) if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company for the Trailing Four Quarters is less than 1.75 to 1.0, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the fiscal quarter in which such Restricted Payment is made (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (12) of Section 4.07(b)), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

(A) $100.0 million, less the aggregate amount of all prior Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause (II)(A) since the Issue Date; plus

(B) Incremental Funds to the extent not previously expended pursuant to this clause (II) or clause (I) above;

provided, however , that the only Restricted Payments permitted to be made pursuant to this clause (II) are distributions on the Company’s common and subordinated units plus the related distributions on the General Partner’s general partner interest and any distributions with respect to incentive distribution rights.

 

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

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

(2) the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent (a) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary) to the equity capital of the Company or (b) sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), with a sale being deemed substantially concurrent if such Restricted Payment occurs not more than 120 days after such sale; provided, however , that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will be excluded (or deducted, if included) from the calculation of Available Cash from Operating Surplus and Incremental Funds;

(3) the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Debt with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of, or in exchange for, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

(4) the payment of any dividend or distribution by a Restricted Subsidiary to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

(5) as long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary held by any of the current or former directors or employees of the General Partner, the Company or of any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the aggregate price paid for all such purchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $5.0 million in any fiscal year, with any portion of such $5.0 million amount that is unused in any fiscal year to be carried forward to successive fiscal years and added to such amount, plus, to the extent not previously applied or included (a) the cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from sales of Equity Interests of the Company to employees or directors of the General Partner, the Company or its Affiliates that occur after the Issue Date (to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of clause (I)(B) or (II)(B) of Section 4.07(a)) and (b) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;

(6) the purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of unit options, warrants, incentives, rights to acquire Equity Interests or other convertible securities if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise or exchange price thereof, and any purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any exercise or exchange of unit options, warrants, incentives or rights to acquire Equity Interests;

(7) payments of cash, dividends, distributions, advances or other Restricted Payments, in each case, made in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares or units in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible or exchangeable for Equity Interests or in connection with the payment of a dividend or distribution to the holders of Equity Interests of the Company in the form of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

 

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(8) the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary representing fractional units of such Equity Interests in connection with a merger or consolidation involving the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or any other transaction permitted by this Indenture;

(9) payments to the General Partner constituting reimbursements for expenses in accordance with the Partnership Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date and as it may be amended or replaced thereafter, provided that any such amendment or replacement is not materially less favorable to the Company in any material respect than the agreement prior to such amendment or replacement;

(10) as long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary issued on or after the Issue Date in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.09;

(11) in connection with an acquisition by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the return to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Equity Interests of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting a portion of the purchase consideration in settlement of indemnification claims or purchase price adjustments;

(12) the distribution, dividend or other transfer (including by exchange) of shares of Capital Stock of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, or Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary by an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(13) the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Debt (a) at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the principal amount of such Subordinated Debt plus accrued interest in accordance with the provisions similar to Section 4.14 or (b) at a purchase price not greater than 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest in accordance with provisions similar to Section 4.10; provided that, prior to or simultaneously with such purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, the Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 4.14 or Section 4.10, as the case may be, and repurchased all Notes validly tendered for payment in connection with the Change of Control Offer, Asset Sale Offer or Alternate Offer, as the case may be.

(c) The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the Restricted Investment proposed to be made or the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment, except that the Fair Market Value of any non-cash dividend or distribution paid within 60 days after the date of its declaration shall be determined as of such date of declaration. The Fair Market Value of any Restricted Investment, assets or securities that are required to be valued by this Section 4.07 will be determined in accordance with the definition of that term. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07, (x) in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in the preceding clauses (1) through (13) of Section 4.07(b), or is permitted pursuant to Section 4.07(a), the Company will be permitted to classify (or later classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) on the date made or later reclassify such Restricted Payment (or portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.07; and (y) in the event a Restricted Payment is made pursuant to clause (I) or (II) of Section 4.07(a), the Company will be permitted to classify whether all or any portion thereof is being (and in the absence of such classification shall be deemed to have classified the minimum amount possible as having been) made with Incremental Funds.

 

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Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

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

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

(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (it being understood that the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances for purposes of this Section 4.08(a)); or

(3) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

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

(1) agreements or instruments as in effect on the Issue Date and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, extensions, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements or the Indebtedness to which they relate, provided that the encumbrances or restrictions contained in any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, extensions, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner, not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend, distribution and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the Issue Date;

(2) this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees;

(3) applicable law, rule, regulation, order, approval, license, permit or similar restriction;

(4) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition, which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, extensions, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof; provided that the encumbrances or restrictions contained in any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, extensions, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the reasonable good faith judgment

 

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of the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner, not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those in effect on the date of the acquisition; provided, further, that, in the case of Indebtedness, the incurrence of such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Indenture;

(5) customary non-assignment provisions in contracts or licenses, easements or leases, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(6) mortgage financings, security agreements or purchase money obligations, in each case, for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capital Lease Obligations that impose restrictions on the property purchased or leased of the nature described in clause (3) of Section 4.08(a);

(7) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of the Equity Interests in, or all or substantially all of the properties or assets of, a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending the sale or other disposition;

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

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

(10) provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements (including, but not limited to, agreements entered into in connection with a Restricted Investment) entered into in the ordinary course of business or entered into with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors;

(11) any agreement or instrument relating to any property or assets acquired after the Issue Date, so long as such encumbrance or restriction relates only to the property or assets so acquired and is not and was not created in anticipation of such acquisition;

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

(13) the issuance of preferred stock by a Restricted Subsidiary or the payment of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms thereof; provided that issuance of such preferred stock is permitted pursuant to Section 4.09 and the terms of such preferred stock do not expressly restrict the ability of such Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock (other than requirements to pay dividends or liquidation preferences on such preferred stock prior to paying any dividends or making any other distributions on such other Capital Stock);

(14) obligations under Hedging Contracts permitted from time to time under this Indenture;

(15) any agreement or instrument relating to Indebtedness incurred or Capital Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the encumbrances or restrictions contained in the agreements or instruments governing such Indebtedness or Capital Stock (a) apply only in the

 

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event of a payment default or a default with respect to a financial covenant in such agreement or instrument or (b) will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make payments with respect to the principal of, or the interest and premium, if any, on, the Notes, as determined in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner; and

(16) any other agreement governing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by Section 4.09 and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, extensions, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements; provided , that the encumbrances or restrictions in such agreements are, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner, not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in this Indenture or the Credit Agreement, in each case, as in effect on the Issue Date.

Section 4.09 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.

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

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of Section 4.09(a) will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness or issuances of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, as applicable (collectively, “ Permitted Debt ”):

(1) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness and letters of credit under one or more Credit Facilities, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness at any one time outstanding under this clause (1) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder) does not exceed the greater of (a) $400.0 million and (b) $250.0 million plus 25% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets;

(2) the incurrence by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Existing Indebtedness;

(3) the incurrence by the Issuers and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by (a) the Notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued on the Issue Date and (b) the Exchange Notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued pursuant to any Registration Rights Agreement;

 

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(4) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, construction, installation or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to extend, renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4) at any time; provided that, immediately after giving effect to any such incurrence, the principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $35.0 million and (b) 5% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets;

(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease, refund, discharge or otherwise retire for value, any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) or Disqualified Stock of the Company, or Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) or preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under Section 4.09(a) or clause (2), (3), (4), (11), (12) or (15) of this Section 4.09(b) or this clause (5);

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

(A) if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and neither the Company nor a Guarantor is the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations then due with respect to the Notes, in the case where the Company is the obligor, or the Note Guarantee, in the case where a Guarantor is the obligor; and

(B)(i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is neither the Company nor a Restricted Subsidiary will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6);

(7) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under Hedging Contracts in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(8) the Guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09;

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

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

 

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(B) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred stock to a Person that is neither the Company nor a Restricted Subsidiary,

will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred stock by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (9);

(10) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of liability in respect of the Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Joint Venture but only to the extent that such liability is the result of the Company’s or any such Restricted Subsidiary’s being a general partner or member of, or owner of an Equity Interest in, such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture and not as a guarantor of such Indebtedness; provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (10) and then outstanding does not exceed $25.0 million;

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

(12) the incurrence by any Foreign Subsidiary of Indebtedness that, in the aggregate together with all other Indebtedness of all Foreign Subsidiaries (including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease, refund, discharge or otherwise retire for value any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (12)), does not exceed the greater of (a) $75.0 million and (b) 25% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of all Foreign Subsidiaries, considered as a single enterprise;

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

(14) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit; provided that, upon the drawing of such letters of credit, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing; and

(15) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness and the issuance by the Company of any Disqualified Stock, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence or issuance, the amount of all such Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock incurred or issued pursuant to this clause (15) and then outstanding (including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock incurred to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease, refund, discharge or otherwise retire for value any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock incurred or issued pursuant to this clause (15)) does not exceed the greater of (a) $35.0 million and (b) 5% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (15) of Section 4.09(b), or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a), the Company will be permitted in its sole discretion to divide, redivide, classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness on the date of its incurrence, and later divide, redivide, classify or reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09. Any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement outstanding on the Issue Date shall be deemed to have been incurred on such date pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt. The accrual of interest or dividends with respect to preferred stock, the accretion

 

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or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on preferred stock or Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of preferred stock or Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of preferred stock or Disqualified Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09, provided that, in each such case, the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued to the extent required by the definition of such term. Further, the reclassification of any obligation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles will not be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.09.

(d) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be utilized, calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 4.09 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values. The principal amount of any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

Section 4.10 Asset Sales.

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

(1) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or any Person assuming responsibilities for, any liabilities (other than any contingent liabilities)) at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (measured as of the date of the definitive agreement with respect to such Asset Sale) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2) at least 75% of the consideration received by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Asset Sale (considered together on a cumulative basis, with all consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of other Asset Sales consummated since the Issue Date) is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

(A) any liabilities, as shown on the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recent balance sheet, of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and Subordinated Debt) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation or indemnity agreement (or other legal documentation with the same effect) that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from or indemnifies the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary against further liability;

 

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

(C) any Additional Assets of the kind referred to in clause (2) of Section 4.10(b); and

(D) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such Asset Sale.

(b) Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale or, if the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has entered into a binding commitment or commitments with respect to any of the actions described in clauses (2) or (3) below, within the later of (x) 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale and (y) 180 days after the entering into of such commitment or commitments, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may apply an amount equal to the amount of such Net Proceeds at its option to any combination of the following:

(1) to repay, redeem or repurchase any Senior Debt, provided that such repayment, redemption or repurchase may close up to 60 days after the end of such 365-day period;

(2) to invest in or acquire Additional Assets; or

(3) to make capital expenditures in respect of a Permitted Business.

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.

(c) An amount equal to any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in clauses (1) through (3) of Section 4.10(b) will constitute “ Excess Proceeds .” Within ten Business Days after the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $30.0 million, the Company will make an offer (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, prepay or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, to repurchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and to purchase, prepay or redeem such other pari passu Indebtedness (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith) that may be purchased, prepaid or redeemed out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of repurchase, prepayment or redemption, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the date of repurchase, prepayment or redemption, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered in (or required to be prepaid or redeemed in connection with) such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount

 

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of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis (except that any Notes represented by a Note in global form will be selected by such method as DTC or its nominee or successor may require or, where such nominee or successor is the Trustee, a method that most nearly approximates pro rata selection as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate unless otherwise required by law), based on the amounts tendered or required to be prepaid or redeemed (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000 will be purchased). Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 4.10, the sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will be governed by the provisions of Section 4.14 and/or Section 5.01 and not by this Section 4.10.

(e) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 4.10, or compliance with this Section 4.10 would constitute a violation of any such laws or regulations, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.10 by virtue of such compliance.

(f) In the event that, pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Section 4.10, the Issuers are required to commence an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuers will follow the procedures specified below.

(1) The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets. The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement and not more than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “ Offer Period ”). No later than three Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “ Purchase Date ”), the Company will apply all Excess Proceeds (the “Offer Amount” ) to the purchase of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis, if applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other Indebtedness tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

(2) If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

(3) Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company will send a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The notice, which will govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, will state:

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(4) On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuers will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.10. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Issuers will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Issuers, will authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book entry) such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.

 

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Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates.

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

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

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $50.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions complies with this Section 4.11 and that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions has been approved by either the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (so long as the members of the Conflicts Committee approving the Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions are disinterested) or a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company, if any.

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

(1) any transaction or series of related transactions involving aggregate consideration of less than $5.0 million;

(2) any employment, consulting or similar agreement or arrangement, employee benefit plan, equity award, equity option, equity appreciation agreement or plan, officer or director indemnification agreement, restricted unit agreement, severance agreement or other compensation plan or arrangement entered into by the General Partner, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and payments, awards, grants or issuances of securities made pursuant to the foregoing agreements, arrangements or plans;

(3) transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

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

(5) transactions effected in accordance with the terms of agreements that are identified in the Issuers’ Offering Memorandum dated July 29, 2014 pertaining to the offering of $350,000,000 of the Notes, in each case as such agreements are in effect on the Issue Date, and any amendment

 

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or replacement of any of such agreements so long as such amendment or replacement agreement is no less advantageous to the Company in any material respect than the agreement so amended or replaced;

(6) payment of reasonable fees and reimbursements of expenses (pursuant to indemnity arrangements or otherwise) of, and compensation paid to, and indemnity, insurance or other benefits provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the General Partner, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or Affiliates of the Company, including, but not limited to, reimbursement or advancement of out-of-pocket expenses and provisions of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance;

(7) any issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to, or receipt of capital contributions from, Affiliates of the Company;

(8) Restricted Payments that do not violate the provisions of Section 4.07 or any Permitted Investments;

(9) payments to the General Partner with respect to reimbursement for expenses in accordance with the Partnership Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date and as it may be amended, provided that any such amendment is not less favorable to the Company in any material respect than the agreement prior to such amendment;

(10) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any other Person, a director of which is also on the Board of Directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, and such common director is the sole cause for such other Person to be deemed an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however , that such director abstains from voting as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as the case may be, on any transaction with such other Person; and

(11) (a) guarantees by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of performance of obligations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, except for guarantees of Indebtedness in respect of borrowed money, and (b) pledges by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries securing Non-Recourse Debt for the benefit of lenders or other creditors of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

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

(13) payment of loans or advances to employees not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

(14) any Affiliate Transaction with a Person in its capacity as a holder of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary if such Person is treated no more favorably than the other holders of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary;

(15) transactions with Unrestricted Subsidiaries, customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or lessors or lessees of property, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which

 

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are, in the aggregate (taking into account all the costs and benefits associated with such transactions), not materially less favorable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated person, in the good faith determination of the Company’s Board of Directors or any officer of the Company involved in or otherwise familiar with such transaction, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(16) any transaction in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an accounting, appraisal, advisory or investment banking firm of national standing stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or that such transaction meets the requirements of clause (1) of Section 4.11(a); and

(17) in the case of contracts for gathering, transporting, treating, processing, marketing, distributing, storing or otherwise handling Hydrocarbons, or activities or services reasonably related or ancillary thereto, or other operational contracts, any such contracts that are entered into in the ordinary course of business on terms substantially similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and third parties, or if neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has entered into a similar contract with a third party, then the terms of which are no less favorable than those available from third parties on an arm’s-length basis.

Section 4.12 Liens.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) securing Indebtedness upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless the Notes or any Note Guarantee, as applicable, are secured on an equal and ratable basis with (or on a senior basis to, in the case of Subordinated Debt) the Indebtedness so secured until such time as such Indebtedness is no longer secured by a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien).

Any Lien securing the Notes or Note Guarantees created pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the unconditional release and discharge of the initial Lien whose existence resulted in the creation of such Lien securing the Notes or Note Guarantees.

Section 4.13 Business Activities of Finance Corp.

Finance Corp. will not hold any material assets, become liable for any material obligations, engage in any trade or business, or conduct any business activity, other than the issuance of capital stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the incurrence of Indebtedness as a co-issuer, co-obligor or guarantor of Indebtedness incurred by the Company (including without limitation the Notes) that is permitted to be incurred by the Company under Section 4.09, and activities incidental thereto.

Section 4.14 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

(a) If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the Notes as set forth in the Notes and in Section 3.07, each Holder of Notes will have the right, except as provided below, to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of that Holder’s

 

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Notes pursuant to an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) on the terms set forth in this Indenture. In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will offer to make a cash payment (a “ Change of Control Payment ”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of repurchase (the “ Change of Control Settlement Date ”), subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the Notes as set forth in the Notes and in Section 3.07, the Company will send a notice to each Holder of Notes describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering to repurchase properly tendered Notes on the Change of Control Settlement Date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent. Furthermore, such notice shall state:

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

(2) the purchase price and the Change of Control Settlement Date;

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

(4) that, unless the Issuers default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Settlement Date;

(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Settlement Date;

(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Settlement Date, a letter or electronic transmission setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased; and

(7) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.14, or compliance with the provisions of this Section 4.14 would constitute a violation of any such laws or regulations, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.14 by virtue of such compliance.

 

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

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

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

On the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Paying Agent will send to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes (or, if all the Notes are then in global form, make such payment through the facilities of the Depositary), and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided, however, that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. Any Note so accepted for payment will cease to accrue interest on and after the Change of Control Settlement Date, unless the Company defaults in making the Change of Control Payment. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Settlement Date.

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

(d) In the event that Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer and the Company (or any third party making such Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company as set forth in Section 4.14(c)) purchases all of the Notes held by such Holders, the Company will have the right set forth in Section 3.07(c) to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding.

Section 4.15 Additional Note Guarantees.

If, after the Issue Date, any Domestic Subsidiary of the Company that is not already a Guarantor Guarantees or otherwise becomes obligated with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor under any Credit Facility, then that Domestic Subsidiary will become a Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture and delivering it to the Trustee within 20 Business Days of the date on which it Guaranteed such Indebtedness; provided , however , that the preceding shall not apply to Subsidiaries of

 

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the Company that have properly been designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in accordance with this Indenture for so long as they continue to constitute Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the preceding, any Note Guarantee of a Restricted Subsidiary that was incurred pursuant to this paragraph will be released as provided in Section 10.05.

Section 4.16 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

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

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by the under Section 4.07. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 the Company will be in default of such covenant.

The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09 calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

Section 4.17 Termination of Covenants.

If at any time (a) the Notes have an Investment Grade Rating from at least two Rating Agencies, (b) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture and (c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) of this sentence, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject to the provisions of Section 4.07, Section 4.08, Section 4.09, Section 4.10, Section 4.11, Section 4.14 and clause (4) of Section 5.01(a).

 

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ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Substantially All Assets.

(a) Neither of the Issuers may (x) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (regardless of whether such Issuer is the surviving entity), or (y) sell, assign, transfer, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to another Person, unless:

(1) either:

(A) such Issuer is the surviving entity of such consolidation or merger; or

(B) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; provided, however , that Finance Corp. may not consolidate or merge with or into any Person other than a corporation satisfying such requirement so long as the Company is not a corporation;

(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of such Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture (and the Registration Rights Agreement, if any obligations under such agreement remain unsatisfied) pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

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

(4) in the case of a transaction involving the Company and not Finance Corp., after giving effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, either (a) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) or (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made, is equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately before such transaction; and

(5) such Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or disposition and, if a supplemental indenture is required, such supplemental indenture, comply with this Indenture.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions set forth in clause (4) of Section 5.01(a) will not apply to (x) any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into one of its Restricted Subsidiaries for any purpose or (y) any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of properties or assets of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Finance Corp.) to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor.

 

 

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(c) Notwithstanding Section 5.01(a), the Company is permitted to reorganize as any other form of entity, provided that:

(1) the reorganization involves the conversion (by merger, sale, contribution or exchange of assets or otherwise) of the Company into a form of entity other than a limited partnership formed under Delaware law;

(2) the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

(3) the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture (and the Registration Rights Agreement, if any obligations thereunder remain unsatisfied) pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(4) immediately after such reorganization no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(5) such reorganization is not materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the Notes (for purposes of this clause (5), a reorganization will not be considered materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the Notes solely because the successor or survivor of such reorganization (a) is subject to federal or state income taxation as an entity or (b) is considered to be an “includible corporation” of an affiliated group of corporations within the meaning of Section 1504(b) of the Internal Revenue Code or any similar state or local law).

(d) For purposes of this Section 5.01, the transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise, in a single transaction or series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, which properties or assets, if held by the Company instead of such Restricted Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company.

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, in the event that the Company becomes a corporation or the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any consolidation or merger (permitted in accordance with the terms of this Indenture) is a corporation, Finance Corp. may be merged into the Company or it may be dissolved and cease to be an Issuer.

Section 5.02 Successor Entity Substituted.

Upon any consolidation or merger or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of an Issuer in accordance with Section 5.01 in which such Issuer is not the surviving entity, the surviving Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which such Issuer is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, such Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such surviving Person had been named as such Issuer in this Indenture, and thereafter (except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of such Issuer’s properties or assets), such Issuer will be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes.

 

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ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

Each of the following is an “ Event of Default ” with respect to the Notes:

(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes;

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

(3) failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 5.01 or to consummate a purchase of Notes when required pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14;

(4) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 30 days after written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with the provisions of Section 4.07 or Section 4.09 or to comply with the provisions of Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 to the extent not described in clause (3) of this Section 6.01;

(5) (a) except as addressed in subclause (b) of this clause (5), failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with any of the other agreements in this Indenture or the Notes or (b) failure by the Company for 180 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with Section 4.03;

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

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

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

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $25.0 million or more; provided, however, that if, prior to any acceleration of the Notes, (i) any such Payment Default is cured or waived, (ii) any such acceleration of such Indebtedness is rescinded, or (iii) such Indebtedness is repaid within a period of 10 Business Days from the continuation of such default beyond any applicable grace period for such Payment Default or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, then any Default or Event of Default (but not any acceleration of the Notes) caused by such Payment Default or acceleration shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree;

 

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(7) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments (entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction) aggregating in excess of $25.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;

(8) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee, except, in each case, by reason of the release of such Note Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture;

(9) an Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences a voluntary case;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(C) orders the liquidation of an Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;

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

 

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Section 6.02 Acceleration.

In the case of an Event of Default specified in clause (9) or (10) of Section 6.01, with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all then outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice (subject to applicable law). If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company and, in the case of a notice by such Holders, also to the Trustee specifying the respective Event of Default and that it is a notice of acceleration.

Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not violate any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.

Section 6.03 Other Remedies.

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

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, on, or interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, the Notes; provided, however , that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.05 Control by Majority.

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

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Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

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

(3) such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

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

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

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

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

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

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default specified in clause (1) or (2) of Section 6.01 occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers for the whole amount of the principal, premium, if any, or interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and premium, if any, and to the extent lawful, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the

 

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Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.10 Priorities.

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

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

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

Third : to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

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

Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

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ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power vested in it by this Indenture, to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs.

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

(1) the duties of the Trustee will be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth (or incorporated by reference) in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee will examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

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

(3) the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01.

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

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

 

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

(d) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuers will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of each of the Company and Finance Corp.

(f) No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder has offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense that might be incurred by it in connection with its compliance with such request.

Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or any Affiliate of the Issuers with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the TIA) or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.10 and Section 7.11.

Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer.

The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuers or upon the Issuers’ direction under any provision of this Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults.

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

The Trustee will not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default, except Events of Default under clause (1) or (2) of Section 6.01, unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event that is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

 

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Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of Notes.

(a) Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the Issue Date, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee will send to the Holders of Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also will comply with TIA § 313(b)(2). The Trustee will also send all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).

(b) A copy of each report at the time it is sent to the Holders of Notes will be mailed by the Trustee to the Issuers and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA § 313(d). The Issuers will promptly notify the Trustee in writing when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.

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

(b) The Issuers and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuers and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Issuers, the Guarantors, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. The Trustee will notify the Issuers and the Guarantors promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers and the Guarantors will not relieve the Issuers or any of the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder unless the failure to notify the Issuers or the Guarantors impairs any Issuer’s or Guarantor’s respective ability to defend such claim. Such Issuer or such Guarantor will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither Issuer nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

(c) The obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

(d) To secure the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee will have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, particular Notes. Such Lien will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

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(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in clause (9) or (10) of Section 6.01 occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

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

Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.

(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.

(b) The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuers in writing. The Issuers may remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

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

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

(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

(c) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuers will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after such successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuers.

(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Issuers, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

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

(f) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuers. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will send a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuers’ obligations under Section 7.07 will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

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

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.

There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation or banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein. The Trustee hereby waives any right to set off any claim that it may have against the Issuers in any capacity (other than as Trustee and Paying Agent) against any of the assets of the Issuers held by the Trustee; provided, however, that if the Trustee is or becomes a lender of any other Indebtedness permitted hereunder to be pari passu with the Notes, then such waiver shall not apply to the extent of such Indebtedness.

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

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

 

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Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, each Issuer and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes, the Note Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(1) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 8.04;

(2) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to the Notes under Section 2.04, Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 2.10 and Section 4.02;

(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(4) the Legal Defeasance provisions of this Article 8.

Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03.

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be released from each of their obligations under Section 4.03, Section 4.07, Section 4.08, Section 4.09, Section 4.10, Section 4.11, Section 4.12, Section 4.13, Section 4.14, Section 4.15, Section 4.16, Section 4.17 and Section 5.01(a)(4) with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (such release and termination hereinafter referred to as “ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Notes will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees, the Issuers and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and will have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Note Guarantees will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, clauses (3) through (7) of Section 6.01 and, only with respect to Subsidiaries of the Company, clauses (9) and (10) of Section 6.01 will not constitute Events of Default.

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance under Section 8.02 or Covenant Defeasance under Section 8.03:

(1) the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuers must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular redemption date;

 

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(2) in the case of an election under Section 8.02, the Issuers must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

(A) the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

(B) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3) in the case of an election under Section 8.03, the Issuers must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(4) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit (and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness), and the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings);

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture and the agreements governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged or replaced) to which the Issuers or any of the Guarantors is a party or by which the Issuers or any of the Guarantors is bound;

(6) the Issuers must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of the Issuers with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Issuers or others;

(7) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (1) through (6) of this Section 8.04 have been complied with; and

(8) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and exclusions), stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (2), (3) and (5) of this Section 8.04 have been complied with; provided that the Opinion of Counsel with respect to clause (5) of this Section 8.04 may be to the knowledge of such counsel.

 

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Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to Section 8.06, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 in respect of the outstanding Notes will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including an Issuer acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time, upon the request of the Issuers any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under clause (1) of Section 8.04), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 8.06 Repayment to Company.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuers, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Issuers) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of each such Issuer as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuers cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

Section 8.07 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Note Guarantees will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03, as the case may be; provided, however , that, if the Issuers make any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

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ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

Notwithstanding Section 9.02, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees without the consent of any Holder of Notes:

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

(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(3) to provide for the assumption of an Issuer’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of Notes and Note Guarantees in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of such Issuer’s or Guarantor’s properties or assets, as applicable;

(4) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder;

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

(6) to conform the text of this Indenture or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Issuers’ Offering Memorandum dated July 29, 2014, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees;

(7) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of the Issue Date;

(8) to secure the Notes or any Note Guarantees;

(9) to add any Note Guarantees or to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its Note Guarantee, in each case as provided in this Indenture; or

(10) to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee.

Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by resolutions of their respective Boards of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02, the Trustee will join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee will not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes.

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section 4.10 and Section 4.14), the

 

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Notes and the Note Guarantees with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, Additional Notes, if any) voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or Exchange Offer for, Notes), and, subject to Section 6.04 and Section 6.07, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or Exchange Offer for, Notes).

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

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

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company will send to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to send such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver. Subject to Section 6.04 and Section 6.07, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

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

(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes; provided , however , that any purchase or repurchase of Notes, including pursuant to Section 4.10 and Section 4.14, shall not be deemed a redemption of the Notes;

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

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

(5) make any Note payable in currency other than that stated in the Notes;

 

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

(7) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note; provided, however, that any purchase or repurchase of Notes, including pursuant to Section 4.10 and Section 4.14, shall not be deemed a redemption of the Notes;

(8) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or

(9) make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions.

Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes will be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.

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

The Issuers may fix a record date for determining which Holders must consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver. If the Issuers fix a record date, the record date shall be fixed at (i) the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 2.05, or (ii) such other date as the Issuers shall designate.

Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

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

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

The Trustee will sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. No Issuer may sign an amended or supplemental indenture until its Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01) will be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.04, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

 

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ARTICLE 10

NOTE GUARANTEES

Section 10.01 Guarantee.

(a) Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuers hereunder or thereunder, that:

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

(2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

(b) The Guarantors hereby agree that, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, their obligations hereunder are unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuers, any right to require a proceeding first against an Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that the Note Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

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

(d) Each Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the

 

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maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of the Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6, such obligations (regardless of whether due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of the Note Guarantee. The Guarantors will have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Note Guarantee.

Section 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

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

Section 10.03 Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee Notation.

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

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

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

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

In the event that either Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries creates or acquires any Domestic Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, if required by Section 4.15, the Company will cause such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.15 and this Article 10, to the extent applicable.

 

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

Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.05, no Guarantor may sell or otherwise dispose of, in one or more related transactions, all or substantially all of its properties or assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (regardless of whether such Guarantor is the surviving Person), another Person, other than the Company or another Guarantor, unless:

(1) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(2) either:

(A)(i) such Guarantor is the surviving Person of such consolidation or merger or (ii) the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) unconditionally assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under the Notes and this Indenture (including its Note Guarantee) pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee; or

(B) such transaction or series of transactions does not violate the provisions of Section 4.10.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person will succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor.

Except as set forth in Article 4 and Article 5, and notwithstanding clauses (A) and (B) immediately above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Notes will prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or will prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or another Guarantor.

Section 10.05 Releases.

The Note Guarantee of a Guarantor will be released automatically:

(1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of that Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, if the sale or other disposition does not violate the provisions of Section 4.10;

(2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of the Capital Stock of that Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, if the sale or other disposition does not violate the provisions Section 4.10 and the Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such sale or other disposition;

(3) if the Company designates such Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

(4) upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with Article 8 or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Article 11;

 

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(5) upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Guarantor, provided that no Default or Event of Default occurs as a result thereof or has occurred or is continuing;

(6) upon such Guarantor consolidating with, merging into or transferring all of its properties or assets to the Company or another Guarantor and, as a result of or in connection with such transaction, such Guarantor dissolves or otherwise ceases to exist; or

(7) at such time as such Guarantor is no longer required to Guarantee any Indebtedness of the Company, Finance Corp. or any other Guarantor under any Credit Facility.

Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee as provided in this Section 10.05 will remain liable for the full amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 10.

ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge.

This Indenture will be satisfied and discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes and as otherwise specified in this Indenture), when:

(1) either:

(A) all Notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Issuers, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the sending of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and either an Issuer or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, the Notes to the date of maturity or redemption;

(2) in respect of clause (B) of Section 11.01(1), no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and any similar deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material instrument to which either Issuer or any Guarantor is a party or by which either Issuer or any Guarantor is bound (other than with respect to the borrowing of funds to be applied concurrently to make the deposit required to effect such satisfaction and discharge and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and, in each case, the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings);

 

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(3) the Issuers have, or any Guarantor has, paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by them under this Indenture; and

(4) the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be.

In addition, the Issuers must deliver to the Trustee (a) an Officers’ Certificate, stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (1) through (4) of this Section 11.01 have been satisfied and (b) an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and qualifications), stating that the condition precedent set forth in clause (4) of this Section 11.01 has been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (B) of Section 11.01(1), the provisions of Section 11.02 and Section 8.06 will survive. In addition, nothing in this Section 11.01 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.07 that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

Section 11.02 Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including an Issuer acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 11.01 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 Issuers’ and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01; provided that if the Issuers have made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls.

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the TIA that are required to be a part of this Indenture, and will, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. If any provision of this Indenture modifies any TIA provision that may be so modified, such TIA provision will be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified. If any provision of this Indenture excludes any TIA provision that may be so excluded, such TIA provision will be excluded from this Indenture.

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

 

97


Section 12.02 Notices.

Any notice or communication by the Issuers, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile or electronic transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Issuers and/or any Guarantor

Compressco Partners, L.P.

101 Park Avenue, Suite 1200

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

Facsimile No.: (281) 364-4398

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:

Andrews Kurth LLP

600 Travis, Suite 4200

Houston, Texas 77002

Facsimile No.: (713) 238-7279

Attention: Henry Havre

If to the Trustee:

U.S. Bank National Association

5555 San Felipe, Suite 1150

Houston, Texas 77056

Facsimile Number: (713) 235-9213

Attention: Global Corporate Trust Services

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

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if electronically transmitted; when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile; or the next Business Day after timely delivery to a courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

Any notice or communication to a Holder, when the Notes are in the form of Definitive Notes, will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication to a Holder, when the Notes are in the form of Global Notes, will be sent pursuant to Applicable Procedures. Any notice or communication will also be so sent to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to send a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed or otherwise sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, regardless of whether the addressee receives it (other than with respect to notices or communications by facsimile or electronic transmission, which will be deemed to be duly given when receipt is acknowledged or when answered back, respectively).

 

98


Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver will be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders will be filed with the Trustee, but such filing will not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance on such waiver.

If the Issuers send a notice or communication to Holders, they will send a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

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

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

Section 12.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

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

(1) an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 12.05) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; provided that no such Officers’ Certificate shall be delivered on the Issue Date in connection with the original issuance of the initial Global Notes; and

(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 12.05) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel (who may rely upon an Officers’ Certificate as to matters of fact), all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied; provided that no such Opinion of Counsel shall be delivered on the Issue Date in connection with the original issuance of the initial Global Notes.

Section 12.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) must comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and must 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 or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

99


Section 12.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action taken by, or meetings or consent of, Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 12.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders.

None of the General Partner or any director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager, unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the General Partner, the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes and the Note Guarantees.

Section 12.08 Governing Law.

THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES.

Section 12.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of either Issuer or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 12.10 Successors.

All agreements of each Issuer in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture will bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.05.

Section 12.11 Severability.

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

Section 12.12 Counterpart Originals.

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

Section 12.13 Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

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

( Signatures on following pages )

 

100


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Indenture as of the date first written above.

 

ISSUERS :
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.
By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
COMPRESSCO FINANCE INC.
By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
GUARANTORS :
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS SUB, INC.
By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS OPERATING, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


COMPRESSCO FIELD SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners Operating, LLC,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
COMPRESSCO INTERNATIONAL, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners Operating, LLC,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
COMPRESSCO HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners Operating, LLC,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


COMPRESSCO LEASING, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners Operating, LLC,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS, INC.
By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Vice President - Finance
ROTARY COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS, INC.
By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Vice President - Finance
PUMP SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Vice President - Finance

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


CSI COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

Compressor Systems, Inc.,

its sole member

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Vice President - Finance

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Shazia Flores

  Name: Shazia Flores
  Title: Assistant Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]


EXHIBIT A1

[Face of Note]

 

CUSIP/CINS              1

7.25% Senior Note due 2022

No.                                                                                                                                                                                                      $             

COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.

COMPRESSCO FINANCE INC.

jointly and severally promise to pay to                      [ if a Global Note, insert – CEDE & CO., as nominee for The Depository Trust Company] or its registered assigns, the principal sum of                      DOLLARS [ if a Global Note, insert — , or such other principal amount as shall be set forth on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached hereto,] on August 15, 2022.

Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15

Record Dates: February 1 and August 1

Dated:              , 20     

 

COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.
By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
COMPRESSCO FINANCE INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

This is one of the Notes referred to

in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

1   Rule 144A CUSIP / ISIN: 20467B AA7 / US20467BAA70
  IAI Note CUSIP / ISIN: 20467B AC3 / US20467BAC37
  Exchange Note CUSIP / ISIN: 20467B AB5 / US20467BAB53

 

A1-1


[Back of Note]

7.25% Senior Note due 2022

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

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

 

  (1) I NTEREST . Compressco Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Company ”), and Compressco Finance Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with the Company, the “ Issuers ”), jointly and severally promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 7.25% per annum until maturity and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if any, payable pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Issuers will pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “ Interest Payment Date ”). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be             ,     . The Issuers will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes; they will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any (without regard to any applicable grace periods), from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

  (2) M ETHOD OF P AYMENT . The Issuers will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the February 1 or August 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided to the Issuers or the Paying Agent wire transfer instructions to an account in the United States of America. Such payment will be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

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  (3) P AYING A GENT AND R EGISTRAR . Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder; provided , however , that the Issuers shall at all times maintain a Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Either Issuer or any Subsidiary may act in any such capacity.

 

  (4) I NDENTURE . The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of August 4, 2014 (the “ Indenture ”) among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Issuers. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder.

 

  (5) O PTIONAL R EDEMPTION .

 

  (a) At any time prior to August 15, 2017, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding under the Indenture (which may include Additional Notes) with an amount of cash not greater than the amount of the net cash proceeds from one or more Equity Offerings at a redemption price equal to 107.250% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes to be redeemed to the redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the relevant Interest Payment Date); provided that (i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued on the Issue Date (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding after each such redemption and (ii) the redemption occurs within 180 days after the closing of such Equity Offering.

 

  (b) At any time or from time to time prior to August 15, 2017, the Company may also redeem all or a part of the Notes, at a redemption price equal to the Make-Whole Price, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

 

  (c)

In the event that Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer and the Company (or any third party making such Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company as set forth in Section 4.14(c) of the Indenture) purchases all of the Notes held by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60

 

A1-3


  days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer described in Section 4.14 of the Indenture, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes that remain outstanding, to the date of redemption (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date).

 

  (d) Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to August 15, 2017.

 

  (e) On and after August 15, 2017, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes, from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes to be redeemed to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on August 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2017

     105.438

2018

     103.625

2019

     101.813

2020 and thereafter

     100.000

 

  (f) Unless the Issuers default in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

 

  (6) R EPURCHASE AT THE O PTION OF H OLDER .

 

  (a)

If there is a Change of Control, each Holder will have the right, except as provided below and in the Indenture, to require the Company to make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of that Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the relevant Interest Payment Date (the “ Change of Control Payment ”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will send a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture. The Company will not be

 

A1-4


  required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control, if (i) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 4.14(a) of the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, (ii) notice of redemption of all outstanding Notes has been given pursuant to the Indenture unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price, or (iii) in connection with or in contemplation of any Change of Control, the Company has made an offer to purchase (an “ Alternate Offer ”) any and all Notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Payment and has purchased all Notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Alternate Offer.

 

  (b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales, within ten Business Days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $30.0 million, the Issuers will commence an offer (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, prepay or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Indenture, to purchase, prepay or redeem the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith) that may be purchased, prepaid or redeemed out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of repurchase, prepayment or redemption, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture and subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered in (or required to be prepaid or redeemed in connection with) such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis (except that any Notes represented in the form of a Global Note will be selected by such method as DTC or its nominee or successor may require or, where such nominee or successor is the Trustee, a method that most nearly approximates pro rata selection as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate unless otherwise required by law). Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive notice of an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase, prepayment or redemption date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “ Option of Holder to Elect Purchase ” attached to the Notes.

 

A1-5


  (7) N OTICE OF O PTIONAL R EDEMPTION . Notices of optional redemption will be mailed by first-class mail (or in the case of Notes in the form of Global Notes, pursuant to the applicable procedures of DTC) at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction or discharge of the Indenture. The notice of redemption with respect to a redemption pursuant to Section 3.07(b) of the Indenture and paragraph 5(b) herein need not set forth the Make-Whole Price but only the manner of calculation thereof. The Company will notify the Trustee of the Make-Whole Price with respect to any redemption promptly after the calculation, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for such calculation. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.

 

  (8) D ENOMINATIONS , T RANSFER , E XCHANGE . The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuers may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

  (9) P ERSONS D EEMED O WNERS . The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

  (10)

A MENDMENT , S UPPLEMENT AND W AIVER . Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class, and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented to: (i) cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; (ii) provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; (iii) provide for the assumption of an Issuer’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of Notes and Note Guarantees in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of such Issuer’s or Guarantor’s properties or assets, as applicable; (iv) make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any Holder; (v) comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA; (vi) conform the text of the Indenture or the Notes to any provision of

 

A1-6


  the “Description of Notes” section of the Issuers’ Offering Memorandum dated July 29, 2014, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees; (vii) provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture as of the Issue Date; (viii) secure the Notes or the Note Guarantees; (ix) add any additional Guarantor or to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its Note Guarantee, in each case as provided in the Indenture; or (x) evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under the Indenture of a successor Trustee.

 

  (11)

D EFAULTS AND R EMEDIES . Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes; (ii) default in the payment when due of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes; (iii) failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 5.01 of the Indenture or to consummate a purchase of Notes when required pursuant to Sections 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 30 days after written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with the provisions of Section 4.07 or Section 4.09 of the Indenture or to comply with the provisions of Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture to the extent not described in the immediately preceding clause (iii); (v) (a) except as addressed in subclause (b) of this clause (v), failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture or this Note or (b) failure by the Company for 180 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with Section 4.03 of the Indenture; (vi) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, if that default: (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “ Payment Default ”); or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity, and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $25.0 million or more; provided, however , that if, prior to any acceleration of the Notes, (1) any such Payment Default is cured or waived, (2) any such acceleration of such Indebtedness is rescinded, or (3) such Indebtedness is repaid within a period of 10 Business Days from the continuation of such default beyond any applicable grace period for such Payment Default or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, then any Default or Event of Default (but not any acceleration of the Notes) caused by such Payment Default or acceleration shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree; (vii) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial

 

A1-7


  statements for the Company), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments (entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction) aggregating in excess of $25.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; (viii) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee, except, in each case, by reason of the release of such Note Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture; (ix) an Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law (a) commences a voluntary case, (b) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (c) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, (d) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or (e) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or (x) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (a) is for relief against any Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case, (b) appoints a custodian of any Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of an Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or (c) orders the liquidation of an Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days. In the case of an Event of Default specified in the immediately preceding clause (ix) or clause (x), with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all then outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice (subject to applicable law). If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company and, in the case of a notice by Holders, also to the Trustee specifying the respective Event of Default and that it is a notice of acceleration. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, any Note) if it in good faith determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee

 

A1-8


  may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not violate any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived. The Issuers are required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Issuers are required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

  (12) T RUSTEE D EALINGS WITH THE I SSUERS . The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for any Issuer or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with any Issuer or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

  (13) N O R ECOURSE A GAINST O THERS . None of the General Partner or any director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager, unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the General Partner, the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or such Guarantor under the Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

  (14) A UTHENTICATION . This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

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

 

  (16) A DDITIONAL R IGHTS AND O BLIGATIONS OF H OLDERS OF R ESTRICTED G LOBAL N OTES AND R ESTRICTED D EFINITIVE N OTES . In addition to the rights and obligations of Holders of Notes under the Indenture, each Holder of Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights and obligations set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 4, 2014 among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof or, in the case of Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have the rights and obligations set forth in one or more registration rights agreements, if any, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, relating to rights given by the Issuers and the Guarantors to the purchasers of any Additional Notes (collectively, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”). By such Holders acceptance of Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes, such Holder acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including without limitation the obligations of the Holders with respect to indemnification of the Issuers and the Guarantors to the extent provided therein.

 

  (17)

CUSIP N UMBERS . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP

 

A1-9


  numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

  (18) G OVERNING L AW . THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:

Compressco Partners, L.P.

101 Park Avenue, Suite 1200

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

Facsimile No.: (281) 364-4398

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

A1-10


A SSIGNMENT F ORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:    
  (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

and irrevocably appoint    
to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:                     

 

Your Signature:    
    (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee*:    

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A1-11


O PTION OF H OLDER TO E LECT P URCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

     Section 4.10         Section 4.14

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$             

Date:                     

 

Your Signature:    
    (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Tax Identification No.:    

 

Signature Guarantee*:    

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

  Amount of
decrease in
Principal Amount 
of this Global Note
  Amount of increase
in Principal
Amount
of this Global Note
  Principal Amount 
of this Global Note
following such
decrease
(or increase)
  Signature of
authorized officer
of Trustee or
Custodian
       
       
       

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form .

 

A1-13


EXHIBIT A2

[Face of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]

 

CUSIP/CINS              2

 

7.25% Senior Note due 2022   
No.         $                
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.   
COMPRESSCO FINANCE INC.   

jointly and severally promise to pay to                      [ if a Global Note, insert — CEDE & CO., as nominee for The Depository Trust Company] or its registered assigns, the principal sum of                      DOLLARS [ if a Global Note, insert — , or such other principal amount as shall be set forth on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note” attached hereto,] on August 15, 2022.

Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15

Record Dates: February 1 and August 1

Dated:              , 20     

 

COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.
By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
COMPRESSCO FINANCE INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

This is one of the Notes referred to   
in the within-mentioned Indenture:   
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee   

 

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

2   Regulation S CUSIP / ISIN: U2038G AA1 / USU2038GAA14

 

A2-1


[Back of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]

7.25% Senior Note due 2022

THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR DEFINITIVE NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.

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

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE ‘‘SECURITIES ACT’’), OR ANY STATE OR OTHER SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A ‘‘QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER’’ (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (B) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), OR (C) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN ‘‘OFFSHORE TRANSACTION’’ PURSUANT TO RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR OF ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS

 

A2-2


SECURITY) AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH AN ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUERS WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS SECURITY, OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUERS OR ANY OF THEIR SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A ‘‘QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER’’ AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED THAT THE ISSUERS AND THE TRUSTEE SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATION OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING IN THE INDENTURE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFER TO THE TRUSTEE.

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

 

  (1) I NTEREST . Compressco Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Company ”), and Compressco Finance Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with the Company, the “ Issuers ”), jointly and severally promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 7.25% per annum until maturity and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if any, payable pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Issuers will pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “ Interest Payment Date ”). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be             ,     . The Issuers will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes; they will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any (without regard to any applicable grace periods), from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

A2-3


Until this Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchanged for one or more Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Holder hereof shall not be entitled to receive payments of interest hereon; until so exchanged in full, this Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall in all other respects be entitled to the same benefits as other Notes under the Indenture.

 

  (2) M ETHOD OF P AYMENT . The Issuers will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the February 1 or August 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided to the Issuers or the Paying Agent wire transfer instructions to an account in the United States of America. Such payment will be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

  (3) P AYING A GENT AND R EGISTRAR . Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder; provided, however, that the Issuers shall at all times maintain a Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Either Issuer or any Subsidiary may act in any such capacity.

 

  (4) I NDENTURE . The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of August 4, 2014 (the “ Indenture ”) among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Issuers. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder.

 

  (5) O PTIONAL R EDEMPTION .

 

  (a)

At any time prior to August 15, 2017, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding under the Indenture (which may include Additional Notes) with an amount of cash not greater than the amount of the net cash proceeds from one or more Equity Offerings at a redemption price equal to 107.250% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued

 

A2-4


  and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes to be redeemed to the redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the relevant Interest Payment Date); provided that (i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued on the Issue Date (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding after each such redemption and (ii) the redemption occurs within 180 days after the closing of such Equity Offering.

 

  (b) At any time or from time to time prior to August 15, 2017, the Company may also redeem all or a part of the Notes, at a redemption price equal to the Make-Whole Price, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

 

  (c) In the event that Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer and the Company (or any third party making such Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company as set forth in Section 4.14(c) of the Indenture) purchases all of the Notes held by such Holders, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer described in Section 4.14 of the Indenture, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes that remain outstanding, to the date of redemption (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date).

 

  (d) Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to August 15, 2017.

 

  (e) On and after August 15, 2017, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes, from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes to be redeemed to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on August 15 of the years indicated below:

 

A2-5


Year

   Percentage  

2017

     105.438

2018

     103.625

2019

     101.813

2020 and thereafter

     100.000

 

  (f) Unless the Issuers default in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

 

  (6) R EPURCHASE AT T HE O PTION OF H OLDER .

 

  (a) If there is a Change of Control, each Holder will have the right, except as provided below and in the Indenture, to require the Company to make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of that Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the relevant Interest Payment Date (the “ Change of Control Payment ”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will send a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture. The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control, if (i) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 4.14(a) of the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, (ii) notice of redemption of all outstanding Notes has been given pursuant to the Indenture unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price, or (iii) in connection with or in contemplation of any Change of Control, the Company has made an offer to purchase (an “ Alternate Offer ”) any and all Notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Payment and has purchased all Notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Alternate Offer.

 

  (b)

If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales, within ten Business Days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $30.0 million, the Issuers will commence an offer (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, prepay or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Indenture, to purchase, prepay or redeem the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith) that may be purchased, prepaid or redeemed out of

 

A2-6


  the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of repurchase, prepayment or redemption, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture and subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, due on the relevant Interest Payment Date. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered in (or required to be prepaid or redeemed in connection with) such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis (except that any Notes represented in the form of a Global Note will be selected by such method as DTC or its nominee or successor may require or, where such nominee or successor is the Trustee, a method that most nearly approximates pro rata selection as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate unless otherwise required by law). Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive notice of an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase, prepayment or redemption date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “ Option of Holder to Elect Purchase ” attached to the Notes.

 

  (7) N OTICE OF O PTIONAL R EDEMPTION . Notices of optional redemption will be mailed by first-class mail (or in the case of Notes in the form of Global Notes, pursuant to the applicable procedures of DTC) at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction or discharge of the Indenture. The notice of redemption with respect to a redemption pursuant to Section 3.07(b) of the Indenture and paragraph 5(b) herein need not set forth the Make-Whole Price but only the manner of calculation thereof. The Company will notify the Trustee of the Make-Whole Price with respect to any redemption promptly after the calculation, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for such calculation. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.

 

  (8) D ENOMINATIONS , T RANSFER , E XCHANGE . The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuers may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

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This Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchangeable in whole or in part for one or more Global Notes only (i) on or after the termination of the 40-day distribution compliance period (as defined in Regulation S) and (ii) upon presentation of certificates (accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel, if applicable) required by Article 2 of the Indenture. Upon exchange of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note for one or more Global Notes, the Trustee shall cancel this Regulation S Temporary Global Note.

 

  (9) P ERSONS D EEMED O WNERS . The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

  (10) A MENDMENT , S UPPLEMENT AND W AIVER . Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class, and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented to: (i) cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; (ii) provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; (iii) provide for the assumption of an Issuer’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of Notes and Note Guarantees in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of such Issuer’s or Guarantor’s properties or assets, as applicable; (iv) make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any Holder; (v) comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA; (vi) conform the text of the Indenture or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Issuers’ Offering Memorandum dated July 29, 2014, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees; (vii) provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture as of the Issue Date; (viii) secure the Notes or the Note Guarantees; (ix) add any additional Guarantor or to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its Note Guarantee, in each case as provided in the Indenture; or (x) evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under the Indenture of a successor Trustee.

 

  (11)

D EFAULTS AND R EMEDIES . Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes; (ii) default in the payment when due of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes; (iii) failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 5.01 of the Indenture or to consummate a purchase of Notes when required pursuant to Sections 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 30 days after written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of

 

A2-8


  the then outstanding Notes to comply with the provisions of Section 4.07 or Section 4.09 of the Indenture or to comply with the provisions of Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture to the extent not described in the immediately preceding clause (iii); (v) (a) except as addressed in subclause (b) of this clause (v), failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture or this Note or (b) failure by the Company for 180 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with Section 4.03 of the Indenture; (vi) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, if that default: (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “ Payment Default ”); or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity, and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $25.0 million or more; provided, however , that if, prior to any acceleration of the Notes, (1) any such Payment Default is cured or waived, (2) any such acceleration of such Indebtedness is rescinded, or (3) such Indebtedness is repaid within a period of 10 Business Days from the continuation of such default beyond any applicable grace period for such Payment Default or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, then any Default or Event of Default (but not any acceleration of the Notes) caused by such Payment Default or acceleration shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree; (vii) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments (entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction) aggregating in excess of $25.0 million (to the extent no covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; (viii) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee, except, in each case, by reason of the release of such Note Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture; (ix) an Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law (a) commences a voluntary case, (b) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (c) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, (d) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or (e) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or (x) a court of

 

A2-9


  competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (a) is for relief against any Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case, (b) appoints a custodian of any Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of an Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or (c) orders the liquidation of an Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days. In the case of an Event of Default specified in the immediately preceding clause (ix) or clause (x), with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all then outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice (subject to applicable law). If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company and, in the case of a notice by Holders, also to the Trustee specifying the respective Event of Default and that it is a notice of acceleration. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, any Note) if it in good faith determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not violate any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived. The Issuers are required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Issuers are required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

  (12) TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH THE ISSUERS . The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for any Issuer or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with any Issuer or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

  (13)

NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS . None of the General Partner or any director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager, unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the General Partner, the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or such Guarantor under the

 

A2-10


  Notes, the Note Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

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

 

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

 

  (16) ADDITIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES AND RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES . In addition to the rights and obligations of Holders of Notes under the Indenture, each Holder of Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights and obligations set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 4, 2014 among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof or, in the case of Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have the rights and obligations set forth in one or more registration rights agreements, if any, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, relating to rights given by the Issuers and the Guarantors to the purchasers of any Additional Notes (collectively, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”). By such Holders acceptance of Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes, such Holder acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including without limitation the obligations of the Holders with respect to indemnification of the Issuers and the Guarantors to the extent provided therein.

 

  (17) CUSIP NUMBERS . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

  (18) GOVERNING LAW . THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:

Compressco Partners, L.P.

101 Park Avenue, Suite 1200

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

Facsimile No.: (281) 364-4398

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

A2-11


A SSIGNMENT F ORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:   

 

   (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

and irrevocably appoint                                                                                                                                                                                     

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

Date:                     

 

Your Signature:                                                                                       

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*:                     

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A2-12


O PTION OF H OLDER TO E LECT P URCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

     Section 4.10                 

                        Section 4.14    

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

 

$         

Date:                     

 

Your Signature:  

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this

Note)

Tax Identification No.:  

 

 

Signature Guarantee*:    

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A2-13


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE

The following exchanges of a part of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note for an interest in another Global Note, or exchanges of a part of another other Restricted Global Note for an interest in this Regulation S Temporary Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

  Amount of
decrease in
Principal Amount
of this Global Note
  Amount of
increase in
Principal Amount
of this Global Note
  Principal Amount
of this Global Note
following such
decrease
(or increase)
  Signature of
authorized officer
of Trustee or
Custodian
       
       
       
       

 

A2-14


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Compressco Partners, L.P.

101 Park Avenue, Suite 1200

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

U.S. Bank National Association

5555 San Felipe, Suite 1150

Houston, Texas 77056

Attention: Global Corporate Trust Services

 

  Re: 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of August 4, 2014 (the “ Indenture ”), among Compressco Partners, L.P. and Compressco Finance Inc., as issuers (the “ Issuers ”), the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                    , (the “ Transferor ”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $         in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Transfer ”), to                      (the “ Transferee ”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

1. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A . The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

2. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, the Regulation S Permanent Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S . The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and

 

B-1


neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3. ¨ Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S . The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

or

(b) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to an Issuer or a subsidiary thereof;

or

(c) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;

or

(d) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) if such Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes at the time of transfer of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

4. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note .

 

B-2


(a) ¨ Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144 . (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(b) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S . (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption . (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers.

 

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
 

Dated:

 

B-3


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

  1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

 (a)

  ¨    a beneficial interest in the:
  (i)    ¨    144A Global Note (CUSIP 20467B AA7), or
  (ii)    ¨    Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP U2038G AA1), or
  (iii)    ¨    IAI Global Note (CUSIP 20467B AC3); or

(b)

  ¨    a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

  2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

 

 (a)

  ¨    a beneficial interest in the:
  (i)    ¨    144A Global Note (CUSIP 20467B AA7), or
  (ii)    ¨    Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP U2038G AA1), or
  (iii)    ¨    IAI Global Note (CUSIP 20467B AC3); or
  (iv)    ¨    Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP 20467B AB5); or

(b)

  ¨    a Restricted Definitive Note; or

(c)

  ¨    an Unrestricted Definitive Note,

in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-4


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Compressco Partners, L.P.

101 Park Avenue, Suite 1200

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

U.S. Bank National Association

5555 San Felipe, Suite 1150

Houston, Texas 77056

Attention: Global Corporate Trust Services

 

Re: 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022 (CUSIP             )

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of August 4, 2014 (the “ Indenture ”), among Compressco Partners, L.P. and Compressco Finance Inc., as issuers (the “ Issuers ”), the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                    , (the “ Owner ”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $         in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Exchange ”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note

(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note . In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note . In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(c) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note . In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in

 

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compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(d) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note . In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes

(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note . In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] ¨ 144A Global Note, ¨ Regulation S Global Note, ¨ IAI Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers.

 

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:

 

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EXHIBIT D

FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM

ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

Compressco Partners, L.P.

101 Park Avenue, Suite 1200

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

U.S. Bank National Association

5555 San Felipe, Suite 1150

Houston, Texas 77056

Attention: Global Corporate Trust Services

 

  Re: 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of August 4, 2014 (the “ Indenture ”), among Compressco Partners, L.P. and Compressco Finance Inc., as issuers (the “ Issuers ”), the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

In connection with our proposed purchase of $             aggregate principal amount of:

(a) ¨ a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or

(b) ¨ a Definitive Note,

we confirm that:

1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).

2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein, we will do so only (A) to an Issuer or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Issuers a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and, if such transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes, at the time of transfer of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuers to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or (F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any Person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.

3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Issuers such certifications, legal opinions and other information

 

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EXHIBIT D

as you and the Issuers may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

4. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.

You and the Issuers are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

 

[Insert Name of Accredited Investor]

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:

 

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EXHIBIT E

FORM OF NOTATION OF NOTE GUARANTEE

For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture dated as of August 4, 2014 (the “ Indenture ”) among Compressco Partners, L.P. and Compressco Finance Inc., as issuers (together, the “Issuers” ), the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes, if lawful, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Note Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Note Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions.

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

[G UARANTOR ]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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EXHIBIT F

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of         , 20    , among                      (the “ Guaranteeing Subsidiary ”), a subsidiary (or a permitted successor thereof) of Compressco Partners, L.P. (“ Compressco Partners ”), a Delaware limited partnership, or Compressco Finance Inc. (“ Finance Corp. ,” and, together with Compressco Partners, the “ Issuers ”), a Delaware corporation, the Issuers, the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee ”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuers have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “ Indenture ”), dated as of August 4, 2014 providing for the issuance of 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “ Note Guarantee ”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Notes as follows:

1. C APITALIZED T ERMS . Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

2. A GREEMENT TO G UARANTEE . The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Note Guarantee and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 10 thereof.

3. E XECUTION AND D ELIVERY . Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the Note Guarantees shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.

4. N O R ECOURSE A GAINST O THERS . No past, present or future director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, organizer, manager, unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary or agent thereof, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary or any other Subsidiary of an Issuer providing a Note Guarantee under the Notes, any Note Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

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5. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

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

7. E FFECT OF H EADINGS . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

8. T HE T RUSTEE . The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Issuers.

 

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

Dated:             , 20    

 

GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
[                    ]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
ISSUERS :
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.
By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
COMPRESSCO FINANCE INC.
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
EXISTING GUARANTORS :
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS SUB, INC.
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:

 

F-3


EXHIBIT F

 

COMPRESSCO PARTNERS OPERATING, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
COMPRESSCO FIELD SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners Operating, LLC,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
COMPRESSCO INTERNATIONAL, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners Operating, LLC,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:

 

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EXHIBIT F

 

COMPRESSCO HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners Operating, LLC,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
COMPRESSCO LEASING, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners Operating, LLC,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS, INC.
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
ROTARY COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS, INC.
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:

 

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EXHIBIT F

 

PUMP SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:  

     

  Name:
  Title:
[                    ]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
TRUSTEE :
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

F-6

Exhibit 4.2

Execution Version

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

by and among

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

Compressco Finance Inc.,

The Guarantors listed on Schedule A hereto, and

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

Dated as of August 4, 2014


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of August 4, 2014, by and among (i) COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), (ii) COMPRESSCO FINANCE INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Finance Co. ” and, together with the Partnership, the “ Issuers ”), (iii) the subsidiaries of the Partnership listed on Schedule A hereto (the “ Guarantors ” and, together with the Issuers, the “ Obligors ”), and (iv) MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED, as representative of the several initial purchasers listed on Schedule A of the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (the “ Initial Purchasers ”), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Issuers’ 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022 (together with the related guarantees of such notes by the Guarantors pursuant to the Indenture (as defined herein), the “ Initial Notes ”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2014 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), by and among the Obligors and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as representative of the Initial Purchasers, as supplemented by the Purchase Agreement Joinder, dated as of August 4, 2014, by and among the guarantors named therein and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as representative of the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Initial Notes, the Obligors have agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers under the Purchase Agreement as set forth in Section 5(f) of the Purchase Agreement.

The parties hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1. Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture (as defined below), and the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Agreement : As defined in the preamble hereto.

Broker-Dealer : Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

Business Day : Any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

Commission : The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Consummate : An Exchange Offer shall be deemed “Consummated” for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and effectiveness under the Securities Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (ii) the maintenance of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, and (iii) the delivery by the Issuers to the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes that were validly tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.


controlling person : As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.

DTC : The Depository Trust Company or its nominee.

Effectiveness Target Date : As defined in Section 5 hereof.

Exchange Act : The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Notes : The 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022, including the related guarantees of such notes by the Guarantors pursuant to the Indenture, to be issued pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.

Exchange Offer : The exchange and issuance by the Issuers of a principal amount of Exchange Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes that are validly tendered by such Holders in connection with such exchange and issuance.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement : The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer.

Finance Co. : As defined in the preamble hereto.

FINRA : The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

General Partner : Compressco Partners GP Inc., a Delaware corporation and the sole general partner of the Partnership.

Guarantors : As defined in the preamble hereto.

Holder : As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.

Indemnified Holder : As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.

Indenture : The indenture, dated as of August 4, 2014, by and among the Obligors and the Trustee.

Initial Notes : As defined in the preamble hereto.

Initial Placement : The issuance and sale by the Issuers of the Initial Notes to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

Initial Purchasers : As defined in the preamble hereto.

Issue Date : August 4, 2014.

 

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Issuers : As defined in the preamble hereto.

Liquidated Damages : As defined in Section 5(a) hereof.

Obligors : As defined in the preamble hereto.

Partnership : As defined in the preamble hereto.

Person : An individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, unincorporated organization or other legal entity, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

Prospectus : The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such prospectus.

Purchase Agreement : As defined in the preamble hereto.

Registration Default : As defined in Section 5(a) hereof.

Registration Statement : Any registration statement of the Obligors relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, in each case, including all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.

Securities Act : The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Shelf Filing Date : As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.

Shelf Registration Event : As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.

Shelf Registration Statement : As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.

Transfer Restricted Securities : Each Initial Note until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Initial Note has been exchanged in the Exchange Offer by a Person other than a Broker-Dealer for an Exchange Note entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, (b) following the exchange by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer of an Initial Note for an Exchange Note, the date on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such Broker-Dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (c) the date on which the resale of such Initial Note has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement (and the purchasers thereof have been issued Exchange Notes) or (d) the date on which such Initial Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

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Trustee : U.S. Bank National Association.

Trust Indenture Act : The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa 77bbbb), as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, in each case as in effect on the date of the Indenture.

Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering : A registration under a Shelf Registration Statement, pursuant to which securities of the Obligors are sold to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public.

SECTION 2. Securities Subject to this Agreement .

(a) Transfer Restricted Securities . The securities entitled to the benefits of this Agreement are the Transfer Restricted Securities.

(b) Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities . A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a “ Holder ”) whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.

SECTION 3. Registered Exchange Offer .

(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable law or Commission policy, the Obligors shall (i) use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed with the Commission after the Issue Date, a Registration Statement under the Securities Act relating to the Exchange Notes and the Exchange Offer, (ii) use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act not later than 365 days after the Issue Date, (iii) in connection with the foregoing, file (A) all pre-effective amendments to such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause such Registration Statement to become effective, (B) if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act and (C) any necessary filings in connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange Notes to be made under the state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) promptly after such Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission, commence the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall be on the appropriate form permitting (i) registration of the offer and issuance of the Exchange Notes to be offered in exchange for the Initial Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) resales of the Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers who currently hold Transfer Restricted Securities that were acquired for their own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Initial Notes acquired directly from the Issuers or any of their Affiliates) as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.

(b) The Obligors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable United States federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided , however , that in no event shall such period be less than 20 Business Days after the date on which notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders. The Obligors shall cause the Exchange Offer to

 

4


comply with all applicable United States federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Obligors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated no later than 30 Business Days after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, or such later date as may be required by United States federal securities laws.

(c) The Issuers shall indicate in a “Plan of Distribution” section contained in the Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement that any Broker-Dealer who holds Initial Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Issuers or any of their Affiliates), may exchange such Initial Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales of the Exchange Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also contain all other information with respect to such resales by Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Initial Notes held by any such Broker-Dealer except to the extent requested or required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy after the date of this Agreement.

The Obligors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Initial Notes acquired by any Broker-Dealer for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and to ensure that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period ending on the earlier of (i) 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the date on which Broker-Dealers are no longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with market-making or other trading activities.

The Issuers shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any time during such 180-day period (or a shorter period as provided in the foregoing sentence) in order to facilitate such resales.

SECTION 4. Shelf Registration .

(a) Shelf Registration . If (i) the Obligors are not permitted to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, (ii) for any reason the Exchange Offer is not Consummated within 30 Business Days after the Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, or (iii) with respect to any Holder of Transfer

 

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Restricted Securities, such Holder notifies the Issuers prior to the 20th Business Day following the consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder, or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Initial Notes acquired directly from the Issuers or one of their Affiliates, then, upon such Holder’s request, the Obligors shall

(x) use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”), on or prior to 30 days after the occurrence (a “ Shelf Registration Event ”) of (i), (ii) or (iii) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) (such date being the “ Shelf Filing Date ”), which Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for resales of all Transfer Restricted Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof; and

(y) use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as promptly as practicable following the filing of such Shelf Registration Statement, and in any event, on or prior to 90 days after the occurrence of a Shelf Registration Event.

The Obligors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Initial Notes by the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, until the earlier of (i) one year following the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) the date on which all the Initial Notes covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.

(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement . No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Issuers in writing, within 20 days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as the Issuers may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be entitled to Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless such Holder shall have timely provided all such information. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Issuers all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Issuers by such Holder not misleading.

 

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SECTION 5. Liquidated Damages . (a) If (i) a Shelf Registration Statement is required to be filed by this Agreement and is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the Shelf Filing Date, (ii) any of the Registration Statements required by this Agreement has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness in this Agreement (the “ Effectiveness Target Date ”), (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated within 30 Business Days after the Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective by the Commission but shall thereafter cease to be effective or usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded within three days by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself declared effective within five days of filing such post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a “ Registration Default ”), the Obligors hereby agree to pay damages (“ Liquidated Damages ”) to each Holder of the Transfer Restricted Securities in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum on the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder during the 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of the first Registration Default and such amount shall increase by 0.25% per annum at the end of such 90-day period; provided that in no event shall the Liquidated Damages under this Agreement exceed 0.50% per annum. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Shelf Registration Statement in the case of clause (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, in each of clauses (1) through (4) above, in accordance with the requirements set forth herein the Registration Default specified in such clause shall be deemed to have been cured. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular Transfer Restricted Securities, Liquidated Damages relating to such Transfer Restricted Securities shall cease to accrue; provided , however , that, if after Liquidated Damages have ceased to accrue, a different Registration Default occurs, Liquidated Damages shall again accrue pursuant to the foregoing provisions. All accrued Liquidated Damages shall be paid in the manner provided for the payment of interest on the Initial Notes as set forth in the Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of Liquidated Damages shall not increase as a result of more than one Registration Default having occurred (and being pending at the same time). A Registration Default referred to in clause (iv) of this Section 5(a) shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement or the related Prospectus if (i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of material events with respect to the Obligors that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus and such event is not so described therein and (ii) the Obligors are proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus to describe such events; provided, however , that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days in any 12-month period, Liquidated Damages shall be payable in accordance with this Section 5(a) from the 31st day after such Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured.

 

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(b) All obligations of the Obligors to pay Liquidated Damages set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive (subject to the proviso of the immediately preceding sentence) until such time as all such obligations with respect to such security shall have been satisfied in full.

SECTION 6. Registration Procedures .

(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement . In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Obligors shall comply with all of the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof, shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to effect such exchange to permit the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and shall comply with all of the following provisions:

(i) If in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Issuers there is a question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable law, the Obligors each hereby agree to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Obligors to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Initial Notes. The Obligors each hereby agree to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level but shall not be required to take commercially unreasonable action to effect a change of Commission policy. The Obligors each hereby agree, however, to (A) participate in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) deliver to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Issuers setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursue a favorable resolution by the Commission staff of such submission.

(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Issuers, prior to the Consummation thereof, a written representation to the Issuers (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an Affiliate of the Issuers, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in, a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business. In addition, all such Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall otherwise cooperate in the Issuers’ preparations for the Exchange Offer. Each Holder, including any Holder that is a Broker-Dealer, shall acknowledge and agree that any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer (1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc . (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (which may include any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction should be covered by an effective registration

 

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statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of Exchange Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Initial Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the Issuers or any of their Affiliates.

(b) Shelf Registration Statement . In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, if any, the Obligors shall comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof and shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Obligors will as promptly as practicable prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof.

(c) General Provisions . In connection with any Registration Statement and any Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to permit resales of Initial Notes by Broker-Dealers), the Obligors shall:

(i) use their commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements, including, if required by the Securities Act or any regulation thereunder, financial statements of the Guarantors, for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable; upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Obligors shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the case of either clause (A) or (B), use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective by the Commission and such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter;

(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, and to comply fully with the applicable provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Securities Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

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(iii) advise the managing underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders promptly and, if requested by such Persons, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, and (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or blue sky laws, the Obligors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;

(iv) furnish without charge to each Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder named in any Shelf Registration Statement, and each of the managing underwriter(s), if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Shelf Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Shelf Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the review and comment of the managing underwriter(s), if any, in connection with such sale for a period of at least two Business Days, and the Issuers will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus to which the Initial Purchasers or the underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object in writing within two Business Days after the receipt thereof (such objection to be deemed timely made upon confirmation of telecopy transmission within such period). The objection of a managing underwriter, if any, shall be deemed to be reasonable if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

(v) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers, each selling Holder named in any Shelf Registration Statement, and to the underwriter(s), if any, make the representatives of the applicable Obligors available for discussion of such document and other customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or managing underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;

 

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(vi) in connection with any Underwritten Offering, make available at reasonable times for inspection by any managing underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney or accountant retained by any of the managing underwriter(s), all material financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Obligors and cause the Obligors’ officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such managing underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement of any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness and to participate in meetings with investors to the extent requested by the managing underwriter(s), if any; provided , however , that such Persons first agree in writing with the Issuers that any information that is reasonably and in good faith designated by the Issuers in writing as confidential at the time of delivery of such information will be kept confidential by such Persons, unless (A) disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities, (B) disclosure of such information is required by law (including any disclosure requirements pursuant to United States federal securities laws in connection with the filing of such Shelf Registration Statement or the use of any Prospectus), (C) such information becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard such information by such Person or (D) such information becomes available to such Person from a source other than the Issuers and its subsidiaries and such source is not known, after reasonable inquiry, by such Person to be bound by a confidentiality agreement; provided further that, to the extent the foregoing investigation is being made contemporaneously by more than two Holders, there shall be one law firm and one accounting firm retained by all Holders to make such investigation;

(vii) in connection with any Underwritten Offering, if requested by any selling Holders or the managing underwriter(s), promptly incorporate in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and managing underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted Securities, information with respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold to such managing underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold in such offering; and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Issuers are notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

(viii) furnish to each selling Holder, who so reasonably requests, and each of the managing underwriter(s), if any, without charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules;

 

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(ix) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the managing underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Obligors each hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the managing underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto after such time as such Prospectus has been publicly filed with the Commission;

(x) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement involving an Underwritten Offering, enter into, and cause the Guarantors to enter into, such agreements (including an underwriting agreement), and make, and cause the Guarantors to make, such representations and warranties, and take all such other actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to such Underwritten Offering, all to such extent as may be reasonably and customarily requested by any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities or managing underwriter in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to such Underwritten Offering; and the Obligors shall:

(A) furnish to each managing underwriter, in such substance and scope as they may reasonably request and as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings:

(1) a certificate, dated the date of the closing of such Underwritten Offering, signed on behalf of (i) the Partnership by (A) the Chief Executive Officer of the General Partner and (B) the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner, (ii) Finance Co. by (A) the President of Finance Co. and (B) the Chief Financial Officer of Finance Co., and (iii) any Guarantor by (A) the Chief Executive Officer or President of such Guarantor or of a parent, acting on behalf of such Guarantor, and (B) the Chief Financial Officer or any other executive officer of such Guarantor or of a parent, acting on behalf of such Guarantor, confirming, as of the date thereof, such matters set forth in the underwriting agreement as such parties may reasonably request;

(2) an opinion, dated the date of the closing of such Underwritten Offering, of counsel for the Obligors, covering such customary matters as such parties may reasonably request; and

(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the date of the pricing of such Underwritten Offering, from (i) the Partnership’s independent accountants and (ii) the independent accountants of any other Person for which financial statements are included in or incorporated by reference into such Shelf Registration Statement, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily requested to be covered in comfort letters to underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings;

 

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(B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such parties to evidence compliance with Section 6(c)(x)(A) hereof and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by any of the Obligors pursuant to this Section 6(c)(x), if any; and

(C) cooperate with the selling Holders, the managing underwriter(s), if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders or underwriter(s) may reasonably request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement; provided , however , that none of the Obligors shall be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation, partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation in excess of a nominal dollar amount, other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

If at any time the representations and warranties of the Obligors contemplated in Section 6(c)(x) hereof cease to be true and correct, the Obligors shall so advise the Initial Purchasers and the underwriter(s), if any, and each selling Holder promptly and, if requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;

(xi) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Initial Notes covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, Exchange Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes being sold by such Holder; such Exchange Notes to be registered in the name of the Holder of such Initial Notes; in return, the Initial Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Issuers for cancellation;

(xii) cooperate with the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the selling Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two Business Days prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities made by such Holders or managing underwriter(s);

(xiii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in Section 6(c)(x)(C) hereof;

 

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(xiv) if any fact or event contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;

(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Exchange Notes not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such Exchange Notes and provide the Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for the Exchange Notes or global certificates representing the Exchange Notes, which are in a form eligible for deposit with DTC;

(xvi) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with FINRA and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any managing underwriter (including any “qualified independent underwriter”) that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA;

(xvii) otherwise use their commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to securityholders, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 of the Securities Act (which need not be audited) for the twelve-month period (A) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts Underwritten Offering or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with the first month of the Partnership’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement; and

(xviii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, cooperate with, and cause the Guarantors to cooperate with, the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and cause the Guarantors to execute, and use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.

(d) Restrictions on Holders . Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of any notice from the Issuers of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended

 

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Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xiv) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the “ Advice ”) by the Issuers that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. If so directed by the Issuers, each Holder will deliver to the Issuers (at the Issuers’ expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the Issuers shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xiv) hereof or shall have received the Advice;  provided , however , that no such extension shall be taken into account in determining whether Liquidated Damages shall accrue pursuant to Section 5 hereof or the amount of such Liquidated Damages, it being agreed that the Issuers’ option to suspend use of a Registration Statement pursuant to this paragraph shall be treated as a Registration Default for purposes of Section 5 hereof.

SECTION 7. Registration Expenses .

(a) All expenses incident to the Obligors’ performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Obligors, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings made by any Initial Purchaser or Holder with FINRA (and, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” and its counsel that may be required by the rules and regulations of FINRA)); (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with United States federal securities and state securities or blue sky laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Obligors and, subject to Section 7(b) hereof, the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; and (v) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Obligors (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

The Obligors will, in any event, bear their internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by any of the Obligors.

(b) In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement, the Obligors will reimburse the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities being resold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Latham & Watkins LLP or such other counsel as may be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Shelf Registration Statement is being prepared.

 

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(c) Each Holder will pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

SECTION 8. Indemnification .

(a) Each of the Obligors, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder, (ii) each Person, if any, who controls any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act (a “ controlling person ”) and (iii) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of any Holder or any controlling person (any Person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii), an “ Indemnified Holder ”), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which an Indemnified Holder may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of any of the Obligors), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any free writing prospectus or preliminary prospectus used in any transaction contemplated hereby, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and to reimburse each Indemnified Holder for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by such Indemnified Holder) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Holder in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however , that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (including without limitation and as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of investigating, preparing, pursuing, settling, compromising, paying or defending any claim or action, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to any such Indemnified Holder) to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to any Obligor by any of the Holders expressly for use in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any free writing prospectus or preliminary prospectus used in any transaction contemplated hereby or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in conformity with written information furnished to any Obligor by such Holder expressly for use therein or due to the failure of any Holder to respond to any request for information by an Obligor. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that any of the Obligors may otherwise have.

(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Obligors and each of their respective directors, officers and employees, and each controlling person, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which any of the Obligors or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject,

 

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under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Holder or such controlling person), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) (i) arises out of or is based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any free writing prospectus or preliminary prospectus used in connection with any transaction contemplated hereby, or (ii) arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any free writing prospectus or preliminary prospectus used in connection with any transaction contemplated hereby, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to any Obligor by such Holder expressly for use therein or due to the failure of any Holder to respond to any request for information by an Obligor; and to reimburse the Obligors or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person for any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by the Obligors or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that such Holder may otherwise have. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8 or to the extent it is not prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume, the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided , however , if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, which such

 

17


approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), approved by the indemnifying party, representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.

The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Obligors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement (which in the case of the Obligors shall be deemed to be equal to the total gross proceeds to the Obligors from the Initial Placement and the Registration Statement) or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Obligors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Obligors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or any such inaccurate or alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to information supplied by any of the Obligors, on the one hand, or the Holders, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

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The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 8, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 8(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made hereunder; provided , however , that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 8(c) for purposes of indemnification.

The Obligors and each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 8.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, none of the Holders (or any Person who controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(d) are several, and not joint, in proportion to the respective principal amount of Initial Notes held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint. For purposes of this Section 8(d), each director, officer and employee of each Holder and each Person, if any, who controls any Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each director, officer and employee of an Obligor, and each Person, if any, who controls an Obligor within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Obligor.

SECTION 9. Rule 144A . The Obligors each hereby agree with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding, to make available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

SECTION 10. Participation in Underwritten Registrations . No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

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SECTION 11. Selection of Underwriters . The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer Restricted Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities included in such offering; provided , however , that such investment bankers and managers must be reasonably satisfactory to the Partnership.

SECTION 12. Miscellaneous .

(a) Remedies . Each of the Obligors hereby agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b) No Inconsistent Agreements . Each of the Obligors will not, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. None of the Obligors has previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person pursuant to which any such Person would have the right to include any securities in any Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission as required under this Agreement. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Obligors’ securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

(c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes . The Obligors will not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to the Initial Notes and/or the Exchange Notes that would materially and adversely affect their ability to Consummate the Exchange Offer.

(d) Amendments and Waivers . The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Issuers have obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the then-outstanding aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities or a confirmation from DTC that the Holders of a majority of the then-outstanding aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities has consented. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders whose securities are not being sold pursuant to such Registration Statement may be given by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement; provided that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence; provided further that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Obligors shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) with respect to which such amendment, supplement, waiver or consent is to be effective. Notwithstanding the preceding two sentences, Sections 5 and 8 hereof shall not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to depart from this sentence may not be given, unless the Issuers have obtained the written consent of each Holder affected thereby.

 

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(e) Additional Guarantors . The Partnership shall cause any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) that becomes, prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, a Guarantor in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Indenture to become a party to this Agreement as a Guarantor. It is understood and agreed that if, prior to the Exchange Offer, a Guarantor that has executed this Agreement is no longer a Guarantor under the Indenture pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, such Guarantor shall no longer be a Guarantor or an Obligor for purposes of this Agreement.

(f) Notices . All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture;

(ii) if to the Obligors:

 

Compressco Partners GP Inc.
Compressco Partners, L.P.
101 Park Avenue, Suite 1200
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102
Attention: James P. Rounsavall

 Chief Financial Officer

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Andrews Kurth LLP
600 Travis, Suite 4200
Houston, Texas 77002
Facsimile: (713) 238-7126
Attention: David C. Buck

(iii) if to the Initial Purchasers:

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                    Incorporated

One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
Facsimile: (646) 855-3073
Attention: Syndicate Department
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Latham & Watkins LLP

 

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811 Main Street, 37th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Facsimile: (713) 546-5401
Attention: J. Michael Chambers

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address specified in the Indenture.

(g) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided , however , that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder.

(h) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(i) Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(j) Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(k) Severability . In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

(l) Entire Agreement . This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted by the Obligors with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

ISSUERS:
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.
By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
COMPRESSCO FINANCE INC.
By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
GUARANTORS :
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS SUB, INC.
By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS OPERATING, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


COMPRESSCO FIELD SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners Operating, LLC,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
COMPRESSCO INTERNATIONAL, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners Operating, LLC,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
COMPRESSCO HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners Operating, LLC,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


COMPRESSCO LEASING, LLC
By:  

Compressco Partners Operating, LLC,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners, L.P.,

its sole managing member

By:  

Compressco Partners GP Inc.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS, INC.
By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Vice President—Finance
ROTARY COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS, INC.
By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Vice President—Finance
PUMP SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Vice President—Finance

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


CSI COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

Compressor Systems, Inc.,

its sole member

By:  

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Vice President—Finance

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


The forgoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:

 

M ERRIL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER & S MITH
I NCORPORATED
For itself and on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers listed in Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement.
By:  

/s/ Oscar Brown

Name:   Oscar Brown
Title:   Managing Director

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


SCHEDULE A

Guarantors

Compressco Partners Sub, Inc.

Compressco Partners Operating, LLC

Compressco Field Services International LLC

Compressco International, LLC

Compressco Holdings, LLC

Compressco Leasing, LLC

Compressor Systems, Inc.

Pump Systems International, Inc.

Rotary Compressor Systems, Inc.

CSI Compression Holdings, LLC

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

July 29, 2014

M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH I NCORPORATED

As Representative of the Initial Purchasers

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Introductory . Compressco Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and Compressco Finance Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Finance Corp. ” and, together with the Partnership, the “ Issuers ”), propose to issue and sell to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“ Merrill Lynch ”) and the other several Initial Purchasers named in Schedule A (the “ Initial Purchasers ”), acting severally and not jointly, the respective amounts set forth in such Schedule A of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “ Notes ”). Merrill Lynch has agreed to act as the representative of the several Initial Purchasers (the “ Representative ”) in connection with the offering and sale (the “ Offering ”) of the Notes and the Guarantees (as defined below).

The Securities (as defined below) will be issued pursuant to an indenture, to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 2 hereof) (the “ Indenture ”), among the Issuers, the Guarantors (as defined below) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”). The Notes will be issued only in book-entry form in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (the “ Depositary ”), pursuant to a letter of representations, to be dated on or before the Closing Date (the “ DTC Agreement ”), from the Issuers to the Depositary.

The holders of the Notes will be entitled to the benefits of a registration rights agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Date (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers, pursuant to which the Obligors (as defined below) may be required to file with the SEC (as defined below), under the circumstances set forth therein, (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended, the “ Securities Act ,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) promulgated thereunder) relating to another series of debt securities of the Issuers with terms substantially identical to the Notes (the “ Exchange Notes ”) to be offered in exchange for the Notes (the “ Exchange Offer ”) or (ii) a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act relating to the resale by certain holders of the Notes, and in each case, to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statements to be declared effective. All references herein to the Exchange Notes and the Exchange Offer are only applicable if the Obligors are in fact required to consummate the Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.

The payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes and the Exchange Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis, jointly and severally, by (i) the entities listed on the signature pages hereof as “Guarantors” and (ii) any subsidiary of the Partnership formed or acquired after the Closing Date that guarantees the Notes


or the Exchange Notes in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns (collectively, the “Guarantors ), pursuant to their guarantees of the Notes to be included in the Indenture (the “Guarantees ). The Notes and the Guarantees related thereto are herein collectively referred to as the “Securities ; the Exchange Notes and the Guarantees related thereto are herein collectively referred to as the “Exchange Securities ; and the Issuers and the Guarantors are herein collectively referred to the “Obligors .”

Compressco Partners Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Purchaser ”), has entered into that Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 20, 2014 (the “ Stock Purchase Agreement ”), with Warren Equipment Company, a Delaware corporation (the “ Shareholder ”), pursuant to which the Shareholder agreed to sell, and the Purchaser agreed to acquire (the “ Acquisition ”), all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Compressor Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Target ”). On the Closing Date, immediately following consummation of the Acquisition, the Target and any additional entities required to guarantee the Notes pursuant to the Indenture (collectively, the “ Additional Guarantors ”) will be joined as parties to this Purchase Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) pursuant to a joinder agreement, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Joinder Agreement ”). From and after the time of execution of the Joinder Agreement, all references herein to the “ Guarantors ” will be deemed to include the Additional Guarantors (unless the context requires otherwise).

The Securities are being issued and sold as part of a financing of the Acquisition, the costs and expenses related to the Transactions (as defined below), and the ongoing working capital and other general partnership purposes of the Partnership. In addition to the Offering, the Purchaser intends to finance the Transactions from the following sources: (i) a concurrent registered offering of the Partnership’s common units representing limited partner interests (the “ Equity Offering ”); and (ii) initial borrowings under the Partnership’s new credit agreement (the “ New Credit Agreement ”). The Acquisition, the issuance and sale of the Notes, the issuance of the Guarantees, the Equity Offering, the entry by the Obligors into the New Credit Agreement and the initial extensions of credit thereunder, if any, on the Closing Date, the repayment in full of borrowings under the Partnership’s existing credit agreement (the “ Existing Credit Agreement ”) as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (as defined below) and the payment of transaction costs are referred to herein collectively, as the “ Transactions .”

This Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the DTC Agreement, the Securities, the Exchange Securities, the New Credit Agreement, the Joinder Agreement and the Indenture are referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents .”

The Issuers understand that the Initial Purchasers propose to make an offering of the Securities on the terms and in the manner set forth herein and in the Pricing Disclosure Package (as defined below) and agree that the Initial Purchasers may resell, subject to the conditions set forth herein, all or a portion of the Securities to purchasers (the “ Subsequent Purchasers ”) on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package (the first time when sales of the Securities are made is referred to as the “ Time of Sale ”). The Securities are to be offered and sold to or through the Initial Purchasers without being registered with the SEC under the Securities Act, in reliance upon exemptions therefrom. Pursuant to the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, investors who acquire Securities shall be deemed to have agreed that the Securities may only be resold or otherwise transferred, after the date hereof, if such Securities are registered for sale under the Securities Act or if an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available (including the exemptions afforded by Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“ Rule 144A ”) or Regulation S under the Securities Act (“ Regulation S ”)).

 

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The Issuers have prepared and delivered to each Initial Purchaser copies of a Preliminary Offering Memorandum, dated July 21, 2014 (the “ Preliminary Offering Memorandum ”), and have prepared and delivered to each Initial Purchaser copies of a Pricing Supplement, dated July 29, 2014, in the form attached hereto as Annex I (the “ Pricing Supplement ”), describing the terms of the Securities, each for use by each Initial Purchaser in connection with its solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities. The Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Pricing Supplement are herein referred to as the “ Pricing Disclosure Package .” Promptly after this Agreement is executed and delivered, the Issuers will prepare and deliver to each Initial Purchaser a final offering memorandum dated the date hereof (the “ Final Offering Memorandum ”).

All references herein to the terms “Pricing Disclosure Package” and “Final Offering Memorandum” shall be deemed to mean and include all information filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended, the “ Exchange Act ,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder) prior to the Time of Sale and incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package (including the Preliminary Offering Memorandum) or the Final Offering Memorandum (as the case may be), and all references herein to the terms “ amend ,” “ amendment ” or “ supplement ” with respect to the Final Offering Memorandum shall be deemed to mean and include all information filed under the Exchange Act after the Time of Sale and incorporated by reference in the Final Offering Memorandum.

Each Obligor hereby confirms its agreements with the Initial Purchasers as follows:

SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties . Each of the Obligors, jointly and severally, hereby represents and warrants to each Initial Purchaser that, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (it being understood that whenever a reference is made in this Section 1 to the subsidiaries of the Partnership, such phrase will be understood to refer to the subsidiaries of the Partnership both prior to and immediately after the Acquisition, including the Additional Guarantors and their subsidiaries) (references in this Section 1 to the “ Offering Memorandum ” are to (x) the Pricing Disclosure Package in the case of representations and warranties made as of the date hereof and (y) the Final Offering Memorandum in the case of representations and warranties made as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date):

(a) No Registration Required. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 2 hereof and subject to compliance by the Initial Purchasers with the procedures set forth in Section 7 hereof, it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers and to each Subsequent Purchaser in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum to register the Securities under the Securities Act or, until such time as the Exchange Securities are issued pursuant to an effective registration statement, to qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (as amended, the “ Trust Indenture Act ,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder).

 

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(b) No Integration of Offerings or General Solicitation. None of the Obligors, their affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act) (each, an “ Affiliate ”), or any person acting on its or any of their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Obligors make no representation or warranty) has, directly or indirectly, solicited any offer to buy or offered to sell, in the United States or to any United States citizen or resident, any security that is or would be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the Securities to be registered under the Securities Act. None of the Obligors, their Affiliates, or any person acting on its or any of their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Obligors make no representation or warranty) has engaged, in connection with the offering of the Securities, in any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 under the Securities Act. With respect to those Securities sold in reliance upon Regulation S, (i) none of the Obligors, their Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Obligors make no representation or warranty) has engaged in any directed selling efforts within the meaning of Regulation S and (ii) each of the Obligors, their Affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Obligors make no representation or warranty) has complied with the offering restrictions set forth in Regulation S.

(c) Eligibility for Resale under Rule 144A. The Securities are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A and will not be, at the Closing Date, of the same class as securities listed on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in a U.S. automated interdealer quotation system.

(d) The Pricing Disclosure Package and Final Offering Memorandum. Neither the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Time of Sale, nor the Final Offering Memorandum, as of its date or (as amended or supplemented in accordance with Section 3(a) hereof, as applicable) as of the Closing Date, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that this representation, warranty and agreement shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Issuers in writing by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser expressly for use in the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Memorandum or amendment or supplement thereto, as the case may be. The Pricing Disclosure Package contains, and the Final Offering Memorandum will contain, all the information specified in, and meeting the requirements of, Rule 144A.

(e) Additional Written Communications. The Obligors have not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or distributed any written communication that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities other than (i) the Pricing Disclosure Package, (ii) the Final Offering Memorandum and (iii) any electronic road show or other written communications, in each case used in accordance with Section 3(a) hereof. Each such communication by the Obligors or their agents and representatives pursuant to clause (iii) of the preceding sentence (each, an “ Additional

 

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Written Communication ”), when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, did not as of the Time of Sale, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that this representation, warranty and agreement shall not apply to statements in or omissions from each such Additional Written Communication made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Issuers in writing by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser expressly for use in any Additional Written Communication.

(f) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the SEC (collectively, the “ Incorporated Documents ”) complied or will comply (as applicable) in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

(g) The Purchase Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of each of the Obligors that is a party thereto.

(h) The Registration Rights Agreement and DTC Agreement. The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized and, on the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by, and will constitute a valid and binding agreement of, each of the Obligors that is a party thereto, enforceable against each of the Obligors in accordance with its terms, except as (i) the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles and (ii) rights to indemnification and contribution thereunder may be limited by applicable law and public policy considerations. The DTC Agreement has been duly authorized and, on the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by, and will constitute a valid and binding agreement of, the Issuers, enforceable against the Issuers in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.

(i) Authorization of the Securities and the Exchange Securities. The Notes to be purchased by the Initial Purchasers from the Issuers will, on the Closing Date, be in the form contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture, and when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner provided for in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Issuers, enforceable against the Issuers in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. On the Closing Date, the Exchange Notes will have been duly authorized for issuance by the Issuers, and when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner provided for in the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, will constitute valid and binding

 

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obligations of the Issuers, enforceable against the Issuers in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. The Guarantees of the Notes on the Closing Date have been duly authorized for issuance by the Guarantors and, when the Notes have been duly executed and authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and issued and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor as provided herein, the Guarantees of the Notes will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. On the Closing Date, the Guarantees of the Exchange Notes will have been duly authorized for issuance by the Guarantors and, when the Exchange Notes have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner provided for in the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, the Guarantees of the Exchange Notes will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

(j) Authorization of the Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized and, on the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Obligors and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Obligors that are parties thereto, enforceable against such Obligors in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.

(k) Description of the Transaction Documents. The Transaction Documents will conform in all material respects to the respective statements relating thereto contained in the Offering Memorandum.

(l) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum (in each case, exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), subsequent to the date of the latest financial statements included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum (in each case, exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement): (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, operations or prospects, regardless of whether arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, considered as a single enterprise (any such change, a “Material Adverse Change ); (ii) the Partnership and its

 

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subsidiaries, considered as a single enterprise, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Partnership or, except for dividends paid to the Partnership or other subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.

(m) Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, which expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) of the Partnership (excluding the Target and its subsidiaries) included in the Offering Memorandum, is an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Johnson Miller & Co., which expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements of the Target included in the Offering Memorandum, is an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

(n) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The historical consolidated financial statements, together with the related schedules and notes, included in the Offering Memorandum present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the entities to which they relate as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States (“ GAAP ”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. The summary consolidated historical financial data set forth in the Offering Memorandum under the captions “Summary—Our Summary Consolidated Historical and Pro Forma Financial Information” and “Our Selected Consolidated Historical Financial Information” present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the Offering Memorandum. The pro forma financial statements of the Partnership and its subsidiaries and the related notes thereto included under the caption “Summary— Our Summary Consolidated Historical and Pro Forma Financial Information” and “Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information” present fairly in all material respects the information contained therein, and, for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. The statistical and market-related data and forward looking statements included in the Offering Memorandum are based on or derived from sources that the Partnership believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects and represent their good faith estimates that are made on the basis of data derived from such sources. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum and the Pricing Disclosure Package fairly present the information called for in all material respects and have been prepared in accordance with the SEC’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

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(o) Formation and Good Standing of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries. Each of the Partnership and its subsidiaries has been duly formed, organized or incorporated, as applicable, and is validly existing as a limited partnership, limited liability company or corporation, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, organization or incorporation, as applicable, and has power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum and, except with respect to the Additional Guarantors until such time as they are joined as parties to this Agreement pursuant to the Joinder Agreement, to enter into and perform its obligations under each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. Each of the Partnership and its subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign limited partnership, limited liability company or corporation, as applicable, to transact business and is in good standing or equivalent status in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing or equivalent status would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock or other ownership interest of each subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be limited by the limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation or business entities statute or act, as applicable, of the jurisdiction of formation, organization or incorporation, as applicable, of such subsidiary) and is owned (or, with respect to the Target and its subsidiaries, following the consummation of the Acquisition, will be owned) by the Partnership, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim, other than those arising under the Existing Credit Agreement or the New Credit Agreement, and except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Memorandum. The Partnership does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than (x) prior to the consummation of the Acquisition, the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and Finance Corp. and (y) following the consummation of the Acquisition, the subsidiaries listed in Schedule B hereto.

(p) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. None of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its certificate of limited partnership, certificate of formation, certificate of incorporation, charter, limited partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement, operating agreement, bylaws or other governing document, as applicable (the “ Organizational Documents ”) or (ii) in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“ Default ”) under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, lease or other instrument to which the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound (including, without limitation, the Partnership’s existing credit facilities as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package), or to which any of the property or assets of

 

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the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries is subject, in each case, that are material with respect to the Partnership and its subsidiaries, taken as a single enterprise (each, an “ Existing Instrument ”), except, in the case of clause (ii) above, for such Defaults as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Obligors party thereto and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of proceeds from the sale of Securities as described in the Offering Memorandum under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) (i) will not result in any violation of the Organizational Documents of the Obligors, (ii) except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, Defaults, Debt Repayment Triggering Events, liens, charges or encumbrances as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency having jurisdiction over the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries, except for such violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 2 hereof and subject to compliance by the Initial Purchasers with the procedures set forth in Section 7 hereof, no consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency is required for the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Obligors to the extent a party thereto, or the issuance and delivery of the Securities or the Exchange Securities, or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and by the Offering Memorandum, except as (1) expressly contemplated by this Agreement, (2) such as have been obtained or made by the Obligors and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable securities laws of the several states of the United States or provinces of Canada, (3) such as may be required by the securities laws of the several states of the United States or provinces of Canada with respect to the Obligors’ obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, (4) the filings that may be required to terminate liens or security interests securing existing indebtedness to be paid off in connection with the Transactions as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the Stock Purchase Agreement or the Offering Memorandum and (5) the filings that may be required to perfect liens or security interests granted in connection with the Transactions as contemplated by the Transaction Documents or the Offering Memorandum. As used herein, a “ Debt Repayment Triggering Event ” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries.

 

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(q) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership, threatened (i) against or affecting the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) which has as the subject thereof any property owned or leased by the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries where such action, suit or proceeding, if determined adversely to the Partnership or such subsidiary, would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, no material labor dispute with the employees of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the best of the knowledge of the Partnership, is threatened or imminent.

(r) Intellectual Property Rights. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, the Partnership and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate right to use all material trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, licenses, approvals, trade secrets and other similar rights (collectively, “ Intellectual Property Rights ”) reasonably necessary to conduct their businesses as now conducted in all material respects. Neither the Partnership nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others, which infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change.

(s) All Necessary Permits, etc. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, each of the Partnership and its subsidiaries possesses such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies as are necessary under applicable law to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its businesses, except where the failure to obtain such certificates, authorizations or permits would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither the Partnership nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit, which if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change.

(t) Title to Properties. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, the Partnership and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all the real property (exclusive of easements, rights of way and other similar instruments) and the personal property reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(n) hereof, in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except (i) as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, (ii) as exist pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement or the New Credit Agreement, (iii) liens for real property taxes, assessments and other governmental charges that are not delinquencies or that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and (iv) such as do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Partnership or such subsidiary and would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a

 

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Material Adverse Change. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the Partnership or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions to validity and enforceability as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change.

(u) Tax Law Compliance. The Partnership and its subsidiaries that are required to do so have filed (or have obtained an extension with respect to) all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns (other than certain state and local tax returns as to which the failure to file would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change) and have paid all taxes required to be paid and due pursuant to such return and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of the Partnership or its subsidiaries, in each case other than those (i) that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP or (ii) which, if not paid, would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change.

(v) Investment Company. None of the Obligors is, or after receipt of payment for the Securities will be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(w) Insurance . The Obligors maintain or are entitled to the benefits of insurance covering their properties, operations, personnel and businesses against such losses and risks as are reasonably adequate to protect them and their businesses. All such insurance is outstanding and duly in force on the Closing Date.

(x) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. None of the Obligors has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Issuers to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(y) Solvency. Each of the Obligors is, and immediately after the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, will be, Solvent. As used herein, the term “ Solvent ” means, with respect to any person on a particular date, that on such date (i) the fair market value of the assets of such person is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of such person, (ii) the present fair salable value of the assets of such person is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities of such person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (iii) such person is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, including contingent obligations, as they mature and (iv) such person does not have unreasonably small capital.

(z) Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley. The Partnership, Compressco Partners GP Inc., a Delaware corporation and the sole general partner of the Partnership (the “ General Partner ”), and the General Partner’s officers and directors, in their capacities as such, are in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act, ” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder).

 

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(aa) Accounting System. The Partnership maintains a system of accounting controls that is sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum and the Pricing Disclosure Package fairly present the information called for in all material respects and are prepared in accordance with the SEC’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(bb) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Partnership has established and maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures (i) are designed to provide reasonable assurance that material information relating to the Partnership and its subsidiaries is made known to the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the General Partner as appropriate by others within the General Partner, the Partnership or its subsidiaries and (ii) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they are established subject to the limitations of any such control system; the Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner have been advised of: (x) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Partnership’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data; and (y) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a role in the Partnership’s internal controls; and since the date of the most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

(cc) Regulations T, U and X. None of the Obligors nor any of their respective subsidiaries nor any agent thereof acting on their behalf has taken, and none of them will take, any action that might cause this Agreement or the issuance or sale of the Securities to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

(dd) Compliance with and Liability Under Environmental Laws. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Memorandum or as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change: (i) each of the Partnership and its subsidiaries and their respective operations and facilities are in compliance with, and not subject to any known liabilities under, applicable Environmental Laws (as defined below), which compliance includes, without

 

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limitation, having obtained and being in material compliance with any permits, licenses or other governmental authorizations or approvals, and having made all filings and provided all financial assurances and notices, required for the ownership and operation of the business, properties and facilities of the Partnership or its subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Laws, and compliance with the terms and conditions thereof; (ii) neither the Partnership nor any of its subsidiaries has received any written communication, whether from a governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law; (iii) there is no claim, action or cause of action filed with a court or governmental authority, no investigation with respect to which the Partnership has received written notice, and no written notice by any person or entity alleging actual or potential liability on the part of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries based on or pursuant to any Environmental Law pending or, to the Partnership’s knowledge, threatened against the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries other than such claims, actions, causes of action, investigations and notices regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed; (iv) other than in the ordinary course of business, neither the Partnership nor any of its subsidiaries is conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, response or other corrective action pursuant to any Environmental Law at any site or facility, nor is any of them subject or a party to any order, judgment, decree, contract or agreement which imposes any obligation or liability under any Environmental Law other than such investigations, responses or other corrective actions regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed; and (v) there are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, conditions or occurrences, including, without limitation, the Release (as defined below) or threatened Release of any Materials of Environmental Concern (as defined below), that could reasonably be expected to result in a violation of or liability under any Environmental Law on the part of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries, including without limitation, any such liability which the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law.

For purposes of this Agreement, “ Environment ” means ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, surface and subsurface strata, and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna. “ Environmental Laws ” means the common law and all federal, state, local and foreign laws or regulations, ordinances, codes, orders, decrees, judgments and injunctions issued, promulgated or entered thereunder, relating to pollution or protection of the Environment or human health, including without limitation, those relating to (x) the Release or threatened Release of Materials of Environmental Concern; and (y) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, generation, treatment, storage, transport, handling or recycling of Materials of Environmental Concern. “ Materials of Environmental Concern ” means any substance, material, pollutant, contaminant, chemical, waste, compound, or constituent, in any form, including without limitation, petroleum and petroleum products, subject to regulation or which can give rise to liability under any Environmental Law. “ Release ” means any release, spill, emission, discharge, deposit, disposal, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, emptying, injection or leaching into the Environment, or into, from or through any building, structure or facility.

 

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(ee) Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance. In the ordinary course of its business, the Partnership conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review and the amount of its established reserves, the Partnership has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.

(ff) ERISA Compliance. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, the Partnership and its subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (as amended, “ ERISA ,” which term, as used herein, includes the regulations and published interpretations thereunder) established or maintained by the Partnership, its subsidiaries or their ERISA Affiliates (as defined below) are in compliance with ERISA, except for where any failure to comply would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change. “ ERISA Affiliate ” means, with respect to the Partnership or a subsidiary, any member of any group of organizations described in Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended, the “ Internal Revenue Code, ” which term, as used herein, includes the regulations and published interpretations thereunder) of which the Partnership or such subsidiary is a member. No “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA but excluding any event for which the 30-day notice period is waived) has occurred that has not been timely reported or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Partnership, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No “employer pension benefit plan” (as defined under ERISA) established or maintained by the Partnership, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such “employer pension benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA), except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither the Partnership, its subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change under either (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employer pension benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code. Each “employer pension benefit plan” established or maintained by the Partnership, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, that would cause the loss of such qualification.

(gg) Compliance with Labor Laws. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Memorandum or as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change, (i) there is (A) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership, threatened against the

 

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Partnership or any of its subsidiaries before the National Labor Relations Board, and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under collective bargaining agreements pending, or to the knowledge of the Partnership, threatened, against the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries, (B) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership, threatened against the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries and (C) no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Partnership, no union organizing activities taking place and (ii) there has been no violation of any federal, state or local law relating to discrimination in hiring, promotion or pay of employees or of any applicable wage or hour laws.

(hh) Related Party Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between any of the Partnership or its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, unitholders, customers or suppliers of any of the Partnership or its Affiliates, on the other hand, that is required by the Securities Act to be disclosed in a registration statement on Form S-1 to be filed with the SEC and that is not so disclosed in the Offering Memorandum. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Obligors or their Affiliates to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Obligors or their Affiliates or any of their respective family members.

(ii) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Partnership nor any of its subsidiaries nor any director or officer of the foregoing entities, or, to the knowledge of the Partnership, any agent, employee or affiliate of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (as amended, the “ FCPA ,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations thereunder), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Partnership, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Partnership, their Affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(jj) No Conflict with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Partnership and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership, threatened.

 

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(kk) OFAC. Neither the Partnership nor any of its subsidiaries nor any director or officer of the foregoing entities, or, to the knowledge of the Partnership, any agent, employee or affiliate of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“ OFAC ”), the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”), nor is the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions. The Obligors will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person, (i) to fund any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or is in Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan or in any other country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or (ii) in any manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(ll) New Credit Agreement. The New Credit Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by the Obligors and, when duly executed and delivered by the Obligors and duly authorized, executed and delivered by the lenders thereunder, will be the valid and legally binding obligation of the Obligors, enforceable against the Obligors in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.

(mm) Regulation S. The Obligors and their respective Affiliates and all persons acting on their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Obligors make no representation) have complied with and will comply with the offering restrictions requirements of Regulation S in connection with the offering of the Securities outside the United States and, in connection therewith, the Offering Memorandum will contain the disclosure required by Rule 902. The Partnership is a “reporting issuer”, as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act.

(nn) Capitalization. The Partnership’s capitalization is as set forth under the caption “Capitalization” in the Offering Memorandum.

(oo) MLP Status. The Partnership is properly treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes and has, for each taxable year beginning after December 31, 2010 during which the Partnership was in existence, met the gross income requirements of Section 7704(c)(2) of the Code.

 

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Any certificate signed by an officer of an Obligor and delivered to the Initial Purchaser or to counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by such Obligor to each Initial Purchaser as to the matters set forth therein.

Each Obligor acknowledges and agrees that the Initial Purchasers and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Sections 5(c) and 5(d), counsel for the Obligors and counsel for the Initial Purchasers, respectively, may rely upon the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Obligors and compliance by the Obligors with their agreements set forth herein, and each Obligor hereby consents to such reliance.

SECTION 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities.

(a) The Securities. Each of the Obligors agrees to issue and sell to the Initial Purchasers, severally and not jointly, all of the Securities, and, subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Initial Purchasers agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Obligors the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their names on Schedule A , at a purchase price of 96.508% of the principal amount thereof payable on the Closing Date, plus accrued interest, if any, from August 4, 2014 to the Closing Date, payable on the Closing Date, in each case, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms herein set forth. The Obligors shall not be obligated to deliver any of the Securities to be delivered hereunder except upon payment for all of the Securities to be purchased as provided herein.

(b) The Closing Date. Delivery of certificates for the Notes in definitive form to be purchased by the Initial Purchasers and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Andrews Kurth LLP, 600 Travis, Suite 4200, Houston, Texas 77002 (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Partnership and Merrill Lynch) at 9:00 a.m., Houston time, on August 4, 2014, or such other time and date as Merrill Lynch and the Partnership may mutually agree upon in writing (the time and date of such closing are called the “ Closing Date ”).

(c) Delivery of the Securities. On the Closing Date, the Issuers shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, through the facilities of the Depositary, to the Representative for the accounts of the several Initial Purchasers certificates for the Notes against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor as set forth in Section 2(a) hereof. The Notes shall be evidenced by one or more global securities in definitive form, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depositary, and shall be made available for inspection on the business day preceding the Closing Date at a location in New York City, as Merrill Lynch may designate. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers.

 

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(d) Initial Purchaser as Qualified Institutional Buyers. Each Initial Purchaser severally and not jointly represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Obligors that:

(i) it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, the Securities as part of its initial offering except (A) within the United States, to persons whom it reasonably believes are “qualified institutional buyers” within the meaning of Rule 144A (“ Qualified Institutional Buyers ”) in transactions pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and in connection with each such sale, it has taken or will take reasonable steps to ensure that the purchaser of the Securities is aware that such sale is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and (B) outside the United States, to persons other than U.S. persons (“foreign purchasers,” which term shall include dealers or other professional fiduciaries in the United States acting on a discretionary basis for foreign beneficial owners (other than an estate or trust)) in reliance upon Regulation S and, in each case, upon the terms and conditions set forth in Annex II to this Agreement;

(ii) it is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act;

(iii) it has not solicited offers for, or offered or sold, and will not solicit offers for, or offer or sell, the Securities in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or by any form of general solicitation or general advertising, including but not limited to the methods described in Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act; and

(iv) it has not used, authorized use of, referred to, distributed or participated in the planning for use of, and will not use, authorize use of, refer to, distribute or participate in the planning for use of, any written communication that constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities other than (A) the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum; (B) any written communication that contains either (1) no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) or (2) “issuer information” that was included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum; (C) any written communication relating to or that contains the preliminary or final terms of the Securities or their offering or other information that was included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum; (D) any Additional Written Communication; or (E) any written communication prepared by such Initial Purchaser and approved by the Partnership in advance in writing.

Each Initial Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Obligors and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Sections 5(c) and 5(d), counsel for the Obligors and counsel for the Initial Purchasers, respectively, may rely upon the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchasers and compliance by the Initial Purchasers with their agreements set forth herein, and each Initial Purchaser hereby consents to such reliance.

 

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SECTION 3. Additional Covenants. Each of the Obligors further covenants and agrees with each Initial Purchaser as follows:

(a) Preparation of Final Offering Memorandum; Initial Purchasers’ Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements and Additional Written Communications. As promptly as practicable following the Time of Sale and in any event not later than the second business day following the date hereof, the Partnership will prepare and deliver to the Initial Purchasers the Final Offering Memorandum, which shall consist of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum as modified only by the information contained in the Pricing Supplement and any other information that has been presented to the Representative or its counsel and as to which the Representative has not reasonably objected in writing. The Partnership will not amend or supplement the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Pricing Supplement unless the Representative shall previously have been furnished a copy of the proposed amendment or supplement and shall not have reasonably objected in writing to such amendment or supplement. The Partnership will not amend or supplement the Final Offering Memorandum prior to the Closing Date unless the Representative shall previously have been furnished a copy of the proposed amendment or supplement and shall not have reasonably objected in writing to such amendment or supplement. Before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving or distributing any Additional Written Communication, the Partnership will furnish to the Representative a copy of such written communication for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve or distribute any such written communication to which the Representative reasonably objects in writing.

(b) Amendments and Supplements to the Final Offering Memorandum and Other Securities Act Matters. If at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, as then amended or supplemented, would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement any of the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Partnership will immediately notify the Representative thereof and forthwith prepare and (subject to Section 3(a) hereof) furnish to the Initial Purchasers such amendments or supplements to any of the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, as so amended or supplemented, will not, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, be misleading or so that any of the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with all applicable law. If, prior to the completion of the initial placement of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers with the Subsequent Purchasers, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Final Offering Memorandum, as then amended or supplemented, in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Final Offering Memorandum is delivered to a Subsequent Purchaser, not misleading, or if in the judgment of the Representative or counsel for the Initial Purchasers it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Final Offering Memorandum to comply with law, the Partnership agrees to promptly prepare (subject to Section 3 hereof) and furnish at its own expense to the Initial Purchasers, amendments or supplements to the Final Offering Memorandum so that the statements included or incorporated by reference in the Final Offering Memorandum as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances at the Closing Date and at the time of sale of the Securities, be misleading or so that the Final Offering Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, will comply with all applicable law.

 

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The Obligors hereby expressly acknowledge that the indemnification and contribution provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereof are specifically applicable and relate to each offering memorandum, amendment or supplement referred to in this Section 3.

(c) Copies of the Offering Memorandum. The Partnership agrees to furnish the Initial Purchasers, without charge, as many copies of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum and any amendments and supplements thereto as they shall reasonably request.

(d) Blue Sky Compliance. Each of the Obligors shall cooperate with the Representative and counsel for the Initial Purchasers to qualify or register (or to obtain exemptions from qualifying or registering) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions reasonably designated by the Representative, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, none of the Obligors shall be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation. The Obligors will advise the Representative promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Securities for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, each of the Obligors shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(e) Use of Proceeds. The Issuers shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities sold by them in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

(f) The Depositary . The Partnership will cooperate with the Initial Purchasers and use its reasonable best efforts to permit the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of the Depositary.

(g) Additional Issuer Information. Prior to the completion of the initial placement of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers with the Subsequent Purchasers, the Partnership shall file, on a timely basis, with the SEC and the Nasdaq Global Market (the “ Nasdaq ”) all reports and documents required to be filed under Section 13 or Section 15 of the Exchange Act. For so long as any of the Securities remain outstanding, and are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, at any time when the Partnership is not subject to Section 13 or Section 15 of the Exchange Act, for the benefit of holders and beneficial owners from time to time of the Securities, the Partnership shall furnish, at its expense, upon request, to holders and beneficial owners of Securities and prospective purchasers of Securities information satisfying the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

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(h) Agreement Not To Offer or Sell Additional Securities. During the period of 60 days following the date hereof, the Issuers will not, without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of Merrill Lynch), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any debt securities of the Issuers having a tenor of more than one year or securities exchangeable for or convertible into debt securities of the Issuers (other than as contemplated by this Agreement and to register the Exchange Securities).

(i) No Integration. The Issuers agree that they will not and will cause their Affiliates not to make any offer or sale of securities of the Issuers of any class if, as a result of the doctrine of “integration” referred to in Rule 502 under the Securities Act, such offer or sale would render invalid (for the purpose of (i) the sale of the Securities by the Obligors to the Initial Purchasers, (ii) the resale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers to Subsequent Purchasers or (iii) the resale of the Securities by such Subsequent Purchasers to others) the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof or by Rule 144A or by Regulation S thereunder or otherwise.

(j) No General Solicitation or Directed Selling Efforts . The Issuers agree that they will not and will not permit any of their Affiliates or any other person acting on their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to which no covenant is given) to (i) solicit offers for, or offer or sell, the Securities by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or (ii) engage in any directed selling efforts with respect to the Securities within the meaning of Regulation S, and the Issuers will and will cause all such persons to comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S with respect to the Securities.

(k) No Restricted Resales. Until consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Issuers will not, and will not permit any of their affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) that they control to resell any of the Securities that constitute “restricted securities” under Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act that have been reacquired by any of them (other than pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act).

(l) Legended Securities. Each certificate for a Note will bear the legend contained in “Notice to Investors” in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum for the time period and upon the other terms stated in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.

 

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(m) Future Reports . While the Securities remain outstanding and are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, the Issuers will, during any period in which the Partnership is not subject to and in compliance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, furnish to holders of the Securities and prospective purchasers of the Securities designated by such holders, upon the request of such holders or such prospective purchasers, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

The Representative, on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers, may, in its sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by any of the Obligors of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance.

SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses. Each of the Obligors, jointly and severally, agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Securities (including all printing costs), (ii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers, (iii) all fees and expenses of the Obligors’ counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (iv) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum (including financial statements and exhibits), and all amendments and supplements thereto, and the Transaction Documents (except as otherwise stated therein), (v) all filing fees and expenses incurred by the Obligors or the Initial Purchasers in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities laws of the jurisdictions reasonably designated by the Initial Purchasers (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Initial Purchasers related to such qualification and registration, and the cost of preparing, printing and mailing preliminary and final blue sky or legal investment memoranda and any related supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum), (vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture, the Securities and the Exchange Securities, (vii) any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Securities or the Exchange Securities with the ratings agencies, (viii) any filing fees incident to, and any reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Initial Purchasers in connection with the review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”), if any, of the terms of the sale of the Securities or the Exchange Securities, (ix) all fees and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) of the Obligors in connection with approval of the Securities by the Depositary for “book-entry” transfer, and the performance by the Obligors of their respective other obligations under this Agreement and (x) one-half of all expenses incident to the “road show” for the offering of the Securities, including the cost of any chartered airplane or other transportation used for the purposes of the road show (with the Initial Purchasers to pay the remaining one-half of all expenses incident to the road show, including the cost of any chartered airplane or other transportation). Except as provided in this Section 4 and Sections 6, 8 and 9 hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

 

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SECTION 5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Initial Purchasers. The obligations of the several Initial Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Securities as provided herein on the Closing Date shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Obligors set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though then made and to the timely performance by the Obligors of their covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

(a) Accountants’ Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from:

(i) Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm for the Partnership, a “comfort letter” dated the date hereof addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, covering the Partnership’s financial information in the Pricing Disclosure Package and other customary matters. In addition, on the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from such accountants a “bring-down comfort letter” dated the Closing Date addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, in the form of the “comfort letter” delivered on the date hereof, except that (i) it shall cover the Partnership’s financial information in the Final Offering Memorandum and any amendment or supplement thereto and (ii) procedures shall be brought down to a date no more than three days prior to the Closing Date.

(ii) Johnson Miller & Co., the independent registered public accounting firm for the Target, a “comfort letter” dated the date hereof addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, covering the Target’s financial information in the Pricing Disclosure Package and other customary matters. In addition, on the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from such accountants a “bring-down comfort letter” dated the Closing Date addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, in the form of the “comfort letter” delivered on the date hereof, except that (i) it shall cover the Target’s financial information in the Final Offering Memorandum and any amendment or supplement thereto and (ii) procedures shall be brought down to a date no more than three days prior to the Closing Date.

(b) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

(i) there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change as in the judgment of the Representative is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities in the manner and on the terms described in the Pricing Disclosure Package or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; and

 

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(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded the Partnership or any of its securities or indebtedness by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

(c) Opinion of Counsel for the Obligors. On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable opinion of (i) Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel for the Obligors, dated as of such Closing Date, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-1 and (ii) Bass C. Wallace, Jr., General Counsel of the General Partner, dated as of such Closing Date, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-2 .

(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Initial Purchaser. On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, dated as of such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as may be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers.

(e) Officers’ Certificate. On the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or President of each Obligor and the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, any Senior or Executive Vice President or any Vice President of each Obligor, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Section 5(b)(ii) hereof, and further to the effect that:

(i) for the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;

(ii) the representations, warranties and covenants of the Obligors set forth in Section 1 hereof were true and correct as of the date hereof and are true and correct as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of the Closing Date; and

(iii) each of the Obligors has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date.

(f) Indenture; Registration Rights Agreement . On the Closing Date, the Obligors shall have executed and delivered the Indenture, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, and the Initial Purchasers shall have received executed copies thereof. On the Closing Date, the Obligors shall have executed and delivered the Registration Rights Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, and the Initial Purchasers shall have received such executed counterparts. The Additional Guarantors shall have executed and delivered the Joinder Agreement and the Initial Purchasers shall have received such executed counterparts.

 

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(g) Concurrent Transactions. The Acquisition, the Equity Offering, the closing of the New Credit Agreement and the other concurrent financing transactions as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package shall have been consummated substantially concurrently with or immediately following the closing of this Offering on the Closing Date on the terms and conditions described in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

(h) Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate. On the date hereof and on the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner, dated as of such date, satisfactory to the Representative, certifying as to certain financial information contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, as applicable.

(i) Additional Documents. On or before the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall have received such information documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.

If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Issuers at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Sections 4, 6, 8 and 9 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

SECTION 6. Reimbursement of Initial Purchasers’ Expenses. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative pursuant to Section 5 or Section 10 hereof, including if the sale to the Initial Purchasers of the Securities on the Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Obligors to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Obligors agree, jointly and severally, to reimburse the Initial Purchasers, severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Securities, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges but excluding wages and salaries paid by the Initial Purchasers.

SECTION 7. Offer, Sale and Resale Procedures . Each of the Initial Purchasers, on the one hand, and each of the Obligors, on the other hand, hereby agree to observe the following procedures in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities:

(a) Offers and sales of the Securities will be made only by the Initial Purchasers or Affiliates thereof qualified to do so in the jurisdictions in which such offers or sales are made. Each such offer or sale shall only be made to persons whom the offeror or seller reasonably believes to be Qualified Institutional Buyers or non-U.S. persons outside the United States to whom the offeror or seller reasonably believes offers and sales of the Securities may be made pursuant to and in reliance upon Regulation S upon the terms and conditions set forth in Annex II hereto, which Annex II is hereby expressly made a part hereof.

 

25


(b) No general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Rule 502 under the Securities Act) will be used in the United States in connection with the offering of the Securities.

(c) Upon original issuance by the Issuers, and until such time as the same is no longer required under the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Notes (and all securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof, other than the Exchange Notes) shall bear the following legend:

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE OR OTHER SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR OF ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS SECURITY) AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P. AND COMPRESSCO FINANCE INC. (THE “ISSUERS”) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUERS WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS SECURITY, OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUERS OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION

 

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REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED THAT THE ISSUERS AND THE TRUSTEE SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATION OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING IN THE INDENTURE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFER TO THE TRUSTEE.”

Following the sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers to Subsequent Purchasers pursuant to the terms hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall not be liable or responsible to the Obligors for any losses, damages or liabilities suffered or incurred by the Obligors, including any losses, damages or liabilities under the Securities Act, arising from or relating to any resale or transfer of any Security by such Subsequent Purchasers.

SECTION 8. Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification of the Initial Purchasers. Each of the Obligors, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which each Initial Purchaser, affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Obligors or otherwise permitted by Section 8(d)), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Supplement, any Additional Written Communication or the Final Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and to reimburse each Initial Purchaser and each such affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person for any and all expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Merrill Lynch) as such expenses are documented and reasonably incurred by such Initial Purchaser or such affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that none of the Obligors shall be liable for any loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or other action to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any

 

27


untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser expressly for use in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Supplement, any Additional Written Communication or the Final Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto). The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Obligors may otherwise have.

(b) Indemnification of the Obligors. Each Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Obligors, each of their respective directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls any of the Obligors within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which any Obligor or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Initial Purchaser or otherwise permitted by Section 8(d)), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Supplement, any Additional Written Communication or the Final Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Supplement, any Additional Written Communication or the Final Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuers by or on behalf of such Initial Purchaser expressly for use therein; and to reimburse each Obligor and each such director, officer, or controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel) as such expenses are documented and reasonably incurred by the Obligors or such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. Each of the Obligors hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Initial Purchasers have furnished to the Obligors expressly for use in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Supplement, any Additional Written Communication or the Final Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are (i) the statements set forth in the third and fourth sentences of the eighth paragraph under the caption “Important Notice to Readers” and (ii) the information set forth in the table in the first paragraph and the statements in the fifth paragraph, the third and fourth sentences of the seventh paragraph, and the tenth through twelfth paragraphs under the caption “Plan of Distribution,” in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Final Offering Memorandum. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Initial Purchaser may otherwise have.

 

28


(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; provided that the failure to so notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under this Section 8 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced by such failure (through the forfeiture of substantive rights and defenses) and shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that the indemnifying party may have to an indemnified party other than under this Section 8. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel (in each jurisdiction)), which shall be selected by Merrill Lynch in the case of counsel representing the Initial Purchasers or their related persons, representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action, or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.

(d) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified

 

29


party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 8, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request or disputed in good faith the indemnified party’s entitlement to such reimbursement prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include any statements as to or any findings of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

SECTION 9. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 hereof is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Obligors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Obligors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Obligors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Issuers, and the total discount received by the Initial Purchasers bear to the aggregate initial offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Obligors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Obligors, on the one hand, or the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8 hereof, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 8 hereof with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 9; provided , however , that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 8 hereof for purposes of indemnification.

 

30


The Obligors and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Initial Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the total discount and commissions received by such Initial Purchaser in connection with the Securities distributed by it. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Initial Purchasers’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective commitments as set forth opposite their names in Schedule A . For purposes of this Section 9, each affiliate, director, officer and employee of an Initial Purchaser and each person, if any, who controls an Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Initial Purchaser, and each director and officer of an Obligor, and each person, if any, who controls the Obligors with the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Obligors, as applicable.

SECTION 10. Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice given to the Issuers if at any time: (i) trading or quotation in any of the Partnership’s securities shall have been suspended or materially limited by the SEC or by the Nasdaq, or trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such quotation system or stock exchange by the SEC or FINRA; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of the federal, New York or Delaware authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each such case, as in the judgment of the Representative is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities in the manner and on the terms described in the Pricing Disclosure Package or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; or (iv) in the judgment of the Representative, there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change. Any termination pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of (i) the Obligors to any Initial Purchaser, except that the Obligors shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of Initial Purchasers pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof, (ii) any Initial Purchaser to the Obligors, or (iii) any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 8, 9 and 16 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

 

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SECTION 11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations and warranties of the Obligors and the several Initial Purchasers set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser (including any of its affiliates), the Obligors or any of their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.

SECTION 12. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered, couriered or facsimiled and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:

If to the Initial Purchasers:

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Facsimile: (646) 855 3073

Attention: Syndicate Department

with a copy to:

Facsimile: (212) 230-8730

Attention: DCM Legal

with a copy to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

811 Main Street, 37 th Floor

Houston, Texas 77002

Facsimile: 713-546-5401

Attention: Michael Chambers

If to the Obligors:

Compressco Partners GP Inc.

Compressco Partners, L.P.

101 Park Avenue, Suite 1200

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

Attention: James P. Rounsavall

with a copy to:

Andrews Kurth, LLP

600 Travis Street, Suite 4200

Houston, Texas 77002

Facsimile: 713-238-7126

Attention: David C. Buck

 

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Any party hereto may change the address or facsimile number for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

SECTION 13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, and to the benefit of the indemnified parties referred to in Sections 8 and 9 hereof, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any Subsequent Purchaser or other purchaser of the Securities as such from any of the Initial Purchasers merely by reason of such purchase.

SECTION 14. Authority of the Representative. Any action by the Initial Purchasers hereunder may be taken by Merrill Lynch on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, and any such action taken by Merrill Lynch shall be binding upon the Initial Purchasers.

SECTION 15. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

SECTION 16. Governing Law Provisions. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“ Related Proceedings ”) may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City and County of New York (collectively, the “ Specified Courts ”), and each party hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for suits, actions, or proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any Specified Court in a Related Proceeding , as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of the Specified Courts in any Related Proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any Specified Proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any Specified Court that any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

SECTION 17. Default of One or More of the Several Initial Purchasers. If any one or more of the several Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on the Closing Date, and the aggregate number of Securities that such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Initial Purchasers shall be obligated, severally, in the

 

33


proportions that the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Initial Purchasers with the consent of the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, to purchase the principal amount of Securities that such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase on the Closing Date. If any one or more of the Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities and the principal amount of Securities with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on the Closing Date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers and the Partnership for the purchase of such Securities are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 4, 6, 8, 9 and 16 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the Initial Purchasers or the Partnership shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Final Offering Memorandum or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

As used in this Agreement, the term “ Initial Purchaser ” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Initial Purchaser under this Section 17. Any action taken under this Section 17 shall not relieve any defaulting Initial Purchaser from liability in respect of any default of such Initial Purchaser under this Agreement.

SECTION 18. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. Each of the Obligors acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Obligors, on the one hand, and the several Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and the Obligors are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction, each Initial Purchaser is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Obligors or their respective Affiliates, equityholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no Initial Purchaser has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Obligors with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Initial Purchaser has advised or is currently advising the Obligors on other matters) or any other obligation to the Obligors except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the several Initial Purchasers and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Obligors, and the several Initial Purchasers have no obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any fiduciary or advisory relationship; and (v) the Initial Purchasers have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby, and the Obligors have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they deemed appropriate.

The Obligors hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Obligors may have against the several Initial Purchasers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of fiduciary duty.

 

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SECTION 19. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier, facsimile or other electronic transmission ( i.e., a “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Obligors the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

Very truly yours,

 

COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.

By:

  Compressco Partners GP Inc.,
 

its General Partner

 

By:

 

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

   

Name: James P. Rounsavall

   

Title: Chief Financial Officer

COMPRESSCO FINANCE INC.

 

By:

 

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

   

Name: James P. Rounsavall

   

Title: Chief Financial Officer

COMPRESSCO PARTNERS SUB, INC.

 

By:

 

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

   

Name: James P. Rounsavall

   

Title: Chief Financial Officer

COMPRESSCO PARTNERS OPERATING, LLC

By:

  Compressco Partners, L.P.,
 

its sole managing member

By:

  Compressco Partners GP Inc.,
 

its General Partner

 

By:

 

/s/ James P. Rounsavall

   

Name: James P. Rounsavall

   

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Purchase Agreement


COMPRESSCO FIELD SERVICES

INTERNATIONAL, LLC

By:

  Compressco Partners Operating , LLC,
 

its sole managing member

By:

  Compressco Partners, L.P.,
 

its sole managing member

By:

  Compressco Partners GP Inc.,
 

its General Partner

 

By: 

  /s/ James P. Rounsavall
   

Name: James P. Rounsavall

   

Title: Chief Financial Officer

COMPRESSCO INTERNATIONAL, LLC

By:

  Compressco Partners Operating , LLC,
 

its sole managing member

By:

  Compressco Partners, L.P.,
 

its sole managing member

By:

  Compressco Partners GP Inc.,
 

its General Partner

 

By:

  /s/ James P. Rounsavall
   

Name: James P. Rounsavall

   

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Purchase Agreement


COMPRESSCO HOLDINGS, LLC
By:   Compressco Partners Operating , LLC,
  its sole managing member
By:   Compressco Partners, L.P.,
  its sole managing member
By:   Compressco Partners GP Inc.,
  its General Partner
  By:    /s/ James P. Rounsavall
    Name: James P. Rounsavall
    Title: Chief Financial Officer
COMPRESSCO LEASING, LLC
By:   Compressco Partners Operating , LLC,
  its sole managing member
By:   Compressco Partners, L.P.,
  its sole managing member
By:   Compressco Partners GP Inc.,
  its General Partner
  By:   /s/ James P. Rounsavall
    Name: James P. Rounsavall
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Purchase Agreement


The foregoing Purchase Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Initial Purchasers as of the date first above written.

 

M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH

I NCORPORATED

Acting on behalf of itself

and as the Representative of

the several Initial Purchasers

By:

  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                      Incorporated

By:

  /s/ Oscar Brown
 

 

  Name: Oscar Brown
  Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Purchase Agreement


SCHEDULE A

 

Initial Purchasers

   Aggregate Principal
Amount of
Securities to be
Purchased
 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

   $ 192,500,000   

Barclays Capital Inc.

   $ 26,250,000   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

   $ 26,250,000   

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

   $ 26,250,000   

RBC Capital Markets LLC

   $ 26,250,000   

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

   $ 26,250,000   

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

   $ 13,125,000   

Capital One Securities Inc.

   $ 13,125,000   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 350,000,000   

 

Schedule A-1


SCHEDULE B

SUBSIDIARIES OF TARGET

Pump Systems International, Inc.

Rotary Compressor Systems, Inc.

Compressor Systems Australia Pty Ltd

Sistemas de Compresores de México, S. de R.L. de C.V.

CSI Compression Holdings, LLC

 

Schedule B-1


EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF OPINION OF ANDREWS KURTH LLP

[Attached.]

 

Exhibit A-1


August 4, 2014

To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

 

c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

 

  Re: 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022 issued by Compressco Partners, L.P. and Compressco Finance Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Compressco Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and Compressco Finance Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Co-Issuer ”), in connection with the Purchase Agreement dated July 29, 2014 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) among (i) the Partnership, (ii) the Co-Issuer, (iii) the subsidiaries of the Partnership named therein as parties thereto, and (iv) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several initial purchasers named therein (collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”), relating to the sale by the Partnership and the Co-Issuer to the Initial Purchasers of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “ Initial Securities ”) issued jointly by the Partnership and the Co-Issuer. The Initial Securities are being issued under an Indenture dated as of August 4, 2014 (the “ Indenture ”) among the Partnership, the Co-Issuer, the subsidiaries of the Partnership named therein as parties thereto and as guarantors of the Initial Securities (collectively, the “ Guarantors ”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”). The Partnership and the Co-Issuer are referred to collectively herein as the “ Issuers .” The Issuers and the Guarantors are referred to collectively herein as the “ Obligors .”

The Obligors and the Initial Purchasers have entered into a Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 4, 2014 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Obligors have agreed to file, under certain conditions, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”), a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), with respect to an offer (the “ Exchange Offer ”) by the Obligors to the holders of the Initial Securities to issue and deliver to such holders, in exchange for their Initial Securities, a like principal amount of new debt securities (the “ Exchange Securities ”) identical to the Initial Securities in all material respects, except that the Exchange Securities will not (except in specified circumstances) be subject to restrictions on transfer.


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 2

 

We are furnishing this opinion letter to you pursuant to Section  5(c)(i) of the Purchase Agreement.

In rendering the opinions set forth herein, we have examined and relied on originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following:

(a) the Issuers’ Preliminary Offering Memorandum dated July 21, 2014 (the “ Preliminary Offering Memorandum ”) relating to the Initial Securities;

(b) the Issuers’ Offering Memorandum dated July 29, 2014 (the “ Offering Memorandum ”) relating to the Initial Securities;

(c) the Issuers’ pricing term sheet dated July 29, 2014 (the “ Pricing Term Sheet ”), relating to the Initial Securities (such Pricing Term Sheet, together with the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, being referred to herein as the “ Disclosure Package ”);

(d) each of the Partnership’s reports that have been filed with the SEC and are incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum (the “ Incorporated Documents ”);

(e) the Indenture;

(f) the form of the Initial Securities and the form of the Exchange Securities;

(g) the global note executed by the Issuers pursuant to the Indenture, in the aggregate principal amount of $[                    ], representing the Initial Securities purchased and sold pursuant to the Purchase Agreement with a view toward resale in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act;

(h) the global note executed by the Issuers pursuant to the Indenture, in the aggregate principal amount of $[                    ], representing the Initial Securities purchased and sold pursuant to the Purchase Agreement with a view toward resale in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act;

(i) the Purchase Agreement;

(j) the Purchase Agreement Joinder dated August 4, 2014 (the “Joinder Agreement”) among (i) the Acquired Companies (as defined below) and (ii) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the Initial Purchasers;


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 3

 

(k) the Registration Rights Agreement;

(l) the Certificate of Incorporation of Compressco Partners GP Inc., a Delaware corporation and the general partner of the Partnership (the “ General Partner ”), certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of [                    ] [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of the General Partner as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (p) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof (the “ General Partner Certificate of Incorporation ”);

(m) the First Amended and Restated Bylaws of the General Partner, certified by the Secretary of the General Partner as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (p) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof (the “ General Partner Bylaws ”);

(n) the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of [                    ] [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of the General Partner as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (p) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof (the “ Compressco Certificate of Limited Partnership ”);

(o) the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of June 20, 2011 of the Partnership, certified by the Secretary of the General Partner as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (p) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof (the “ Compressco Partnership Agreement ”);

(p) resolutions of the Board of Directors of the General Partner dated July 17, 2014, and resolutions of the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner dated July 29, 2014, certified by the Secretary of the General Partner;

(q) the [Certificate of Incorporation] of the Co-Issuer, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as in effect on [                    ] [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of the Co-Issuer as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (s) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof (the “ Co-Issuer Certificate of Incorporation ”);

(r) the [Bylaws] of the Co-Issuer, certified by the Secretary of the Co-Issuer as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (s) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof (the “ Co-Issuer Bylaws ”);

(s) resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Co-Issuer dated July 29, 2014, certified by the Secretary of the Co-Issuer;


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 4

 

(t) the [Certificate of Incorporation] of Compressco Partners Sub, Inc., certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of [                    ] [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of Compressco Partners Sub, Inc. as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (v) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(u) the [Bylaws] of Compressco Partners Sub, Inc., as amended by the First Amendment thereto, certified by the Secretary of Compressco Partners Sub, Inc. as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (v) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(v) resolutions of the board of directors of Compressco Partners Sub, Inc. dated July 29, 2014, certified by the Secretary of Compressco Partners Sub, Inc.;

(w) the [Certificate of Formation] of Compressco Partners Operating, LLC, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of June [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of Compressco Partners Operating, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (y) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(x) the [Limited Liability Company Agreement] of Compressco Partners Operating, LLC, certified by the Secretary of Compressco Partners Operating, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (y) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(y) resolutions of the sole member of Compressco Partners Operating, LLC dated July 29, 2014, certified by the Secretary of Compressco Partners Operating, LLC;

(z) the [Certificate of Formation] of Compressco Field Services International LLC, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of June [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of Compressco Field Services International LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (bb) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(aa) the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Compressco Field Services International LLC, certified by the Secretary of Compressco Field Services International LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (bb) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(bb) resolutions of the sole member of Compressco Field Services International LLC dated [SUBSIDIARY RESOLUTIONS DATE], certified by the Secretary of Compressco Field Services International LLC;


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 5

 

(cc) the [Certificate of Formation] of Compressco International, LLC, as amended by the Certificate of Amendment thereto, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of [                    ] [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of Compressco International, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (ee) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(dd) the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Compressco International, LLC, certified by the Secretary of Compressco International, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (ee) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(ee) resolutions of the [sole member] of Compressco International, LLC dated [SUBSIDIARY RESOLUTIONS DATE], certified by the Secretary of Compressco International, LLC;

(ff) the [Certificate of Formation] of Compressco Holdings, LLC, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of [                    ] [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of Compressco Holdings, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (hh) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(gg) the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Compressco Holdings, LLC, certified by the Secretary of Compressco Holdings, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (hh) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(hh) resolutions of the [sole member] of Compressco Holdings, LLC dated [SUBSIDIARY RESOLUTIONS DATE], certified by the Secretary of Compressco Holdings, LLC;

(ii) the [Certificate of Formation] of Compressco Leasing, LLC, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of [                    ] [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of Compressco Leasing, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (kk) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(jj) the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Compressco Leasing, LLC, certified by the Secretary of Compressco Leasing, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (kk) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 6

 

(kk) resolutions of the [sole member] of Compressco Leasing, LLC dated [SUBSIDIARY RESOLUTIONS DATE], certified by the Secretary of Compressco Leasing, LLC;

(ll) the [Certificate of Formation] of Compressco Mexico Investment I, LLC, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of [            ] [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of Compressco Mexico Investment I, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (nn) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(mm) the [Limited Liability Company Agreement] of Compressco Mexico Investment I, LLC, certified by the Secretary of Compressco Mexico Investment I, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (nn) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(nn) resolutions of the [sole member] of Compressco Mexico Investment I, LLC dated [SUBSIDIARY RESOLUTIONS DATE], certified by the Secretary of Compressco Mexico Investment I, LLC;

(oo) the [Certificate of Formation] of Compressco Mexico Investment II, LLC, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of June [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of Compressco Mexico Investment II, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (qq) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(pp) the [Limited Liability Company Agreement of Compressco Mexico Investment II, LLC, certified by the Secretary of Compressco Mexico Investment II, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (qq)below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(qq) resolutions of the [sole member] of Compressco Mexico Investment II, LLC dated [SUBSIDIARY RESOLUTIONS DATE], certified by the Secretary of Compressco Mexico Investment II, LLC;

(rr) the [Certificate of Incorporation] of [Compressor Systems, Inc.] , certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of [            ] [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of [Compressor Systems, Inc.] as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (tt) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(ss) the [Bylaws] of [Compressor Systems, Inc.] , as amended by the First Amendment thereto, certified by the Secretary of [Compressor Systems, Inc.] as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (tt) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 7

 

(tt) resolutions of the board of directors of [Compressor Systems, Inc.] dated [SUBSIDIARY RESOLUTIONS DATE], certified by the Secretary of [Compressor Systems, Inc.] ;

(uu) the [Certificate of Incorporation] of Pump Systems International, Inc. , certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of [            ] [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of Pump Systems International, Inc. as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (ww) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(vv) the [Bylaws] of Pump Systems International, Inc. , as amended by the First Amendment thereto, certified by the Secretary of Pump Systems International, Inc. as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (ww) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(ww) resolutions of the board of directors of Pump Systems International, Inc. dated [SUBSIDIARY RESOLUTIONS DATE], certified by the Secretary of Pump Systems International, Inc. ;

(xx) the [Certificate of Incorporation] of Rotary Compressor Systems, Inc. , certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of [            ] [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of Rotary Compressor Systems, Inc. as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (zz) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(yy) the [Bylaws] of Rotary Compressor Systems, Inc. , as amended by the First Amendment thereto, certified by the Secretary of Rotary Compressor Systems, Inc. as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (zz) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(zz) resolutions of the board of directors of Rotary Compressor Systems, Inc. dated [SUBSIDIARY RESOLUTIONS DATE], certified by the Secretary of Rotary Compressor Systems, Inc. ;

(aaa) the [Certificate of Formation] of CSI Compressor Holdings, LLC, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of [            ] [    ], 2014, and certified by the Secretary of CSI Compressor Holdings, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (ccc) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 8

 

(bbb) the [Limited Liability Company Agreement] of CSI Compressor Holdings, LLC, certified by the Secretary of CSI Compressor Holdings, LLC as in effect on each of the dates of the adoption of the resolutions specified in paragraph (ccc) below, the date of the Purchase Agreement and the date hereof;

(ccc) resolutions of the [sole member] of CSI Compressor Holdings, LLC dated [SUBSIDIARY RESOLUTIONS DATE], certified by the Secretary of CSI Compressor Holdings, LLC;

(ddd) a certificate dated the date hereof (the “ Opinion Support Certificate ”), executed by the President and by the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the General Partner, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A ; and

(eee) each of the Applicable Agreements (as defined below) [and each of the Applicable Orders (as defined below)] .

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Obligors and such agreements, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Obligors and others, and such other documents, certificates and records, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein. In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies. As to any facts material to the opinions and statements expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied, to the extent we deem appropriate, upon (i) oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Obligors (including without limitation the facts certified in the Opinion Support Certificate), (ii) representations made by the Obligors and representations made by the Initial Purchasers in the Purchase Agreement and (iii) statements and certifications of public officials and others.

As used herein the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

Applicable Agreements ” means those agreements and other instruments identified on Schedule 1 to the Opinion Support Certificate, which have been certified by officers of the General Partner as being every indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease or other agreement that is material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, or properties of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, considered as a single enterprise.

Acquired Companies ” means, collectively, the following entities: [(i) [Compressor Systems, Inc.], a Delaware corporation, (ii) Pump Systems International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (iii) Rotary Compressor Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation and (iv) CSI Compressor Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company].


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 9

 

Applicable Guarantors ” means the Guarantors listed in Exhibit B hereto.

Applicable Obligor Organizational Documents ” means, collectively, the following instruments, each in the form reviewed by us, as indicated above: (i) the General Partner Certificate of Incorporation, (ii) the General Partner Bylaws, (iii) the Compressco Certificate of Limited Partnership, (iv) the Compressco Partnership Agreement, (v) the Co-Issuer Certificate of Incorporation, (vi) the Co-Issuer Bylaws, and (vii) the [certificates of incorporation, bylaws, certificates of formation and limited liability company agreements] of the Applicable Guarantors.

Applicable Orders ” means those orders or decrees of governmental authorities identified on Schedule 2 to the Opinion Support Certificate, which have been certified by officers of the General Partner as being every order or decree of any governmental authority by which the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties is bound, that is material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, or properties of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, considered as a single enterprise. [However, officers of the General Partner have certified in the Opinion Support Certificate that there are no Applicable Orders.]

Person ” means a natural person or a legal entity organized under the laws of any jurisdiction.

Transaction Documents ” means collectively, the Purchase Agreement, the Joinder Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture, the Initial Securities and the Exchange Securities.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Partnership is validly existing as a limited partnership and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Each of the General Partner and the Co-Issuer is validly existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Each of the Applicable Guarantors listed in Exhibit B hereto is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company as indicated in such Exhibit and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation or organization indicated in such Exhibit.

2. The General Partner is the sole general partner of the Partnership and has the corporate power and authority to (i) act as the general partner of the Partnership and (ii) execute and deliver, on behalf of the Partnership, each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. The Partnership has the limited partnership power and authority under the laws of the


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 10

 

State of Delaware to (i) execute and deliver, and incur and perform all of its obligations under, the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and (ii) carry on its business and own its properties as described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum. The Co-Issuer has the corporate power and authority under the laws of the State of Delaware to execute and deliver, and incur and perform all of its obligations under, the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. Each of the Applicable Guarantors has the [corporate or limited liability company] power and authority under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation or organization indicated in Exhibit B hereto to (i) execute and deliver, and to incur and perform all of its obligations under, the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and (ii) carry on its business and own its properties as described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

3. Each of the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Initial Securities and the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Issuers. The Exchange Securities have been duly authorized by each of the Issuers. Each of the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Applicable Guarantors. The Joinder Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Acquired Companies.

4. None of (i) the execution and delivery of, or the incurrence or performance by the Obligors of their respective obligations under, each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, each in accordance with its terms, (ii) the offering, issuance, sale and delivery of the Initial Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, (iii) the offering, issuance, exchange and delivery of the Exchange Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement in the manner therein contemplated, (iv) the issuance of the guaranties of the Initial Securities by the Guarantors, as set forth in the Indenture, or (v) the issuance of the guaranties of the Exchange Securities by the Guarantors, as set forth in the Indenture, at such time as the Exchange Securities are issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement in the manner therein contemplated, (A) constituted, constitutes or will constitute a violation of the Applicable Obligor Organizational Documents, (B) constituted, constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default), under any Applicable Agreement, (C) resulted, results or will result in the creation of any security interest in, or lien upon, any of the property or assets of any Obligor pursuant to any Applicable Agreement, (D) resulted, results or will result in any violation of (i) applicable laws of the State of New York, (ii) applicable laws of the United States of America, (iii) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, (iv) the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, (v) the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act or (vii) Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or (E) resulted, results or will result in the contravention of any Applicable Order.


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 11

 

5. No Governmental Approval, which has not been obtained or made and is not in full force and effect, is required to authorize, or is required for the execution and delivery by each of the Obligors of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party or the incurrence or performance of its obligations thereunder, or the enforceability of any of such Transaction Documents against any of the Obligors that is a party thereto. As used in this paragraph, “ Governmental Approval ” means any consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, any executive, legislative, judicial, administrative or regulatory body of the State of New York, the State of Delaware or the United States of America, pursuant to (i) applicable laws of the State of New York, (ii) applicable laws of the United States of America, (iii) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, (iv) the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act or (v) the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.

6. The statements under the caption “Description of Notes” in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum as supplemented by the Pricing Term Sheet and in the Offering Memorandum, insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of documents referred to therein and reviewed by us as described above, fairly summarize such provisions in all material respects, subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated therein.

7. The statements under the caption “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and in the Offering Memorandum, insofar as they refer to statements of law or legal conclusions, fairly summarize the matters referred to therein in all material respects, subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated therein.

8. The Indenture constitutes a valid and binding obligation of each of the Obligors, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, under applicable laws of the State of New York.

9. When authenticated by the Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Initial Purchasers in accordance with the Purchase Agreement, the Initial Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Issuers, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Issuers in accordance with their terms, under applicable laws of the State of New York.

10. When the Initial Securities have been authenticated by the Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Initial Purchasers in accordance with the Purchase Agreement, the guarantee of the Initial Securities included in the Indenture will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, under applicable laws of the State of New York.


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 12

 

11. When validly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture and delivered in exchange for Initial Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, the Exchange Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Issuers, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Issuers in accordance with their terms, under applicable laws of the State of New York.

12. When the Exchange Securities have been validly executed by the Issuers and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered in exchange for Initial Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, the guarantee included in the Indenture of the Exchange Securities will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, under applicable laws of the State of New York.

13. The Registration Rights Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of each of the Obligors, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, under applicable laws of the State of New York.

14. Assuming (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Obligors set forth in Sections [            ] and [            ] of the Purchase Agreement, (ii) the due performance by the Obligors and the Initial Purchasers of the covenants and agreements set forth in the Purchase Agreement, (iii) the compliance by the Initial Purchasers with the offering and transfer procedures and the restrictions described in the Offering Memorandum, (iv) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 2(b) of the Purchase Agreement, (v) the accuracy of the representations and warranties made or deemed to be made in accordance with the Purchase Agreement and the Offering Memorandum by purchasers to whom the Initial Purchasers initially resell the Initial Securities, and (vi) that purchasers to whom the Initial Purchasers initially resell the Initial Securities have been made aware of the information set forth in the Offering Memorandum under the caption “Notice to Investors,” (A) the offer, issue, sale and delivery of the Initial Securities (and the guaranties thereof by the Guarantors) to the Initial Purchasers and the initial resale of the Initial Securities (and the guaranties thereof by the Guarantors) by the Initial Purchasers, each in the manner contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Offering Memorandum, do not require registration under the Securities Act, and (B) prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), such offer, issue, sale and delivery of the Initial Securities (and the guaranties thereof by the Guarantors) and such initial resale of the Initial Securities (and the guaranties thereof by the Guarantors) do not require qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, provided , however , that we express no opinion as to any subsequent resale of any Initial Security (and the guaranties thereof by the Guarantors) or any Exchange Security (and the guaranties thereof by the Guarantors).


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 13

 

15. Each of the Obligors is not, and immediately after giving effect to the issuance and sale of the Initial Securities occurring today and the application of proceeds therefrom as described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, will not be, an “ investment company ” within the meaning of said term as used in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

In addition, we have participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Obligors, the independent registered public accounting firm for the Obligors, your counsel and your representatives at which the contents of the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum (including the Incorporated Documents) and related matters were discussed and, although we have not independently verified and are not passing upon, and do not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum (except as and to the extent set forth in paragraphs 6 and 7 above), on the basis of the foregoing (relying with respect to factual matters to the extent we deem appropriate upon statements by officers and other representatives of the Obligors), no facts have come to our attention that have led us to believe that (i) the Disclosure Package (including the Incorporated Documents), as of [            ] p.m. (Eastern Time) on July 29, 2014 (which you have informed us is a time prior to the time of the first sale of the Initial Securities by the Initial Purchasers), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (ii) the Offering Memorandum (including the Incorporated Documents), as of its date and as of the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, it being understood that we did not participate in the preparation of the Incorporated Documents and that we express no opinion, statement or belief in this letter with respect to (i) the historical and pro forma financial statements and related schedules, including the notes and schedules thereto and the auditors’ reports thereon and (ii) any other financial or accounting data, included or incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in, or excluded from, the Offering Memorandum.

We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than (i) applicable laws of the State of New York, (ii) applicable laws of the United States of America, (iii) certain other specified laws of the United States of America to the extent referred to specifically herein, (iv) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, (v) the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware and (vi) the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act of the State of Delaware. References herein to “applicable laws” mean those laws, rules and regulations that, in our experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Transaction Documents, without our having made any special investigation as to the applicability of any specific law, rule or regulation, and that are not the subject of a specific opinion herein referring expressly to a particular law or laws; provided however , that such references (including without limitation those appearing in paragraphs 4 and 5 above) do not include any municipal or other local laws, rules or regulations, or any antifraud, environmental, labor, securities, tax, insurance or antitrust, laws, rules or regulations.


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 14

 

Our opinions expressed herein are subject to the following additional assumptions and qualifications:

(i) The opinions set forth in paragraph 1 above as to the valid existence and good standing of the entities mentioned in such paragraph are based solely upon our review of certificates and other communications from the appropriate public officials.

(ii) In rendering the opinions set forth in paragraph 4 above regarding Applicable Agreements, we do not express any opinion, however, as to whether the execution or delivery by any of the Obligors of any of the Transaction Documents, or the incurrence or performance by any of the Obligors of its obligations thereunder, will constitute a violation of, or a default under or as a result of, any covenant, restriction or provision with respect to any financial ratio or test or any aspect of the financial condition or results of operation of any of the Obligors.

(iii) The opinion set forth in paragraph 7 above with respect to United States federal income tax consequences is based upon our interpretations of current U.S. federal income tax law, including court authority and existing final and temporary United States Treasury regulations, which are subject to change both prospectively and retroactively, and upon the assumptions and qualifications discussed herein. We note that such opinion represents merely our best legal judgment on the matters presented and that others may disagree with our conclusion. Such opinion is not binding upon the Internal Revenue Service or courts, and there is no guarantee that the Internal Revenue Service will not successfully challenge our conclusions. No assurance can be given that future legislative, judicial or administrative changes, on either a prospective or retroactive basis, would not adversely affect the accuracy of our conclusions.

(iv) Our opinions in paragraphs 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 above may be:

(1) limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally; and

(2) subject to the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including, without limitation, the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or any other equitable remedy and concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing.


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 15

 

(v) Our opinions in paragraphs 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 insofar as they pertain to the choice of law provisions of the instruments referred to in such paragraphs, are rendered solely in reliance upon New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401, and are expressly conditioned upon the assumption that the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of said provisions will be determined by a court of the State of New York or a United States federal court sitting in New York and applying New York choice of law rules, including said Section 5-1401. We express no opinion as to any such provision if such legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability is determined by any other court, and we call your attention to the decision of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in Lehman Brothers Commercial Corp. v. Minmetals Int’l Non-Ferrous Metals Trading Co ., 179 F. Supp. 2d 119 (S.D.N.Y. 2000), which, among other things, contains dicta relating to possible constitutional limitations upon said Section 5-1401. We express no opinion as to any such constitutional limitations upon said Section 5-1401 or their effect, if any, upon any opinion herein expressed.

(vi) We express no opinion as to the validity, effect or enforceability of any provisions:

(1) purporting to establish evidentiary standards or limitations periods for suits or proceedings to enforce such documents or otherwise, to establish certain determinations (including determinations of contracting parties and judgments of courts) as conclusive or conclusive absent manifest error, to commit the same to the discretion of any Person or permit any Person to act in its sole judgment or to waive rights to notice;

(2) providing that the assertion or employment of any right or remedy shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy, or that each and every remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other remedy or that any delay or omission to exercise any right or remedy shall not impair any other right or remedy or constitute a waiver thereof;

(3) relating to severability or separability;

(4) purporting to limit the liability of, or to exculpate, any Person, including without limitation any provision that purports to waive liability for violation of securities laws;

(5) purporting to waive damages;

(6) that constitute an agreement to agree in the future on any matter;


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 16

 

(7) that relate to indemnification, contribution or reimbursement obligations to the extent any such provisions (i) would purport to require any Person to provide indemnification, contribution or reimbursement in respect of the negligence, recklessness, willful misconduct or unlawful behavior of any Person, (ii) violate any law, rule or regulation (including any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation) or (iii) are determined to be contrary to public policy;

(8) purporting to establish any obligation of any party as absolute or unconditional regardless of the occurrence or non-occurrence or existence or non-existence of any event or other state of facts;

(9) purporting to obligate any party to conform to a standard that may not be objectively determinable or employing items that are vague or have no commonly accepted meaning in the context in which used;

(10) purporting to require the payment of liquidated damages or additional interest for failure timely to comply with obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement;

(11) purporting to require that all amendments, waivers and terminations be in writing or the disregard of any course of dealing or usage of trade;

(12) relating to consent to jurisdiction insofar as such provisions purport to confer subject matter jurisdiction upon any court that does not have such jurisdiction, whether in respect of bringing suit, enforcement of judgments or otherwise;

(13) purporting to limit the obligations of any party to the extent necessary to avoid such obligations constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance;

(14) purporting to require disregard of mandatory choice of law principles that could require application of a law other than the law expressly chosen to govern the instrument in which such provisions appear; or

(15) purporting to waive rights to trial by jury or rights to object to jurisdiction based on inconvenient forum.

(vii) In making our examination of executed documents, we have assumed (except to the extent that we expressly opine above) (1) the valid existence and good standing of each of the parties thereto, (2) that such parties had the power and authority,


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 17

 

corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other, to enter into and to incur and perform all their obligations thereunder, (3) the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other, and the due execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and (4) to the extent such documents purport to constitute agreements, that each of such documents constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each party thereto, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms. In this paragraph (vii), all references to parties to documents shall be deemed to mean and include each of such parties, and each other person (if any) directly or indirectly acting on its behalf.

(viii) Except to the extent that we expressly opine above, we have assumed that the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, and the incurrence and performance of the obligations thereunder of the parties thereto do not and will not contravene, breach, violate or constitute a default under (with the giving of notice, the passage of time or otherwise) (a) the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, articles of organization, certificate of limited partnership, charter, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, regulations, limited partnership agreement or similar organic document of any such party, (b) any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument, (c) any statute, law, rule, or regulation, (d) any judicial or administrative order or decree of any governmental authority, or (e) any consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, any governmental authority, in each case, to which any party to the Transaction Documents or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties may be subject, or by which any of them may be bound or affected. Further, we have assumed the compliance by each such party, other than the Obligors, with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to it, as well as the compliance by the each of the Obligors, and each other person (if any) directly or indirectly acting on its behalf, with all laws, rules and regulations that may be applicable to it by virtue of the particular nature of the business conducted by it or any goods or services produced or rendered by it or property owned, operated or leased by it, or any other facts pertaining specifically to it. In this paragraph (viii), all references to parties to the Transaction Documents, other than the first such reference, shall be deemed to mean and include each of such parties, and each other person (if any) directly or indirectly acting on its behalf.

(ix) Without limiting the generality of our qualification in clause (1) of paragraph (iv) above, we express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of any preference, fraudulent transfer or conveyance, or similar law (including, without limitation, Section 548 of Title 11 of the United States Code or Article 10 of the New York Debtor Creditor Law) on the Transaction Documents or any transactions contemplated thereby or any opinion expressed herein.


To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

August 4, 2014

Page 18

 

(x) We express no opinion as to Section [4.06] of the Indenture or Section [7.07(a)] of the Indenture.

(xi) We express no opinion as to Sections [                     ] of the Registration Rights Agreement.

(xii) We express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any jurisdiction in which any holder of any Initial Security or Exchange Security is located (other than the State of New York) that limit the interest, fees or other charges such holder may impose for the loan or use of money or other credit.

(xiii) Except to the extent that we expressly opine above, we have assumed that no authorization, consent or other approval of, notice to or registration, recording or filing with any court, governmental authority or regulatory body (other than routine informational filings, filings under the Securities Act and filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) is required to authorize, or is required in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the execution or delivery thereof by or on behalf of any party thereto or the incurrence or performance by any of the parties thereto of its obligations thereunder.

(xiv) We express no opinion as to provisions of the Transaction Documents to the effect that a guarantor is liable as a primary obligor, and not as a surety. We advise you that certain of the guaranty and surety waivers contained in the Indenture may be unenforceable in whole or in part.

(xv) We have assumed that the sale of Initial Securities pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act is not a part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration provisions of the Securities Act.

This opinion is being furnished only to you in connection with the sale of the Initial Securities under the Purchase Agreement occurring today and is solely for your benefit and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose or relied upon by any other Person, including any purchaser of any Initial Security from you and any subsequent purchaser of any Initial Security or Exchange Security, without our express written permission. The opinions expressed herein are as of the date hereof only and are based on laws, orders, contract terms and provisions, and facts as of such date, and we disclaim any obligation to update this opinion letter after such date or to advise you of changes of facts stated or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in law.

Very truly yours,


Exhibit A

Compressco Partners GP Inc.

Officers’ Certificate

August 4, 2014

Reference is made to the Purchase Agreement dated July 29, 2014 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) among (i) Compressco Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), (ii) Compressco Finance Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Co-Issuer ” and together with the Partnership, the “ Issuers ”), (iii) the subsidiaries of the Partnership listed on [Schedule[            ]] thereto and (iii) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several initial purchasers named therein (collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”). The undersigned, Ronald J. Foster and James P. Rounsavall hereby certify that they are (i) the President and (ii) the Chief Financial Officer, respectively, of Compressco Partners GP Inc., a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Partnership.

Such officers understand that pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Andrews Kurth LLP (“ AK ”), special counsel to the Issuers, is delivering to the Initial Purchasers an opinion letter dated the date hereof (“ Opinion Letter ”). Such officers further understand that AK is relying on this certificate and the statements made herein in rendering certain of the opinions expressed in their respective Opinion Letter. With regard to the foregoing, the undersigned certify that they have made due inquiry of all persons necessary or appropriate to verify or confirm the statements contained herein and they further certify the following:

1. Attached as Schedule 1 to this Officers’ Certificate is a true, accurate and complete list of every indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease or other agreement (collectively, “ Applicable Agreements ”) that is both (i) material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, or properties of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, considered as a single enterprise and (ii) an instrument by which the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries is bound or by which the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected.

2. Attached as Schedule 2 to this Officers’ Certificate is a true, accurate and complete list of every order or decree (collectively, “ Applicable Orders ”) of any governmental authority by which the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties is bound, that is material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, or properties of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, considered as a single enterprise.

3. The Partnership and its subsidiaries are engaged in businesses other than that of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in Securities. Furthermore, the Partnership and its subsidiaries:

(a) are not engaged primarily, nor does any of them hold itself out as being engaged primarily, nor does any of them propose to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in Securities;

 

Exhibit A - Page 1


(b) are not engaged, nor do any of them propose to engage, in the business of issuing Face-Amount Certificates of the Installment Type, nor has any of them been engaged in such business and has any such certificates outstanding;

(c) are not engaged, nor does any of them propose to engage, in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in Securities (other than Securities of its respective subsidiaries); and

(d) do not own, nor does any of them propose to acquire, Investment Securities having a value exceeding 40 percent of the value of its total assets (exclusive of Government Securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis.

As used in paragraph 3 of this certificate:

Face-Amount Certificate of the Installment Type ” means any certificate, investment contract or other Security which represents an obligation on the part of its issuer to pay a stated or determinable sum or sums at a fixed or determinable date or dates more than twenty-four months after the date of issuance, in consideration of the payment of periodic installments of a stated or determinable amount;

Government Security ” means any Security issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the United States, or by an entity controlled or supervised by and acting as an instrumentality of the Government of the United States pursuant to authority granted by the Congress of the United States; or any certificate of deposit for any of the foregoing;

Investment Securities ” means all Securities except (i) Government Securities and (ii) Securities issued by majority-owned subsidiaries of the owner, which subsidiaries: (A) are not themselves engaged in any activity described in clauses (a)-(c) of paragraph 3 of this certificate; and (B) do not own or propose to own Investment Securities having a value exceeding 40 percent of the value of each such subsidiary’s total assets (exclusive of Government Securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis; and

Security ” or “ Securities ” means any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option or privilege on any security (including a certificate of deposit) or on any group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, call, straddle, option or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a “security,” or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing.

4. Each of the Partnership and its subsidiaries does not own, and none of the proceeds from the offering of notes contemplated by the Purchase Agreement will be used directly or indirectly to purchase or carry, any “margin stock” as defined in Regulation U promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

(Signature page follows)

 

Exhibit A - Page 2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have executed this Officers’ Certificate as of the date first written above.

 

   
Ronald J. Foster    
President  
   
James P. Rounsavall  
Chief Financial Officer  
 


Schedule 1

Applicable Agreements

 

1. [to come]


Schedule 2

Applicable Orders

[None.]


Exhibit B

Applicable Guarantors

[ Update to include subsidiary guarantors that are organized in Delaware or Texas ]

 

Name

  

Type of Entity

  

Jurisdiction of Formation or Organization

Compressco Partners Sub, Inc.    corporation    Delaware
Compressco Partners Operating, LLC    limited liability company    Delaware
Compressco Field Services International LLC    limited liability company    Delaware
Compressco International, LLC    limited liability company    Delaware
Compressco Holdings, LLC    limited liability company    Delaware
Compressco Leasing, LLC    limited liability company    Delaware
Compressco Mexico Investment I, LLC    limited liability company    Delaware
Compressco Mexico Investment II, LLC    limited liability company    Delaware
[Compressor Systems, Inc.]    corporation    Delaware
Pump Systems International, Inc.    corporation    Delaware
Rotary Compressor Systems, Inc.    corporation    Delaware
CSI Compressor Holdings, LLC    limited liability company    Delaware

 

Exhibit B - Page 1


EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF OPINION OF GENERAL COUNSEL

[Attached.]

 

Exhibit A-2


[Compressco Letterhead]

[August 4, 2014]

To each of the Initial Purchasers named

in the Purchase Agreement referenced herein

c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

 

  Re: 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022 issued by Compressco Partners, L.P.

   (the “Partnership”) and Compressco Finance Inc. (the “Co-Issuer”) .

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am General Counsel of Compressco Partners GP Inc., a Delaware corporation and the general partner of the Partnership (the “ General Partner ”), and in such capacity, I have acted as internal counsel to the Partnership and its subsidiaries in connection with the Purchase Agreement dated July 29, 2014 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) among (i) the Issuer, (ii) the Co-Issuer, (iii) the other subsidiaries of the Issuer named therein as parties thereto and (iv) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several initial purchasers named therein (collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”), relating to the sale by the Partnership and the Co-Issuer to the Initial Purchasers of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “ Initial Securities ”) issued jointly by the Partnership and the Co-Issuer. The Initial Securities are being issued under an Indenture dated as of [August 4, 2014] among the Partnership, the Co-Issuer, the subsidiaries of the Partnership named therein as parties thereto and as guarantors of the Initial Securities (collectively, the “ Guarantors ”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The Partnership and the Co-Issuer are referred to collectively herein as the “ Issuers .”

I am furnishing this letter to you pursuant to Section 5(c)(ii) of the Purchase Agreement.

In rendering the statements set forth herein, I have examined and relied on originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of the following:

(a) the Issuers’ Preliminary Offering Memorandum dated July 21, 2014 (the “ Preliminary Offering Memorandum ”) relating to the Initial Securities;

(b) the Issuers’ Offering Memorandum dated July 29, 2014 (the “ Offering Memorandum ”) relating to the Initial Securities;

 

Exhibit A-2 - Page 1


(c) the Issuers’ pricing term sheet dated July 29, 2014 (the “ Pricing Term Sheet ”), relating to the Initial Securities (such Pricing Term Sheet, together with the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, being referred to herein as the “ Disclosure Package ”);

(d) each of the Partnership’s reports that have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum (the “ Incorporated Documents ”); and

(e) such other instruments as I have deemed necessary in light of the statements expressed herein.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, I advise you that except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum (including the Incorporated Documents), I am not aware of any action, suit or legal proceeding pending or overtly threatened (by written notice to the General Partner or either of the Issuers) against or affecting the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, that, if determined adversely to the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, properties or results of operations of the Partnership and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

This letter is being furnished only to you in connection with the sale of the Initial Securities under the Purchase Agreement occurring today and is solely for your benefit and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose or relied upon by any other person or entity, including any purchaser of any Initial Security from you and any subsequent purchaser of any Initial Security or security issued in exchange therefor, without my express written permission. Statements in this letter as to my awareness of any matter have been made after such internal inquiry posed to the Partnership’s management as I deemed appropriate, and such statements do not indicate any external investigation of the existence or non-existence of any facts or circumstances. The statements expressed herein are as of the date hereof only and are based on facts as of such date, and I disclaim any obligation to update this letter after such date or to advise you of changes of facts stated or assumed herein.

Very truly yours,

 

Exhibit A-2 - Page 2


EXHIBIT B

F ORM OF P URCHASE A GREEMENT J OINDER

[            ] [    ], 2014

M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH

I NCORPORATED

As Representative of the Initial Purchasers

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the purchase agreement, dated as of July 29, 2014 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), initially by and among Compressco Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and Compressco Finance Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Finance Corp. ” and, together with the Partnership, the “ Issuers ”), the guarantors named therein and you, as representatives of the several initial purchasers (the “ Initial Purchasers ”), concerning the purchase of the Securities (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) by the several Initial Purchasers from the Issuers. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.

Each of the parties hereto agree that this letter agreement (this “ Joinder Agreement ”) is being executed and delivered in connection with the issue and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and as an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Securities thereunder.

1. Joinder . Each of the parties hereto hereby acknowledges that it has received and reviewed a copy of the Purchase Agreement and all other documents it deems necessary to review in order to enter into this Joinder Agreement, and acknowledges and hereby agrees to join and become a party to the Purchase Agreement and to be bound by the terms, conditions, covenants, agreements, representations, warranties, acknowledgements and other provisions of the Purchase Agreement with all attendant rights, duties and obligations stated therein (including without limitation, the obligations of an indemnifying party thereunder), with the same force and effect as if originally named therein, as a Guarantor, and, as if such party executed the Purchase Agreement on the date thereof and performed all obligations and duties required of a Guarantor pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

Exhibit B-1


2. Representations, Warranties and Agreements . Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants to the Initial Purchasers on and as of the date hereof that:

(a) it has power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Joinder Agreement, and all action required to be taken by it for the due and proper authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this Joinder Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby has been duly and validly taken; this Joinder Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such party; and

(b) the representations, warranties and agreements of such party set forth in the Purchase Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof.

3. Partial Unenforceability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Joinder Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any section, paragraph or provision of this Joinder Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

4. Governing Law Provisions . THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Joinder Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“ Related Proceedings ”) may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City and County of New York (collectively, the “ Specified Courts ”), and each party hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for suits, actions, or proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any Specified Court in a Related Proceeding , as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of the Specified Courts in any Related Proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any Specified Proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any Specified Court that any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

5. General Provisions . This Joinder Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Joinder Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Joinder Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Joinder Agreement by telecopier, facsimile or other electronic transmission ( i.e., a “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof. This Joinder Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Joinder Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

Exhibit B-2


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please indicate your acceptance of this Joinder Agreement by signing in the space provided below, whereupon this Joinder Agreement will become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms as of the date first written above.

 

Very truly yours,
[ADDITIONAL GUARANTORS]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

Exhibit B-3


The foregoing Joinder Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Initial Purchasers as of the date first above written.

 

M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH

I NCORPORATED

Acting on behalf of itself and as the Representative of the several Initial Purchasers

By:   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
 

Incorporated

By:    
  Name:
  Title: Managing Director

 

Exhibit B-4


ANNEX I

P RICING S UPPLEMENT

 

Annex I-1


PRICING SUPPLEMENT    STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

 

LOGO

Compressco Finance Inc.

July 29, 2014

This Pricing Supplement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum dated July 21, 2014 (the “Preliminary Offering Memorandum”). The information in this Pricing Supplement supplements the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and supersedes the information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum to the extent inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.

The Notes (as defined below) have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and are being offered only to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Decrease in Gross Proceeds from this Offering and the Equity Offering and Increase in Initial Borrowings Under the New Credit Agreement to Fund the Transactions

The gross proceeds of this offering have been reduced from $350.0 million to $344.8 million and the gross proceeds of the Equity Offering have been reduced from $400.0 million to $359.1 million. In addition, the amount anticipated to be borrowed under the New Credit Agreement to fund the Transactions has been increased from $161.5 million to $206.8 million. As a result, all corresponding references in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum relating to the gross proceeds of this offering, the Equity Offering and the amount of initial borrowings under the New Credit Agreement to fund the Transactions and the as adjusted amount of outstanding indebtedness are hereby updated.

Terms Applicable to the 7.25% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Notes”)

 

Issuers:      Compressco Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) and Compressco Finance Inc.
Aggregate Principal Amount:      $350,000,000
Gross Proceeds:      $344,778,000
Title of Securities:      7.25% Senior Notes due 2022
Final Maturity Date:      August 15, 2022
Issue Price:      98.508%, plus accrued interest, if any, from August 4, 2014
Coupon:      7.25%
Yield to Worst:      7.50%


Interest Payment Dates:      February 15 and August 15, beginning on February 15, 2015
Record Dates:      February 1 and August 1
Redemption Provisions:     

At any time or from time to time prior to August 15, 2017, the Partnership may redeem all or a part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to a “make-whole price” equal to an amount that is the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of (a) the redemption price of such notes at August 15, 2017 and (b) the remaining scheduled payments of interest from the redemption date to August 15, 2017 (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the redemption date) discounted back to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at T+ 50 basis points, plus, in each case of (a) and (b), accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes, if any, to the redemption date.

 

On or after August 15, 2017, the Partnership may redeem all or a part of the Notes, from time to time, at the following redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on August 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Redemption
Price
 

2017

     105.438

2018

     103.625

2019

     101.813

2020 and thereafter

     100.000

 

     Prior to August 15, 2017, the Partnership may on one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the Notes with a cash amount not greater than the amount of net cash proceeds of certain sales of the Partnership’s equity securities at a redemption price of 107.250% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, subject to the limitations described in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.
Change of Control:      Offer to purchase at 101% of principal, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.
Joint Book-Running Managers:     

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

Barclays Capital Inc.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Co-Managers:     

Capital One Securities Inc.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

Trade Date:      July 29, 2014


Settlement Date:   

August 4, 2014 (T+4)

 

Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade Notes on the date of this Pricing Supplement will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Notes initially will settle T+4, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of Notes who wish to trade Notes on the date of this Pricing Supplement should consult their own advisor.

Denominations:    $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof
Distribution:    144A/Regulation S with registration rights as set forth in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum
CUSIP and ISIN Numbers:   

144A Notes:

CUSIP: 20467BAA7

ISIN: US20467BAA70

  

Reg S Notes:

CUSIP: U2038GAA1

ISIN: USU2038GAA14

Additional Information:

Our Summary Consolidated Historical Consolidated Financial and Operating Data

On p. 18 of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, in order to reflect the decrease in gross proceeds from this offering and the Equity Offering and the increase in initial borrowings under the New Credit Agreement to fund the Transactions, the following changes shall be made: (i) Ratio of total debt to EBITDA Plus Estimated Pro Forma Synergies shall be replaced with 4.40 (rather than 4.08); and (ii) Ratio of EBITDA Plus Estimated Pro Forma Synergies to interest expense shall be replaced with 4.47 (rather than 4.48).

This material is strictly confidential and is for your information only and is not intended to be used by anyone other than you. This material is personal to each offeree and does not constitute an offer to any other person or the public generally to subscribe for or otherwise acquire the Notes. This Pricing Supplement supplements the description of the Notes and the offering in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and does not purport to be complete. Please refer to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum for a more complete description.

This communication is not intended to be a confirmation as required under Rule 10b-10 of the Exchange Act, as amended. A formal confirmation will be delivered to you separately. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Notes will be offered and sold to qualified institutional buyers in the United States in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and to persons in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement.

Any disclaimers or other notices that may appear below the text of this legend are not applicable to this Pricing Supplement and should be disregarded. Such disclaimers or other notices may have been automatically generated as a result of this Pricing Supplement being sent via, or posted on, Bloomberg email or another electronic communication system.


ANNEX II

Resale Pursuant to Regulation S or Rule 144A . Each Initial Purchaser understands that:

Such Initial Purchaser agrees that it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell the Securities in the United States or to, or for the benefit or account of, a U.S. person (other than a distributor), in each case, as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S (i) as part of its distribution at any time and (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering of the Securities pursuant hereto and the Closing Date, other than in accordance with Regulation S or another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Such Initial Purchaser agrees that, during such 40-day restricted period, it will not cause any advertisement with respect to the Securities (including any “tombstone” advertisement) to be published in any newspaper or periodical or posted in any public place and will not issue any circular relating to the Securities, except such advertisements as are permitted by and include the statements required by Regulation S.

Such Initial Purchaser agrees that, at or prior to confirmation of a sale of Securities by it to any distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration during the 40-day restricted period referred to in Rule 903 of Regulation S, it will send to such distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration a confirmation or notice to substantially the following effect:

“The Securities covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered and sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (i) as part of your distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the date the Securities were first offered to persons other than distributors in reliance upon Regulation S and the Closing Date, except in either case in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act (or in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act or to accredited investors in transactions that are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act), and in connection with any subsequent sale by you of the Securities covered hereby in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act during the period referred to above to any distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration, you must deliver a notice to substantially the foregoing effect. Terms used above have the meanings assigned to them in Regulation S under the Securities Act.”

Such Initial Purchaser agrees that the Securities offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S will be represented upon issuance by a global security that may not be exchanged for definitive securities until the expiration of the 40-day restricted period referred to in Rule 903 of Regulation S and only upon certification of beneficial ownership of such Securities by non-U.S. persons or U.S. persons who purchased such Securities in transactions that were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

Annex II-1

Exhibit 10.2

P URCHASE A GREEMENT J OINDER

August 4, 2014

M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH

                          I NCORPORATED

As Representative of the Initial Purchasers

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the purchase agreement, dated as of July 29, 2014 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), initially by and among Compressco Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and Compressco Finance Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Finance Corp. ” and, together with the Partnership, the “ Issuers ”), the guarantors named therein and you, as representatives of the several initial purchasers (the “ Initial Purchasers ”), concerning the purchase of the Securities (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) by the several Initial Purchasers from the Issuers. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.

Each of the parties hereto agree that this letter agreement (this “ Joinder Agreement ”) is being executed and delivered in connection with the issue and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and as an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Securities thereunder.

1. Joinder . Each of the parties hereto hereby acknowledges that it has received and reviewed a copy of the Purchase Agreement and all other documents it deems necessary to review in order to enter into this Joinder Agreement, and acknowledges and hereby agrees to join and become a party to the Purchase Agreement and to be bound by the terms, conditions, covenants, agreements, representations, warranties, acknowledgements and other provisions of the Purchase Agreement with all attendant rights, duties and obligations stated therein (including without limitation, the obligations of an indemnifying party thereunder), with the same force and effect as if originally named therein, as a Guarantor, and, as if such party executed the Purchase Agreement on the date thereof and performed all obligations and duties required of a Guarantor pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

2. Representations, Warranties and Agreements . Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants to the Initial Purchasers on and as of the date hereof that:

(a) it has power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Joinder Agreement, and all action required to be taken by it for the due and proper authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this Joinder Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby has been duly and validly taken; this Joinder Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such party; and

 

1


(b) the representations, warranties and agreements of such party set forth in the Purchase Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof.

3. Partial Unenforceability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Joinder Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any section, paragraph or provision of this Joinder Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

4. Governing Law Provisions . THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Joinder Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“ Related Proceedings ”) may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City and County of New York (collectively, the “ Specified Courts ”), and each party hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for suits, actions, or proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any Specified Court in a Related Proceeding , as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of the Specified Courts in any Related Proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any Specified Proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any Specified Court that any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

5. General Provisions . This Joinder Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Joinder Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Joinder Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Joinder Agreement by telecopier, facsimile or other electronic transmission ( i.e., a “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof. This Joinder Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Joinder Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

2


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please indicate your acceptance of this Joinder Agreement by signing in the space provided below, whereupon this Joinder Agreement will become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms as of the date first written above.

 

Very truly yours,

COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS, INC.

By:   /s/ James P. Rounsavall
  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Vice President—Finance

ROTARY COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS, INC.

By:   /s/ James P. Rounsavall
  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Vice President—Finance

PUMP SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

By:   /s/ James P. Rounsavall
  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Vice President—Finance

CSI COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LLC

By:   Compressco Systems, Inc.,
its sole member
By:   /s/ James P. Rounsavall
  Name: James P. Rounsavall
  Title: Vice President—Finance

Signature Page to Purchase Agreement Joinder

 

3


The foregoing Joinder Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Initial Purchasers as of the date first above written.

 

M ERRILL L YNCH , P IERCE , F ENNER  & S MITH

                          I NCORPORATED

Acting on behalf of itself

and as the Representative of

the several Initial Purchasers

By:  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                     Incorporated

By:   /s/ Oscar Brown
  Name: Oscar Brown
  Title: Managing Director

Signature Page to Purchase Agreement Joinder

 

4

Exhibit 10.3

Execution Version

 

 

 

Published CUSIP Number: 20467CAA5

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of August 4, 2014

among

COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P. and

COMPRESSCO PARTNERS SUB, INC.,

as the Borrowers,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, L/C Issuer, and Swing Line Lender,

Barclays Bank PLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,

Royal Bank of Canada and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,

as Co-Syndication Agents,

Capital One, NA and Credit Suisse AG,

as Co-Documentation Agents,

The Other Lenders Party Hereto and

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

as

Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

            Section   

Page

 
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS      1   

1.01

    

Defined Terms

     1   

1.02

    

Other Interpretive Provisions

     33   

1.03

    

Accounting Terms

     34   

1.04

    

Rounding

     35   

1.05

    

Times of Day

     35   

1.06

    

Letter of Credit Amounts

     35   
ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS      35   

2.01

    

Loans

     35   

2.02

    

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans

     36   

2.03

    

Letters of Credit

     37   

2.04

    

Swing Line Loans

     47   

2.05

    

Prepayments

     50   

2.06

    

Termination or Reduction of Commitments

     52   

2.07

    

Repayment of Loans

     53   

2.08

    

Interest

     53   

2.09

    

Fees

     54   

2.10

    

Computation of Interest and Fees

     54   

2.11

    

Evidence of Debt

     55   

2.12

    

Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback

     56   

2.13

    

Sharing of Payments by Lenders

     58   

2.14

    

Increase in Commitments

     58   

2.15

    

Cash Collateral

     60   

2.16

    

Defaulting Lenders

     61   
ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY      64   

3.01

    

Taxes

     64   

3.02

    

Illegality

     68   

3.03

    

Inability to Determine Rates

     69   

3.04

    

Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans

     70   

3.05

    

Compensation for Losses

     72   

3.06

    

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

     72   

3.07

    

Survival

     73   
ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS      73   

4.01

    

Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

     74   

4.02

    

Conditions to all Credit Extensions

     77   
ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES      77   

5.01

    

Existence, Qualification and Power

     77   

5.02

    

Authorization; No Contravention

     77   

5.03

    

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

     78   

5.04

    

Binding Effect

     78   

5.05

    

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

     78   

5.06

    

Litigation

     79   

5.07

    

No Default

     80   

 

ii


5.08

    

Ownership of Property; Liens

     80   

5.09

    

Environmental Compliance

     80   

5.10

    

Insurance

     81   

5.11

    

Taxes

     81   

5.12

    

ERISA Compliance

     81   

5.13

    

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

     82   

5.14

    

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

     82   

5.15

    

Disclosure

     82   

5.16

    

Compliance with Laws

     83   

5.17

    

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

     83   

5.18

    

Material Contracts

     83   

5.19

    

Labor Disputes and Acts of God

     84   

5.20

    

Solvency

     84   

5.21

    

Status as Senior Debt; Security Documents

     84   

5.22

    

OFAC

     84   

5.23

    

Anti-Corruption Laws

     85   

5.24

    

Acquisition and other Transactions

     85   
ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS      85   

6.01

    

Financial Statements

     85   

6.02

    

Certificates; Other Information

     86   

6.03

    

[Reserved.]

     89   

6.04

    

Notices

     89   

6.05

    

Payment of Obligations

     89   

6.06

    

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

     90   

6.07

    

Maintenance of Properties

     90   

6.08

    

Maintenance of Insurance

     90   

6.09

    

Compliance with Laws

     91   

6.10

    

Books and Records

     91   

6.11

    

Inspection Rights

     91   

6.12

    

Use of Proceeds

     91   

6.13

    

Additional Guarantors

     91   

6.14

    

Agreement to Deliver Security Documents

     92   

6.15

    

Environmental Matters; Environmental Reviews

     92   

6.16

    

Compliance with Agreements

     93   

6.17

    

Further Assurances; Post-Closing Deliveries

     94   

6.18

    

Anti-Corruption Laws

     94   
ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS      94   

7.01

    

Liens

     94   

7.02

    

Investments

     97   

7.03

    

Indebtedness

     99   

7.04

    

Fundamental Changes

     101   

7.05

    

Dispositions

     101   

7.06

    

Restricted Payments

     102   

7.07

    

Change in Nature of Business

     103   

7.08

    

Transactions with Affiliates

     103   

7.09

    

Burdensome Agreements

     104   

7.10

    

Use of Proceeds

     104   

7.11

    

[Reserved.]

     104   

7.12

    

Prepayments of Debt

     104   

7.13

    

Sale or Discount of Receivables

     105   

 

iii


7.14

    

Material Contracts

     105   

7.15

    

Amendments to Organizational Documents and Certain Other Documents

     105   

7.16

    

Sale Leasebacks

     105   

7.17

    

Anti-Corruption Laws

     106   

7.18

    

Sanctions

     106   

7.19

    

Financial Covenants

     106   

7.20

    

Capital Expenditures

     106   

7.21

    

Accounting Changes

     106   

7.22

    

Control Agreements

     106   
ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES      107   

8.01

    

Events of Default

     107   

8.02

    

Remedies Upon Event of Default

     109   

8.03

    

Application of Funds

     110   
ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT      111   

9.01

    

Appointment and Authority

     111   

9.02

    

Rights as a Lender

     111   

9.03

    

Exculpatory Provisions

     111   

9.04

    

Reliance by Agents

     112   

9.05

    

Delegation of Duties

     113   

9.06

    

Resignation of Agents

     113   

9.07

    

Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders

     114   

9.08

    

No Other Duties, Etc.

     114   

9.09

    

Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

     115   

9.10

    

Collateral and Guaranty Matters

     116   
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS      117   

10.01

    

Amendments, Etc.

     117   

10.02

    

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

     118   

10.03

    

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

     121   

10.04

    

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

     121   

10.05

    

Payments Set Aside

     123   

10.06

    

Successors and Assigns

     124   

10.07

    

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

     128   

10.08

    

Right of Setoff

     129   

10.09

    

Interest Rate Limitation

     130   

10.10

    

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

     131   

10.11

    

Survival of Representations and Warranties

     131   

10.12

    

Severability

     131   

10.13

    

Replacement of Lenders

     131   

10.14

    

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

     132   

10.15

    

Waiver of Jury Trial

     133   

10.16

    

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

     134   

10.17

    

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

     134   

10.18

    

General Partner Limitation of Liability

     135   

10.19

    

USA PATRIOT Act Notice

     135   

10.20

    

Entire Agreement

     135   
ARTICLE XI. THE PARENT BORROWER      135   

11.01

    

Appointment; Nature of Relationship

     135   

11.02

    

Powers

     136   

 

iv


11.03

    

Employment of Agents

     136   

11.04

    

No Successor Parent Borrower

     136   

11.05

    

Execution of Loan Documents

     136   

 

  SCHEDULES
  1.01(a)   Security Schedule
  1.01(c)   Existing Letters of Credit
  2.01   Commitments and Applicable Percentages
  4.01   Closing Date Indebtedness
  5.03   Authorizations
  5.05   Indebtedness Supplement to Interim Financial Statements
  5.06   Litigation
  5.09   Environmental Matters
  5.11   Taxes
  5.13   Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments
  5.16   Compliance with Laws
  5.18   Material Contracts
  6.17   Post-Closing Deliveries
  7.01   Existing Liens
  7.02   Investments
  7.03   Existing Indebtedness
  7.08   Transactions with Affiliates
  10.02   Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices
  EXHIBITS
  A   Form of Assignment and Assumption
  B   Form of Committed Loan Notice
  C   Form of Swing Line Loan Notice
  D   Form of Compliance Certificate
  E   Form of Note
  F   Form of Perfection Certificate
  G   Form of Solvency Certificate
  H   Form of Prepayment Notice

 

v


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of August 4, 2014, among COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Compressco LP ”), COMPRESSCO PARTNERS SUB, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Sub Inc. ”, and together with Compressco LP, the “ Borrowers ”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. , as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, L/C Issuer, and Swing Line Lender, CAPITAL ONE, NA and CREDIT SUISSE AG, each as Co-Documentation Agents, BARCLAYS BANK PLC, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., ROYAL BANK OF CANADA and WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., each as Co-Syndication Agents and MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED, as Arranger.

R E C I T A L S:

WHEREAS, pursuant to, and subject to the terms and conditions of, that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 20, 2014 (the “ Acquisition Agreement ”), by and between Warren Equipment Company, a Delaware corporation, and Compressco Partners Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is a direct Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower, the Parent Borrower intends to indirectly acquire all of the stock of Compressor Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Target ”) for not more than $825,000,000 in cash, subject to adjustment as provided in the definitive documentation (collectively, the “ Acquisition ”);

WHEREAS, the Borrowers will (a) use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to pay a portion of the consideration necessary to consummate the Acquisition, (b) obtain additional proceeds to include at least $700,000,000 in cash proceeds from a combination of (i) the Public Equity Offering (as defined below), (ii) the LP Bridge Loans (as defined below), (iii) the Senior Notes (as defined below) and (iv) the Parent Equity Investment (as defined below) (as each is applicable), (c) pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with consummating the Acquisition, (d) to repay in full all borrowing outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement (as defined below) (collectively, clauses (a), (b) (c) and (d), the “ Transactions ”) and (e) use remaining proceeds to provide ongoing working capital and for other general corporate purposes of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries;

NOW THEREFORE, the Borrowers have requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders and Swing Line Lender have indicated their willingness to lend and the L/C Issuer has indicated its willingness to issue letters of credit, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

Article I.

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1.01 Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Acquisition ” has the meaning specified in the preamble.

 

1


Acquisition Agreement ” has the meaning specified in the preamble.

Acquisition Documents ” shall mean the collective reference to the Acquisition Agreement, and all exhibits and schedules thereto, including such documents as executed, along with such other agreements, recordings, filings or instruments made or executed therewith to consummate the Acquisition.

Acquisition Material Adverse Effect ” means any state of facts, change, event, circumstance, effect or occurrence, individually or in the aggregate with other facts, change, event, effect or occurrence, that is or would reasonably likely be materially adverse to the, financial condition, results of operations, properties, assets or liabilities (including contingent liabilities), or business of the Target and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided, that none of the following, and no changes, effects, events, circumstances, occurrences or states of facts arising out of or resulting from the following, shall be deemed, either alone or in combination, to constitute an Acquisition Material Adverse Effect, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been an Acquisition Material Adverse Effect, to the extent the following do not materially and disproportionately impact the Target and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, compared to other companies in the industry or industries in which the Target and its Subsidiaries operate, in which case the extent of such material and disproportionate effect may be taken in to account in determining whether an Acquisition Material Adverse Effect has occurred: (a) changes or effects in general economic conditions; (b) changes in laws or generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (or other analogous accounting standards) or the enforcement thereof; (c) changes or effects, including legal, tax or regulatory changes, that generally affect the industry or industry sectors in which the Target and its Subsidiaries operate; (d) any changes or effects that arise out of or are attributable to the commencement, occurrence, continuation or intensification of any war, sabotage, armed hostilities or acts of terrorism; or (e) changes or effects that arise out of or are attributable to the negotiation, execution, public announcement, pendency or performance of the Acquisition Agreement or the compliance with the provisions thereof, including the impact thereof on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with customers, suppliers, distributors, partners or employees, but excluding any breach, violation or default, event of default or event of acceleration (or any event or circumstance that with notice, the lapse of time, or both would be or constitute a breach, violation, default, event of default or event of acceleration) or right of first refusal, right of first offer or preferential right that occurs, becomes exercisable or is otherwise triggered upon or as a result of the execution and delivery of the Acquisition Agreement or any other Transaction Document (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) or the consummation of the Acquisition.

Act ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18 .

Administrative Agent ” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

 

2


Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Parent Borrower and the Lenders in writing.

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

Agent Parties ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(c) .

Aggregate Commitments ” means the Commitments of all the Lenders. The Aggregate Commitments as of the Closing Date are $400,000,000.

Agreement ” means this Credit Agreement.

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.14 . If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans (including the Swing Line Lender to make Swing Line Loans) and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

Applicable Rate ” means (i) prior to the delivery by the Parent Borrower to the Administrative Agent of financial statements for the quarter ending December 31, 2014 pursuant to Section 6.01 , (x) in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, 2.75% per annum, (y) in the case of Base Rate Loans, 1.75% and (z) in the case of the commitment fee, 0.50% (ii) after the delivery by the Parent Borrower to the Administrative Agent of financial statements for the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.01 , the following percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a) :

 

Pricing
Level

  

Consolidated Total
Leverage Ratio

   Commitment
Fee
     Eurodollar
Rate Loans
+
Letters of
Credit
     Base Rate
Loans +
 
1    £  3.00:1      37.50 bps         175 bps         75 bps   
2    £  3.75:1 but > 3.00:1      37.50 bps         200 bps         100 bps   
3    £  4.50:1 but > 3.75:1      50.00 bps         225 bps         125 bps   
4    > 4.50:1      50.00 bps         250 bps         150 bps   

 

3


Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) ; provided , however , that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then Pricing Level 4 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) .

Approval ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.03 .

Approved Fund ” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Arranger ” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, in its capacities as sole lead arranger and bookrunner.

Assignee Group ” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

Assignment and Assumption ” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b) ), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit A or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capitalized Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease or similar payments under the relevant

 

4


lease or other applicable agreement or instrument that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease or other agreement or instrument were accounted for as a Capitalized Lease and (c) all Synthetic Debt of such Person.

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of and for each fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, partners capital and cash flows for each such fiscal year of Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries, if any, including the notes thereto.

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii) .

Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iv) .

Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06 , and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02 .

Available Cash ” for any fiscal quarter has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

Bank of America ” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

Base Rate ” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate”, and (c) the Eurodollar Rate plus 1.00%. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

Base Rate Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Borrowers ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02 .

Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01 . For the avoidance of doubt, any Swing Line Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04 is a Borrowing.

Building ” has the meaning defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation.

 

5


Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

Capital Expenditures ” means, with respect to Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, any expenditure in respect of the purchase or other acquisition of any fixed or capital asset (excluding normal replacements and maintenance which are properly charged to current operations).

Capitalized Leases ” means all leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases.

Cash Collateralize ” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect thereof, cash or deposit account balances or, if the L/C Issuer benefitting from such collateral shall agree in its sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to (a) the Collateral Agent and (b) the L/C Issuer. “ Cash Collateral ” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

Cash Equivalents ” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens created under the Security Documents and other Liens permitted hereunder):

(a) readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than 360 days from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof;

(b) time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (i) (A) is a Lender or (B) is organized under the Laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the Laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (c) of this definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

(c) commercial paper issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America and rated with the two highest classifications available by Moody’s or S&P, in each case with maturities of not more than 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof; and

 

6


(d) Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which are administered by financial institutions that have the two highest rating obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P, and the portfolios of which are limited solely to Investments of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this definition.

Cash Management Agreement ” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.

Cash Management Bank ” means any Person that, at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement with a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, is a Lender, or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to a Cash Management Agreement, and any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender that was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender on the Closing Date that is also a party to a Cash Management Agreement with a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, provided , however , that if such Person ceases to be a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, such Person shall only be a Cash Management Bank with respect to those certain Cash Management Agreements executed during such time such Person was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, such agreements not to extend past their written terms.

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Change in Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) the General Partner shall cease to be the sole general partner of the Parent Borrower, (b) 50% or more of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors (or equivalent body) of the General Partner shall at any time be occupied by Persons who were neither (i) appointed by the Permitted Investor Group, or (ii) appointed by such directors, (c) members of the Permitted Investor Group, collectively, shall cease to own (i) Equity Interests representing greater than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the General Partner or (ii) greater than 50% of the economic interests represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the General Partner, or (d) any change of control or similar event shall occur under the terms of any indenture, note agreement or other agreement governing the Senior Notes, a Debt Issue or any LP Bridge Loan.

 

7


Closing Date ” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01 .

Co-Documentation Agent ” means each of Capital One, NA and Credit Suisse AG in its capacity as co-documentation agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor co-documentation agent.

Co-Syndication Agent ” means each of Barclays Bank PLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Royal Bank of Canada and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. in its capacity as co-syndication agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor co-syndication agent.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Collateral ” means all property of any kind which is subject to a Lien in favor of Lenders (or in favor of Administrative Agent for the benefit of Lenders and Lender Counterparties) or which, under the terms of any Security Document, is purported to be subject to such a Lien, in each case granted or created to secure all or part of the Obligations.

Collateral Agent ” means Bank of America in its capacity as collateral agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor collateral agent.

Commitment ” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01 , (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Committed Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 .

Committed Loan Notice ” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower.

Commodity Exchange Act ” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq .), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D .

Compressor Equipment ” means Compressor Units, engines, cooling units (and packages combining any of the foregoing), well monitoring assets, automated sand separation assets and other equipment and assets, together with any tangible components thereof, all related appliances, parts, accessories, appurtenances, accessions, additions, improvements and replacements thereto, all other equipment or components of any nature from time to time incorporated or installed therein and all substitutions for any of the foregoing.

 

8


Compressor Unit ” means a wellhead compressor unit used by any Loan Party to provide natural gas wellhead compression-based production enhancement services, including GasJack compressor units and VJack compressor units.

Conflicts Committee ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date or as otherwise amended, supplemented or modified to the extent not prohibited by Section 7.15 .

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any period, for Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Consolidated Interest Charges for such period, (ii) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable by Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) one-time financing and advisory fees and expenses incurred by the Parent Borrower to consummate the Transactions and (v) other expenses of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries reducing such Consolidated Net Income which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period and minus (b) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, (ii) extraordinary gains and (iii) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period; provided that for purposes of Section 7.19 , if a Borrower or any Guarantor shall acquire or dispose of any material property, in any case, during the period of four fiscal quarters ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the date of determination for which financial statements are available and up to and including the date of the consummation of such acquisition or disposition, then Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated, in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition (including the revenues of the properties acquired and synergies and operating expense reductions and cost savings actually realized, as certified by the Parent Borrower) or disposition, as if such acquisition or disposition had occurred on the first day of such period.

Consolidated Funded Indebtedness ” means, as of any date of determination, for the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct non-contingent obligations arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments, (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations, (f) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is

 

9


itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Parent Borrower or a Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Parent Borrower or such Subsidiary.

Consolidated Interest Charges ” means, for any period, for Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses of Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, excluding one-time charges in respect of loan origination or similar fees and non-cash amortized amounts with respect thereto (including, for the avoidance of doubt, debt issuance costs), and (b) the portion of rent expense of Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries with respect to such period under Capitalized Leases that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA to (b) Consolidated Interest Charges for the period of four fiscal quarters most recently ended.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, at any date of determination, the net income (or loss) of Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; provided that Consolidated Net Income shall exclude (a) extraordinary or non-recurring gains and extraordinary losses or expenses, (b) non cash gains and losses with respect to any Hedging Contract, (c) the net income of any Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary of such income is not permitted by operation of the terms of its Organization Documents or any agreement, instrument or Law applicable to such Subsidiary, except that Parent Borrower’s equity in any net loss of any such Subsidiary shall be included in determining Consolidated Net Income, and (d) any income (or loss) of any Person if such Person is not a Guarantor, except that Parent Borrower’s equity in the net income of any such Person shall be included in Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person to a Borrower or a Guarantor as a dividend or other distribution (and in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Guarantor, such Guarantor is not precluded from further distributing such amount to a Borrower as described in clause (c) of this proviso).

Consolidated Secured Funded Indebtedness ” means, as of any date of determination, for Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, Consolidated Funded Indebtedness, but excluding any such Indebtedness that is not secured by any Liens.

Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Secured Funded Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for period of four fiscal quarters most recently ended.

Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four fiscal quarters most recently ended.

 

10


Contractual Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement or instrument to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Contribution Agreement ” means the Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2011, among Compressco, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Compressco Field Services, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation, Compressco Canada, Inc., an Alberta corporation, Compressco de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., a Mexican limited liability corporation of variable capital, Compressco GP, the Borrowers, Compressco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Compressco Netherlands B.V., a Netherlands private limited liability company, Compressco Netherlands Cooperatief U.A., a Netherlands coöperatief , TETRA International Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, Production Enhancement Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., a Mexican limited liability corporation of variable capital and TETRA, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder.

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

Control Agreement ” means any agreement reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent the purpose of which is to create a first priority perfected Lien by control in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in respect of one or more deposit accounts, securities accounts or commodities accounts of any Loan Party to the extent any such account constitutes Collateral under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

Credit Extension ” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

Debt Issue ” means unsecured Indebtedness in the form of one or more issuances of senior unsecured notes issued by one or both of Borrower and Finance Co and guarantees thereof by any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Indebtedness shall (A) not have a scheduled final maturity date, or require any scheduled amortization or other scheduled payments of principal earlier than six months after the Maturity Date, (B) have no financial maintenance covenants, (C) not have covenants or events of default that, taken as a whole, are more restrictive than those in this Agreement and (D) not have any mandatory prepayment or redemption provisions other than prepayments required as a result of a “change of control” or asset sale, (ii) no Default or Event of Default exists or would exist immediately after the issuance of such Indebtedness, (iii) immediately prior to and after giving effect to the issuance of such Indebtedness, Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be (x) in pro forma compliance with all of the covenants set forth in Sections 7.19 and (y) the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis shall be at least 0.50x less than the maximum allowed under Section 7.19(b) at such time, and (iv) no Subsidiary that is not also a Guarantor shall guarantee such Indebtedness, and such guarantee shall be unsecured.

 

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Debtor Relief Laws ” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Default ” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would, unless cured or waived during any applicable grace or cure period be an Event of Default.

Default Rate ” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided , however , that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.

Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section 2.16(b) , any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded by it hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Parent Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation from such Lender by the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result

 

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in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(b) ) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Parent Borrower, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and each other Lender promptly following such determination.

Designated Jurisdiction ” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory itself is the subject of any Sanction.

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property or any series of related dispositions of property by any Person (or the granting of any option or other right to do any of the foregoing), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

Disqualified Equity Interest ” means any Equity Interest which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Equity Interests which are not otherwise Disqualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Equity Interests which are not otherwise Disqualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments or dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is 91 days after the Maturity Date.

Dollar ” and “ $ ” mean lawful money of the United States.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower that is organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, other than any such Subsidiary that is directly or indirectly held by a Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Eligible Assignee ” means a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund, or any Person (other than a natural person) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b) ).

Environment ” means ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, surface and subsurface strata, and natural resources such as wetland, flora and fauna.

 

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Environmental Laws ” means laws, regulations, ordinances, codes, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions and requirements issued by any federal, state, local or other Governmental Authority or quasi-Governmental Authority or body (or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof) (a) relating to pollution and/or the protection, preservation or reclamation of natural resources of the Environment or the Release of any materials into the Environment, including those related to hazardous substances or Hazardous Materials or other wastes (including, without limitation, solid waste or oil and gas exploration and production wastes), air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems or (b) pertaining to any substance or material which is regulated for reasons of health, safety and/or the protection, preservation or reclamation of natural resources of the Environment and which is present or alleged to be present on or about or used in any facilities owned, leased, licensed or operated by the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any portion thereof including, without limitation, those relating to soil, surface, subsurface ground water conditions and the condition of the indoor and outdoor ambient air, any so called “superfund” or “superlien” law, and any other United States federal, state or local statute, law, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order or decree regulating, relating to, or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning, the protection of the Environment or human health (to the extent related to exposure to any Hazardous Material), including those relating to the manufacture, generation, handling, transport, storage, treatment, reclamation, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials, as now or at any time during the term of the Agreement in effect.

Environmental Liability ” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of a Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment, reclamation or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

EPAct 2005 ” means the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. No. 109-58, 119 Stat. 594.

Equity Interests ” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

 

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ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Parent Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (or Section 414(m) or (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 or 430 of the Code or Section 302 or 303 of ERISA).

ERISA Event ” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Parent Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Parent Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Parent Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate; or (g) a Foreign Plan Event that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Eurodollar Rate ” means:

(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“ LIBOR ”) or a comparable or successor rate, which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at or about 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; and

(b) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time determined two Business Days prior to such date for U.S. Dollar deposits with a term of one month commencing that day;

provided that to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection herewith, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, further that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

Eurodollar Rate Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of “Eurodollar Rate.” For the avoidance of doubt, no Swing Line Loan shall be a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01 .

 

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Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guaranty of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any guaranty thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to Section 2.03 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and any other “keepwell, support or other agreement” for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties) at the time the guaranty of such Guarantor, or a grant by such Guarantor of a security interest, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such guaranty or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of a Borrower or any other Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise Taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the United States or by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar Tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which a Borrower is located, (c) any backup withholding tax that is required by the Code to be withheld from amounts payable to a Lender that has failed to comply with clause (A) of Section 3.01(f)(ii) , (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Parent Borrower under Section 10.13 ), any United States withholding Tax that (i) is required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to the Laws in force at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Parent Borrower under Section 10.13 ) or designates a new Lending Office or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with clause (B) of Section 3.01(f)(ii) , except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Parent Borrower with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Sections 3.01(a)(ii) or 3.01(c) and (e) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any United States federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to it as a result of its failure to comply with the requirements of FATCA to establish a complete exemption from withholding thereunder.

Existing Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2013, among Compressco Partners, L.P., Compressco Partners Operating, LLC, Compressco Partners Sub, Inc., Compressco Holdings, LLC, Compressco Leasing, LLC, Compressco Field Services International, LLC, and Compressco International, LLC, as the borrowers, the other

 

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loan parties party thereto, as the loan guarantors, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and any other parties party thereto, as amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the Closing Date.

Existing Letters of Credit ” means those letters of credit issued and outstanding on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 1.01(c) .

Extraordinary Receipts ” means any cash and cash equivalents received by or paid to or for the account of any Person from the proceeds of tax refunds, insurance (other than proceeds of business interruption insurance to the extent such proceeds constitute compensation for lost revenue) and condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof), except to the extent that such proceeds, awards or payments in respect of loss or damage to equipment, fixed assets or real property are applied (or in respect of which expenditures were previously incurred) to replace or repair the equipment, fixed assets or real property in respect of which such proceeds were received in accordance with the terms of Section 2.05(e) .

Fabricated Cost ” means the total costs (other than allocations of general and administrative expenses) incurred in fabricating a particular item of Compressor Equipment, as determined by the books and records of the Loan Parties, prepared in accordance with GAAP.

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantially comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code.

Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

Fee Letter ” means the letter agreement, dated July 10, 2014, among Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, the Parent Borrower and the General Partner.

Finance Co ” means a direct, wholly-owned Subsidiary of Sub Inc. formed to become or otherwise serving as a co-issuer or co-borrower of unsecured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement, which Subsidiary meets the following conditions at all times: (a) the provisions of Sections 6.13 and 6.14 have been complied with respect to such Subsidiary and such Subsidiary is a Guarantor and (b) such Subsidiary has not (i) incurred, directly or indirectly, any

 

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Indebtedness, or other obligation or liability whatsoever other than the Indebtedness that it was formed to co-issue or co-borrow or for which it otherwise serves as co-issuer or co-borrower; (ii) engaged in any business, activity or transaction or owned any property, assets or Equity Interests other than (A) performing its obligations and activities incidental to the co-issuance or co-borrowing of the Indebtedness that it was formed to co-issue or co-borrow or for which it otherwise serves as co-issuer or co-borrower, and (B) other activities incidental to the maintenance of its existence, including legal, Tax and accounting administration; (iii) consolidated with or merged with or into any Person; or (iv) failed to hold itself out to the public as a legal entity separate and distinct from all other Persons.

Flood Insurance Regulations ” shall mean (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statue thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (amending 42 USC 4001, et seq.), as the same may be amended or recodified from time to time, (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and (v) any regulations promulgated under any of the foregoing statutes (including, without limitation, any regulations promulgated by the FRB).

Foreign Benefit Arrangement ” shall mean any employee benefit arrangement mandated by non-U.S. law that is maintained or contributed to by Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Foreign Lender ” means any Lender or L/C Issuer that is not a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (including such a Lender when acting in the capacity of the L/C Issuer).

Foreign Plan ” shall mean each employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA) that is not subject to U.S. law and is maintained or contributed to by Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Foreign Plan Event ” shall mean, with respect to any Foreign Plan or Foreign Benefit Arrangement, (i) the failure to make or, if applicable, accrue in accordance with normal accounting practices, any employer or employee contributions required by applicable law or by the terms of such Foreign Plan or Foreign Benefit Arrangement; (ii) the failure to register or loss of good standing (if applicable) with applicable regulatory authorities of any such Foreign Plan or Foreign Benefit Arrangement required to be registered; or (iii) the failure of any Foreign Plan or Foreign Benefit Arrangement to comply with any provisions of applicable law and regulations or with the terms of such Foreign Plan or Foreign Benefit Arrangement.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

 

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Fronting Exposure ” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof.

Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

General Partner ” means Compressco Partners GP Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or

 

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portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “ Guarantee ” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Guarantors ” means, collectively, each Borrower, each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrowers as of the Closing Date and each other Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrowers that shall be required to execute and deliver a guaranty or guaranty supplement pursuant to Section 6.13 .

Guaranty and Collateral Agreement ” means the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, dated as of even date herewith, by and among the Borrowers, each Guarantor and the other grantors set forth therein, in favor of the Collateral Agent.

Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, natural gas, natural gas liquids, any “oil and gas waste” (as defined in Section 91.1011 of the Texas Natural Resources Code), asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, toxic mold, infectious or medical wastes, chemicals, pollutants, contaminants or compounds and all other substances or wastes of any nature in any form regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Hedging Contract ” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, other contracts of sale which provide for prepayment for deferred shipment or delivery of oil, gas or other commodities, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “ Master Agreement ”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Hedging Termination Value ” means, in respect of any one or more Hedging Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedging Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedging Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedging Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedging Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

 

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Honor Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i) .

Increase Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a) .

Incremental Commitments ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(a).

Indebtedness ” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b) the maximum amount of all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

(c) net obligations due and owing by such Person under any Hedging Contract after giving effect to all netting arrangements;

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and not past due for more than 90 days after the date on which such trade account was created);

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) all Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person and all Synthetic Debt of such Person;

(g) Disqualified Equity Interests;

(h) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person (other than as permitted pursuant to Section 7.06 ) or any other Person or any warrant, right or option to acquire such Equity Interest, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and

(i) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such

 

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Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any Capitalized Lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.

Indemnified Taxes ” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Indemnitee ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b) .

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07 .

Initial Financial Statements ” means:

(a) the Audited Financial Statements;

(b) audited financial statements for the Target as of and for each year ending September 30, 2013, September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011;

(c) unaudited consolidated financial statements of (i) the General Partner, (ii) the Parent Borrower and (iii) the Target for any interim quarterly periods that have ended since the most recent of such audited financial statements; and

(d) pro forma financial statements for the Parent Borrower after giving effect to the Acquisition and the other Transactions as of the end of and for the most recently completed fiscal quarter, as applicable.

Interest Payment Date ” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided , however , that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.

Interest Period ” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter (in each case, subject to availability), as selected by the Parent Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:

(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(ii) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

 

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Investment ” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit or all or a substantial part of the business of, such Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

IP Rights ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.17 .

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

ISP ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

Issuer Documents ” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer and the Parent Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of the L/C Issuer and relating to any such Letter of Credit.

Laws ” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

L/C Advance ” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

L/C Borrowing ” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Borrowing.

L/C Credit Extension ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance or reinstatement thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

L/C Issuer ” means (a) Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder and (b) any Person that has issued an Existing Letter of Credit, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is an L/C Issuer as of the Closing Date pursuant to clause (b) hereof.

 

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L/C Obligations ” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06 . For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

Lender ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, for the avoidance of doubt, if the context so requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.

Lender Counterparty ” means a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.

Lender Party Account ” and “ Lender Party Accounts ” have the meanings specified in Section 10.08 .

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Letter of Credit ” means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder, providing for the payment of cash upon the honoring of a presentation hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit.

Letter of Credit Application ” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.

Letter of Credit Expiration Date ” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

Letter of Credit Fee ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h) .

Letter of Credit Sublimit ” means an amount equal to $20,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

LIBOR ” has the meaning specified in the definition of Eurodollar Rate.

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, easement, right-of-way or other encumbrance on title to real property, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

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Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to a Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan or, if the context so requires, a Swing Line Loan.

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each Note, each Letter of Credit, any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15 , each Security Document, the Fee Letter, each Issuer Document, and all other agreements, certificates, documents, and instruments entered into in connection herewith or therewith (exclusive of term sheets and commitment letters), as such agreements, certificates, documents and instruments may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrowers and each Guarantor.

London Banking Day ” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

LP Bridge Loan ” means the borrowing of up to $450,000,000 of senior unsecured loans under a bridge facility.

Manufactured Mobile Home ” has the meaning defined in the applicable Flood Insurance Regulation.

Material Adverse Effect ” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, assets, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document, or of the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.

Material Contracts ” means, collectively, (a) the agreements listed on Schedule 5.18 and (b) any other contract, arrangement or material agreement filed, made available or otherwise posted (or required to have been filed, made available or otherwise posted) by the Borrowers with the SEC pursuant to any Securities Laws.

Maturity Date ” means August 4, 2019, provided , however , that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.09 .

Minimum Collateral Amount ” means, at any time, (i) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided to reduce or eliminate Fronting Exposure during the existence of a Defaulting Lender, an amount equal to 103 % of the Fronting Exposure of the L/C Issuer with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time, (ii) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.15(a)(i) , (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) , an amount equal to 103 % of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, and (iii) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer in their sole discretion.

 

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Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Multiemployer Plan ” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Parent Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding six plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Net Cash Proceeds ” means the remainder of (a) the gross proceeds received by any Loan Party from a Disposition, less (b) investment banking fees, legal, advisory, accounting and other professional fees and expenses, and other usual and customary transaction costs, sales commission, property transfer taxes or other taxes, in each case only to the extent paid or payable by a Loan Party in cash and related to such Disposition.

Non-Consenting Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.13 .

Non-Defaulting Lender ” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

Non-Extension Notice Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii) .

Non-Reinstatement Deadline ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iv) .

Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrowers in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit E .

Notice of Exclusive Control ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.08 .

Obligations ” means the Secured Hedging Obligations, Secured Cash Management Obligations, and all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan (including, any Swing Line Loan) or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding; provided that the Obligations shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations.

OPA ” means the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as amended from time to time.

OFAC ” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

Omnibus Agreement ” means the Omnibus Agreement dated as of June 24, 2011 among the General Partner, Compressco LP and TETRA Technologies, Inc. as in effect on the Closing Date or as otherwise amended, supplemented or modified to the extent not prohibited by Section 7.15 .

 

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Organization Documents ” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, limited partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes or any other excise or property Taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

Outstanding Amount ” means (i) with respect to Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any Borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrowers of Unreimbursed Amounts.

Parent Borrower ” means Compressco LP.

Parent Equity Investment ” means the contribution of cash by the General Partner to the Parent Borrower in exchange for Equity Interests in the Parent Borrower.

Participant ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d) .

Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d) .

Partnership Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Compressco Partners, L.P., dated June 20, 2011, as amended, supplemented or modified to the extent not prohibited by Section 7.15 .

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA.

Pension Act ” means the Pension Protection Act of 2006, as amended from time to time.

 

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Pension Funding Rules ” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth in, with respect to plan years ending prior to the effective date of the Pension Act, Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, each as in effect prior to the Pension Act and, thereafter, Section 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.

Pension Plan ” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Parent Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Parent Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding six plan years.

Perfection Certificate ” means a Perfection Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F provided to the Administrative Agent that provides certain information with respect to the Loan Parties, including information relating to the Collateral (including, without limitation, real property and equipment) thereof.

Permitted Acquisition ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02(h) .

Permitted Investor Group ” means TETRA Technologies, Inc. and its Affiliates other than Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

Permitted Sale/Leaseback Transactions ” means the sale or transfer of real or personal property by a Person with the intent to lease or rent such property as lessee for substantially the same purpose as the property sold or transferred, provided that the value of all personal property sold does not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate for all such transactions.

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan ” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 or 403 of the Code or Section 302 or 303 or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

Platform ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02 .

Prepayment Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(h)

Public Equity Offering ” means a public offering of common units in the Parent Borrower.

Public Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02 .

Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c) .

 

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Registered Public Accounting Firm ” has the meaning specified in the Securities Laws and shall be independent of Parent Borrower as prescribed by the Securities Laws.

Release ” means any release, spill, emission, discharge, deposit, disposal, reclamation, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, emptying, injection, or leaching into the Environment, or into, from or through any building, structure or facility.

Related Parties ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Reportable Event ” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30-day notice period has been waived.

Request for Credit Extension ” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

Required Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans, the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions and the obligation of the Swing Line Lender to make Swing Line Loans have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 , Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (in each case, with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, principal financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party or the General Partner (or of another Person acting as a member or manager of a Loan Party), as applicable, and, solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 4.01 , the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Loan Party (or of another Person acting as a member or manager of a Loan Party), and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II , any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party or the General Partner, as applicable, shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership, limited partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party or the General Partner, as applicable, and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party or the General Partner, as applicable.

 

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Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the Parent Borrower’s stockholders, partners, limited partners, general partners, or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto.

Sanction(s) ” means any sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

Sarbanes-Oxley ” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Secured Cash Management Obligations ” means all obligations arising from time to time under Cash Management Agreements entered into from time to time between a Borrower or any Guarantor and any Cash Management Bank; provided that if such Cash Management Bank ceases to be a Lender hereunder or an Affiliate of a Lender hereunder, Secured Cash Management Obligations shall only include such obligations to the extent arising from transactions entered into at the time such counterparty was a Lender hereunder or an Affiliate of a Lender hereunder.

Secured Hedging Obligations ” means all obligations arising from time to time under Hedging Contracts entered into from time to time between a Borrower or any Guarantor and a Lender Counterparty; provided that (a) if such Lender Counterparty ceases to be a Lender hereunder or an Affiliate of a Lender hereunder, Secured Hedging Obligations shall only include such obligations to the extent arising from transactions entered into at the time such counterparty was a Lender hereunder or an Affiliate of a Lender hereunder, and (b) the applicable Lender Counterparty has provided the Administrative Agent written notice of the existence of such obligations and such transaction must not otherwise be prohibited under this Agreement.

Secured Parties ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, the Lender Counterparties to Secured Hedging Obligations, the Cash Management Banks, each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.05 , and the other Persons the Obligations owing to which are or are purported to be secured by the Collateral under the terms of the Security Documents.

Securities Laws ” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Sarbanes-Oxley and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, as each of the foregoing may be amended and in effect on any applicable date hereunder.

 

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Security Documents ” means the instruments listed in the Security Schedule (including, the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, a Perfection Certificate, the Control Agreements and any mortgages and deeds of trust to be delivered at Closing) and all other security agreements, deeds of trust, mortgages, pledges, deposit instruments, guarantees, financing statements, continuation statements, extension agreements and similar agreements now, heretofore, or hereafter delivered by any Loan Party to Collateral Agent in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby to secure or guarantee the payment of any part of the Obligations or the performance of any Loan Party’s other duties and obligations under the Loan Documents.

Security Schedule ” means Schedule 1.01(a) hereto.

Senior Notes ” means the senior notes issued for gross proceeds of at least $350,000,000 (without giving effect to original issue discount) from the Parent Borrower and Compressco Finance Inc.

Service and Rental Fleet Equipment ” means equipment owned by the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (i) used by the Parent Borrower or its Subsidiaries to provide compression, other production enhancement services or other ancillary services, (ii) leased to customers to perform such services, or (iii) held for sale, in all instances for clauses (i) - (iii), in connection with the production, transportation or storage of oil and natural gas.

Solvent ” and “ Solvency ” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including, contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital, and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations ” shall mean such of the representations and warranties related to Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the Borrowers have the right to terminate their obligations under the Acquisition Agreement or the right to decline to consummate the Acquisition as a result of a breach of such representations in the Acquisition Agreement.

 

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Specified Representations ” shall mean the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 5.01 , 5.02(a) and (b)  (except in the case of each of (b)(i) and (ii) to the extent a violation would not result in a “Material Adverse Effect” as such term is defined in the Borrowers’ Existing Credit Agreement in effect immediately prior to the Closing Date), 5.04 , 5.14 , 5.20 , 5.21 , 5.22 and 5.23 .

Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of (a) the economic interests represented by the Equity Interests, (b) the general partner interests, or (c) the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Parent Borrower.

Swap Obligation ” means with respect to any Guarantor any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Swing Line Borrowing ” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04 .

Swing Line Lender ” means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

Swing Line Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a) .

Swing Line Loan Notice ” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C or such other form as approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form of an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriated completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower.

Swing Line Sublimit ” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $60,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

Synthetic Debt ” means, with respect to any Person as of any date of determination thereof, all obligations of such Person in respect of transactions entered into by such Person that are intended to function primarily as a borrowing of funds (including any minority interest transactions that function primarily as a borrowing) but are not otherwise included in the definition of “ Indebtedness ” or as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

Synthetic Lease Obligation ” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or

 

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possession of property (including sale and leaseback transactions), in each case, creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the application of any Debtor Relief Laws to such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

Target ” has the meaning specified in the preamble.

Taxes ” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Threshold Amount ” means $20,000,000.

Total Outstandings ” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Committed Loans, Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations.

Transactions ” has the meaning specified in the preamble.

Transaction Documents ” means the Acquisition Documents, the Loan Documents, and documents, agreements, instruments or filings relating to the Public Equity Offering, the Parent Equity Investment, the Senior Notes and the LP Bridge Loans, as applicable.

Type ” means, with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

UCP ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

Uniform Commercial Code ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to the creation or perfection of a security interest in any item or items of Collateral.

United States ” and “ U.S. ” mean the United States of America.

Unreimbursed Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i) .

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions.  With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “ include ,” “ includes ” and “ including ” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “ will ” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “ shall .” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other

 

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document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “ herein ,” “ hereof ” and “ hereunder ,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such Law and any reference to any Law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such Law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “ asset ” and “ property ” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “ from ” means “ from and including ;” the words “ to ” and “ until ” each mean “ to but excluding ;” and the word “ through ” means “ to and including .”

(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

1.03 Accounting Terms .

(a) Generally . All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

(b) Changes in GAAP . If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Parent Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Parent Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the

 

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Parent Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP. Without limiting the foregoing, leases shall continue to be classified and accounted for on a basis consistent with that reflected in the Audited Financial Statements for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding any change in GAAP relating thereto, unless the parties hereto shall enter into a mutually acceptable amendment addressing such changes, as provided for above.

(c) Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities . All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount for the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Parent Borrower is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein.

1.04 Rounding . Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Parent Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

1.05 Times of Day; Rates.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable). The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of “Eurodollar Rate” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided , however , that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

Article II.

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

2.01 Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “ Committed Loan ”) to the Borrowers from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided , however , that after giving effect to any Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of

 

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any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans; provided further , that, notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained herein, Sub Inc. shall only be able to make Borrowings on the Closing Date and in an amount not to exceed $175,000,000. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof (including the preceding sentence), the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01 , prepay under Section 2.05 , and reborrow under this Section 2.01 . Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

(a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon a Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) Committed Loan Notice; provided , that any telephonic notice must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Committed Loan Notice. Any such notice may be given by the Parent Borrower on behalf of the Borrower. Each such Committed Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Section 2.03(c) or Section 2.04(c) , each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Swing Line Loan may not be converted to a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic

 

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conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 2:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided , however , that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first , shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second , shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Parent Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

(e) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than six Interest Periods in effect with respect to Loans.

2.03 Letters of Credit.

(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment .

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03 , (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of a Borrower or the Guarantors, and to amend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of a Borrower or the Guarantors and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s

 

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Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans that are participated to such Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each request by a Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers’ ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrowers may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed. All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, Sub Inc. shall not be able to request the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit.

(ii) The L/C Issuer shall not issue, increase or extend any Letter of Credit, if:

(A) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii) , the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

(B) the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date.

(iii) The L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to the Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve, liquidity or capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

(B) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

 

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(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, the Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $10,000 (or such lesser amount as may be agreed by the L/C Issuer);

(D) the Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars;

(E) except for Letters of Credit in support of performance bonds, such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder;

(F) any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with a Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) ) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which the L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion; or

(G) the Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder.

(iv) The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

(v) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

(vi) The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to the Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.

(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit .

(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Parent Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately

 

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completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such application can be provided by the Parent Borrower on behalf of a Borrower (or on account of a Guarantor). Such Letter of Credit Application may be sent by facsimile, by United States mail, by overnight courier, by electronic transmission using the system provided by the L/C Issuer, by personal delivery or by any other means acceptable to the L/C Issuer. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer not later than 12:00 p.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may reasonably require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may reasonably require. Additionally, the Parent Borrower shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer may reasonably require.

(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower (or the applicable Guarantor) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

(iii) If a Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “ Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ”); provided that any such

 

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Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “ Non-Extension Notice Date ”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, such Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or a Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

(iv) If a Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that permits the automatic reinstatement of all or a portion of the stated amount thereof after any drawing thereunder (each, an “ Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit ”). Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, such Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer to permit such reinstatement. Once an Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit has been issued, except as provided in the following sentence, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to reinstate all or a portion of the stated amount thereof in accordance with the provisions of such Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit permits the L/C Issuer to decline to reinstate all or any portion of the stated amount thereof after a drawing thereunder by giving notice of such non-reinstatement within a specified number of days after such drawing (the “ Non-Reinstatement Deadline ”), the L/C Issuer shall not permit such reinstatement if it has received a notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Reinstatement Deadline (A) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such reinstatement or (B) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or such Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied (treating such reinstatement as an L/C Credit Extension for purposes of this clause) and, in each case, directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such reinstatement.

(v) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

 

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(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations .

(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “ Honor Date ”), if the Parent Borrower shall have received notice of such drawing prior to 9:00 a.m. on the Honor Date, or if such notice has not been received by the Parent Borrower prior to such time on the Honor Date, then not later than 11:00 a.m. on (A) the Business Day that the Parent Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 9:00 a.m. on the day of receipt or (B) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Parent Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to 9:00 a.m. on the day of receipt, the applicable Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If such Borrower fails to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “ Unreimbursed Amount ”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, such Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

(ii) Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available (and the Collateral Agent may apply Cash Collateral provided for this purpose) for the account of the L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii) , each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to such Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer and the subject to Section 2.03(c)(iii) , the obligation of such Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer such Unreimbursed Amount shall be deemed satisfied.

(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, such Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03 .

 

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(iv) Until each Lender funds its Committed Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.

(v) Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c) , shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, any Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided , however , that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by a Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the applicable Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

(vi) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii) , then, without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Repayment of Participations .

(i) At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c) , if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from a Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of

 

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Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Collateral Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(e) Obligations Absolute . The obligation of a Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that a Borrower or any Guarantor may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

(iv) waiver by the L/C Issuer of any requirement that exists for the L/C Issuer’s protection and not the protection of a Borrower or any waiver by the L/C Issuer which does not in fact materially prejudice a Borrower;

(v) honor of a demand for payment presented electronically even if such Letter of Credit requires that demand be in the form of a draft;

(vi) any payment made by the L/C Issuer in respect of an otherwise complying item presented after the date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which documents must be received under such Letter of Credit if presentation after such date is authorized by the Uniform Commercial Code, the ISP or the UCP, as applicable;

 

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(vii) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or

(viii) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, a Borrower or any Guarantor.

The applicable Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with such Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, such Borrower will immediately, but in any event, within three (3) Business Days, notify the L/C Issuer. Such Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

(f) Role of L/C Issuer . Each Lender and the Borrowers agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Borrowers hereby assume all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided , however , that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude any Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (viii) of Section 2.03(e) ; provided , however , that anything in this Section 2.03 to the contrary notwithstanding, a Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to such Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by such Borrower which such Borrower proves were caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of

 

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any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason. The L/C Issuer may send a Letter of Credit or conduct any communication to or from the beneficiary via the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (“SWIFT”) message or overnight courier, or any other commercially reasonable means of communicating with a beneficiary. The L/C Issuer shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any changes to L/C Borrowings or L/C Obligations.

(g) Applicability of ISP . Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the applicable Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible to such Borrower for, and the L/C Issuer’s rights and remedies against such Borrower shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of the L/C Issuer required or permitted under any Law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where the L/C Issuer or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or UCP, as applicable, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade – International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such Law or practice.

(h) Letter of Credit Fees . The applicable Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “ Letter of Credit Fee ”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit; provided , however , any Letter of Credit Fees otherwise payable for the account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit as to which such Defaulting Lender has not provided Cash Collateral satisfactory to the L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be payable, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, to the other Lenders in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Applicable Percentages allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.16(a)(iv) , with the balance of such fee, if any, payable to the L/C Issuer for its own account. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06 . Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

 

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(i) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer . The applicable Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, at the rate of 0.125% per annum, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06 . In addition, such Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

(j) Conflict with Issuer Documents . In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

(k) Letters of Credit Issued for Guarantors . Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Guarantor, the Borrowers shall be obligated to reimburse the L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrowers hereby acknowledge that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of the Guarantor inures to the benefit of the Borrowers, and that the Borrowers’ business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Guarantor.

(l) Replacement of an Issuing Bank . The L/C Issuer may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent, such replaced L/C Issuer and the successor L/C Issuer. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of an L/C Issuer. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Parent Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.03 . From and after the effective date of such replacement, the successor L/C Issuer shall have all the rights and obligations of the replaced L/C Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and references herein to the term “L/C Issuer” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous L/C Issuer, or to such successor and all previous L/C Issuer, as the context shall require. After the replacement of a L/C Issuer hereunder, the replaced L/C Issuer shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of a L/C Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

2.04 Swing Line Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04 , may in its sole discretion make loans (each such loan, a “ Swing Line Loan ”) to the Borrowers from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an

 

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aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided , however , that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments at such time, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans that are participated to such Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, (y) the Borrowers shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan, and (z) the Swing Line Lender shall not be under any obligation to make any Swing Line Loan if it shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that it has, or by such Credit Extension may have, Fronting Exposure. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.04 , prepay under Section 2.05 , and reborrow under this Section 2.04 . Each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest only at a rate based on the Base Rate. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

(b) Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon a Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) by Swing Line Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a Swing Line Loan Notice. Such notice may be given by the Parent Borrower on behalf of a Borrower. Each such Swing Line Loan Notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000 (or the remaining amount available under the Swing Line Sublimit if smaller), and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a) , or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to such Borrower at its office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds.

 

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(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans .

(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of a Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02 , without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Committed Loans and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 . The Swing Line Lender shall furnish such Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable Swing Line Loan) for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii) , each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to such Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Borrowing of Committed Loans in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i) , the request for Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

(iii) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i) , the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(iv) Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, any Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided , however , that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 . No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrowers to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(d) Repayment of Participations .

(i) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(e) The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the applicable Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

(f) The Borrowers shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

2.05 Prepayments .

(a) The Borrowers may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without

 

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premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall be irrevocable except to the extent delivered in connection with a notice of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06 that is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice of prepayment may be revoked by a Borrower to the same extent that the notice of termination may be revoked pursuant to Section 2.06 . Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by a Borrower, such Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05 . Subject to Section 2.15 , each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

(b) (i) The Borrowers may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (A) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (B) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of the lesser of (i) $100,000 or (ii) the principal outstanding under the Swing Line Loan. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by a Borrower, such Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

(c) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Borrowers shall immediately prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided , however , that the Borrowers shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect.

(d) Upon the occurrence of any Disposition by a Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries which results in the realization of Net Cash Proceeds, the Borrowers shall prepay the Loans by an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds immediately upon receipt thereof by such Person, provided , however , that, at the election of the Borrowers (as notified by the Parent Borrower to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date of receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds), and so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrowers or such Subsidiary may, within 365 days after the receipt of such cash proceeds, reinvest such

 

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Net Cash Proceeds in operating assets of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and provided , further , however , that any cash proceeds not reinvested shall be immediately applied to the prepayment of the Loans as set forth in this Section 2.05(d) , and, provided , further , however , that prepayments under this Section 2.05(d) shall not be required until the aggregate amount of unapplied Net Cash Proceeds exceeds $2,000,000. The provisions of this section do not constitute consent to any Dispositions by the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted hereunder.

(e) Upon any Extraordinary Receipt received by or paid to or for the account of a Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries not otherwise included in this Section, the Borrowers shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans equal to such Extraordinary Receipt immediately upon receipt thereof by a Borrower or such Subsidiary; provided , however , that, at the election of the Borrowers (as notified by the Parent Borrower to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date of receipt of such Extraordinary Receipt), and so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Parent Borrower or such Subsidiary may apply within 365 days after the receipt of such cash proceeds to reinvest in operating assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and provided , further , however , that any cash proceeds not so applied shall be immediately applied to the prepayment of the Loans as set forth in this Section 2.05(e) , and, provided , further , however , that prepayments under this Section 2.05(e) shall not be required until the aggregate amount of unapplied Extraordinary Receipts exceeds $2,000,000.

(f) Upon the incurrence or issuance by the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness expressly permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.03 ), the Borrowers shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans equal to 100% of all Net Cash Proceeds therefrom immediately upon receipt.

(g) Each prepayment under this Section 2.05 shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the amount prepaid to the date of such prepayment and amounts, if any, required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.05 as a result of such prepayment.

(h) In connection with each prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.05 , the Administrative Agent shall have received a prepayment notice substantially in the form of Exhibit H or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower.

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Aggregate Commitments shall not be permanently reduced by any mandatory prepayments required by this Section.

2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.  The Parent Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Parent Borrower

 

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shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit, exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit, as the case may be, shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination, provided that a notice of termination of the Aggregate Commitments delivered by the Parent Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Parent Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.

2.07 Repayment of Loans . Subject to the next subsequent sentence of this paragraph, the Borrowers shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date. The Borrowers shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date ten Business Days after such Swing Line Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date for the Committed Loans.

2.08 Interest .

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) (i) If any Obligation is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws. Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(ii) While any Event of Default exists and is continuing (and, other than with respect to an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a)(i), (f) or (g) , if requested by the Required Lenders), the Borrowers shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

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(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

2.09 Fees.  In addition to certain fees described in subsections (h) and (i) of Section 2.03 :

(a) Commitment Fee . The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceed the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16 . For the avoidance of doubt, the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans shall not be counted towards or considered usage of the Aggregate Commitments for purposes of determining the commitment fee. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(b) Other Fees . (i) The Borrowers shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

(ii) The Borrowers shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees.

(a) All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a) , bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

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(b) If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Parent Borrower or for any other reason, the Borrowers or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Parent Borrower as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrowers shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrowers under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under Section 2.03(c)(iii) , 2.03(h) or 2.08(b) or under Article VIII . The Borrowers’ obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

2.11 Evidence of Debt.

(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrowers and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a) , each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

 

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2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

(a) General . All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made free and clear and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrowers shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02 ) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrowers severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the applicable Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrowers, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrowers and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the applicable Borrower the amount of such interest paid by such Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrowers shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrowers may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(ii) Payments by Borrowers; Presumptions by Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Borrower prior to the time at which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or

 

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the L/C Issuer hereunder that such Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if such Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Parent Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent . If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II , and such funds are not made available to the Borrowers by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(d) Obligations of Lenders Several . The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c) .

(e) Funding Source . Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

(f) Insufficient Funds . If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, L/C Borrowings, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i)  first , toward payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii)  second , toward payment of principal and L/C Borrowings then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and L/C Borrowings then due to such parties.

 

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2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Committed Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:

(a) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

(b) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (y) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.15 , or (z) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.

2.14 Increase in Commitments .

(a) Request for Increase . Provided no Default exists and is continuing, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Parent Borrower may from time to time, request an increase in the Aggregate Commitments (each an “ Incremental Commitment ”) by an amount (for all such requests) not exceeding $150,000,000; provided that any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $25,000,000 or any whole multiple of $5,000,000 in excess thereof (other than requests for the entire remaining amount under the aggregate limit in respect of Incremental Commitments set forth above. Each such notice shall specify (i) the date on which the Parent Borrower proposes that the Incremental Commitments shall be effective, which shall be a date not less than ten (10) Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent and (ii) the identity of each Eligible Assignee to whom the Parent Borrower proposes any portion of such Incremental

 

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Commitments be allocated and the amounts of such allocations; provided that any existing Lender approached to provide all or a portion of the Incremental Commitments may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Incremental Commitment.

(b) Conditions . The Incremental Commitments shall become effective as of the Increase Effective Date; provided that :

(i) each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 shall be satisfied;

(ii) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the borrowings to be made on the Increase Effective Date;

(iii) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.14(b) , the representations and warranties contained in Section 5.05(a) and Section 5.05(b) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent financial statements furnished pursuant to subsections (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01 .

(iv) on a pro forma basis (assuming that such Incremental Commitments are fully drawn), the Borrowers shall be in compliance with each of the covenants set forth in Section 7.19 as of the end of the latest fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available;

(v) the Borrowers shall make any breakage payments in connection with any adjustment of Committed Loans pursuant to this Section; and

(vi) the Parent Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered officer’s certificates, legal opinions and other documents of the type delivered on the Closing Date to the extent reasonably requested by, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent.

(c) Lender Elections to Increase . Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees (in its sole discretion) to increase its Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Percentage of such requested increase. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Commitment. No Lender shall be required to participate in any increase in the Aggregate Commitments.

(d) Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders . Within five (5) Business Days following such time period, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Parent Borrower and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder. To achieve the full amount of a requested increase and subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Parent Borrower may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

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(e) Effective Date and Allocations . If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “ Increase Effective Date ”) and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date.

(f) Adjustment of Committed Loans . To the extent the Commitments being increased on the relevant Increase Effective Date are Incremental Commitments, then each Lender that is acquiring an Incremental Commitment on the Increase Effective Date shall make a Committed Loan, the proceeds of which will be used to prepay the Committed Loans of the other Lenders immediately prior to such Increase Effective Date, so that, after giving effect thereto, the Committed Loans outstanding are held by the Lenders pro rata based on their Commitments after giving effect to such Increase Effective Date. If there is a new Borrowing of Committed Loans on such Increase Effective Date, the Lenders after giving effect to such Increase Effective Date shall make such Committed Loans in accordance with Section 2.02 . The Borrowers shall be required to pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05 as a result of any prepayment referenced in this Section 2.14(e) .

(g) Conflicting Provisions . This Section shall supersede any provisions in Sections 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

2.15 Cash Collateral.

(a) Certain Credit Support Events . If (i) the L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, (ii) as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, (iii) the Borrowers shall be required to provide Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 8.02(c) , or (iv) there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, the Borrowers shall immediately (in the case of clause (iii)  above) or within one Business Day (in all other cases) following any request by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, provide Cash Collateral in an amount not less than the applicable Minimum Collateral Amount (determined in the case of Cash Collateral provided pursuant to clause (iv)  above, after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender). If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as Cash Collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, the Borrowers will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited as Cash Collateral, an amount equal to the excess of (x) such aggregate Outstanding Amount over (y) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as Cash Collateral that the Administrative Agent determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim. Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit for which funds are on deposit as Cash Collateral, such funds shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable Laws, to reimburse the L/C Issuer.

 

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(b) Grant of Security Interest . The Borrowers, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.15(c) . If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Borrowers will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency. All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America. The Borrowers shall pay on demand therefor from time to time all customary account opening, activity and other administrative fees and charges in connection with the maintenance and disbursement of Cash Collateral.

(a) Application . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.15 or Sections 2.03 , 2.05 , 2.16 or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, Swing Line Loans obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

(b) Release . Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or to secure other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 10.06(b)(vi) )) or (ii) the determination by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided , however , (x) any such release shall be without prejudice to, and any disbursement or other transfer of Cash Collateral shall be and remain subject to, any other Lien conferred under the Loan Documents and the other applicable provisions of the Loan Documents, and (y) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the L/C Issuer may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.

2.16 Defaulting Lenders.

(a) Adjustments . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

(i) Waivers and Amendments . Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 10.01 and in the definition of “Required Lender”.

 

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(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall . Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first , to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second , to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third , to Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.16 ; fourth , as the Parent Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.16 ; sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh , so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to a Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by such Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.16(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

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(iii) Certain Fees .

(A) That Defaulting Lender (x) shall not be entitled to receive any commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender) and (y) shall be limited in its right to receive Letter of Credit Fees as provided in Section 2.03(h) .

(B) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.15 .

(C) With respect to any Letter of Credit Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) or (B)  above, the Borrowers shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to the L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such L/C Issuer’s or Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

(iv) Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure . All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that (x) the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied at the time of such reallocation (and, unless the Parent Borrower shall have otherwise notified the Administrative Agent at such time, the Parent Borrower shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such conditions are satisfied at such time), and (y) such reallocation does not cause the aggregate revolving credit exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Commitment. No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

(v) Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swing Line Loans . If the reallocation described in clause (a)(iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under applicable Law, (x) first, prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lenders’ Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.15

 

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(b) Defaulting Lender Cure . If the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Committed Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) ), whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

Article III.

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes.

(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes . (i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of a Borrower or any Guarantor hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall to the extent permitted by applicable Laws be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Taxes. If, however, applicable Laws require a Borrower, a Guarantor or the Administrative Agent to withhold or deduct any Tax, such Tax shall be withheld or deducted in accordance with such Laws as determined by the Borrower, Guarantor or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.

(ii) If the Borrowers, any Guarantor or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to be required, (B) the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrowers shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

 

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(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrowers . Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrowers shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of any Other Taxes.

(c) Indemnification by the Borrowers . (i) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, the Borrowers and any applicable Guarantor shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) withheld or deducted by the Borrowers, such Guarantor or the Administrative Agent or paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. The Borrowers shall also, and do hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender or the L/C Issuer for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required by subsection (d) below. A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or liability and reasonably detailed calculations therefore delivered to the Parent Borrower by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Each Lender and the L/C Issuer shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes attributable to such lender or the L/C Issuer (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender or the L/C Issuer by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this subsection (d).

(e) Evidence of Payments . Upon request by the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by a Borrower (or applicable Guarantor) or the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Borrower (or applicable Guarantor) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Parent Borrower, as the case may be, the

 

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original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

(f) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation . (i) Each Lender and the L/C Issuer shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and to the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent and such other reasonably requested information as will permit the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine (A) whether or not payments made hereunder or under any other Loan Document are subject to Taxes, (B) if applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction, and (C) such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Lender or the L/C Issuer by the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to establish such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s status for withholding tax purposes in the applicable jurisdiction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 3.01(f)(ii)(A), (ii)(B)(I), (ii)(B)(II), (ii)(B)(III), (ii)(B)(IV) and (ii)(C) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject to such Lender or the L/C Issuer to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender or L/C Issuer.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if each Borrower is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code,

(A) any Lender or the L/C Issuer that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender or the L/C Issuer becomes a Lender or the L/C Issuer under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 certifying that such Lender or the L/C Issuer is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax; and

(B) each Foreign Lender that is entitled under the Code or any applicable treaty to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

(I) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or any subsequent version thereof or successor thereto, claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,

 

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(II) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, or any subsequent version thereof or successor thereto,

(III) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, or any subsequent version thereof or successor thereto, and all required supporting documentation,

(IV) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of a Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or any subsequent version thereof or successor thereto, or

(V) executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Laws as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States federal withholding tax together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Laws to permit the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

(C) If a payment made to a Lender or the L/C Issuer under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender or the L/C Issuer were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrowers (or any applicable Guarantor) and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender or the L/C Issuer has complied with such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (C), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

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(iii) Each Lender and the L/C Issuer shall promptly notify the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction.

(g) Treatment of Certain Refunds . Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or the L/C Issuer, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be. If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrowers or with respect to which the Borrowers have paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to the Borrowers an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made by the Borrowers under this Section with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrowers, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, agree to repay the amount paid over to the Borrowers (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection (g), in no event will the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer be required to pay any amount to the Borrowers pursuant to this subsection (g) the payment of which would place the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrowers or any other Person.

(h) Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

3.02 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Parent Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be

 

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suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case, until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrowers shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof, (a) the Administrative Agent determines that (i) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, or (ii) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan (in each case with respect to clause (a) (i) above, “Impacted Loans”), or (b) the Administrative Agent affected Lenders determine that for any reason the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Parent Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended, (to the extent of the affected Eurodollar Rate Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurodollar Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent upon the instruction of the affected Lenders revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrowers may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans (to the extent of the affected Eurodollar Rate Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination described in clause (a)(i) of this section, the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the

 

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Parent Borrower and the affected Lenders, may establish an alternative interest rate for the Impacted Loans, in which case, such alternative rate of interest shall apply with respect to the Impacted Loans until (1) the Administrative Agent revokes the notice delivered with respect to the Impacted Loans under clause (a) of the first sentence of this section, (2) the Administrative Agent or the affected Lenders notify the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower that such alternative interest rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding the Impacted Loans, or (3) any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to such alternative rate of interest or to determine or charge interest rates based upon such rate or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to do any of the foregoing and provides the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower written notice thereof.

3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.

(a) Increased Costs Generally . If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) ) or the L/C Issuer;

(ii) subject the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or the L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer); or

(iii) impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting to, or continuing or maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Borrowers will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

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(b) Capital Requirements . If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding liquidity or capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrowers will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) Certificates for Reimbursement . A certificate of a Lender or the L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section, the methodology for the calculations and the calculations thereof prepared in good faith, in reasonable detail and delivered to the Parent Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 Business Days after receipt thereof.

(d) Delay in Requests . Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Parent Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270 day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

(e) Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans . The Borrowers shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including eurodollar funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Parent Borrower shall have received at least 10 Business Days’ prior written notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender which notice shall include the amount of such costs, the methodology for the calculation and

 

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the calculation thereof. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 Business Days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10 Business Days from receipt of such notice.

3.05 Compensation for Losses . Upon written demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrowers shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

(b) any failure by the Borrowers (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrowers; or

(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 10.13;

including any loss or expense (but not including loss of anticipated profits) arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrowers shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrowers to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or the Borrowers are required to pay any additional amount to any Lender, the L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or  3.04 , as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be. The Borrowers hereby agree to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or the L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

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(b) Replacement of Lenders . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrowers are required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , and in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different Lending Office in accordance with Section 3.06 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , the Borrowers may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13 .

3.07 Survival .  All of the Borrowers’ obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

Article IV.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension . The obligation of the L/C Issuer and each Lender and Swing Line Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s (or Collateral Agent’s, as appropriate) receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals, telecopier or electronic copies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Lender and the Borrowers;

(ii) a Note executed by the Borrowers in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

(iii) to the extent not identified as a post-closing obligation on Schedule 6.17 , each Security Document listed in the Security Schedule, together with, if applicable:

(A) certificates representing any certificated equity interests pledged therein, accompanied by undated stock powers executed in blank or, if applicable, other appropriate instruments of transfer and instruments evidencing the debt pledged therein, if any, indorsed in blank;

(B) copies of all Uniform Commercial Code, judgment and tax lien searches with respect to personal property Collateral, together with copies of the financing statements (or similar documents) disclosed by such searches, and accompanied by evidence that any Liens indicated in any such financing

 

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statement that are not permitted by Section 7.01 have been or contemporaneously will be released or terminated (or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent), and all proper financing statements, duly prepared for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code necessary in order to perfect the Liens created under the Security Documents (in the circumstances and to the extent required under such Security Document), covering the Collateral of the Loan Parties described in the Security Documents;

(C) if required, with respect to any real property Collateral located in a “flood hazard area” in any Flood Insurance Rate Map published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on which such Building or Manufactured Mobile Home are located in a “flood hazard area” and where such Building or Manufactured Mobile Home constitute Collateral, each of the following: (x) standard flood hazard determination forms if any property is located in a special flood hazard area, (y) notices to (and confirmations of receipt by) the Parent Borrower as to the existence of a special flood hazard and, if applicable, the unavailability of flood hazard insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program and (z) evidence of applicable flood insurance, if available, in each case in such form, on such terms and in such amounts as required by The National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 or as otherwise required by Flood Insurance Regulations or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

(iv) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

(v) such documents, agreements and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized, formed or incorporated, and that each of the Borrowers and each Guarantor is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its jurisdiction of organization, formation or incorporation;

(vi) such certificates signed by a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party attaching true and complete copies of each such Loan Party’s Organization Documents as in effect on the Closing Date;

(vii) favorable opinions of Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender, as to such matters concerning the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby as the Administrative Agent may request, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender;

(viii) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information with respect to the Loan Parties and the Target (and

 

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its Affiliates), that has been reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent at least ten (10) days prior to the Closing Date that it reasonably determines is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA PATRIOT Act;

(ix) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by any Loan Party and the validity against any such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

(x) the Initial Financial Statements;

(xi) evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect, including certificates of insurance, naming the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, as loss payee and as an additional insured, as the case may be, under all insurance policies maintained with respect to the assets and properties of the Loan Parties that constitutes Collateral;

(xii) evidence that (A) the Existing Credit Agreement has been or concurrently with the Closing Date is being terminated and all Liens securing obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement have been or concurrently with the Closing Date are being released and (B) any Liens relating to the Target and any prior indebtedness of such Target immediately prior to the Acquisition have been terminated and released concurrently with the Closing Date;

(xiii) a certificate from the chief financial officer of each Loan Party, in substantially the form of Exhibit G hereto, attesting to the Solvency of each Loan Party before and after giving effect to the Transactions and the incurrence of the Indebtedness related thereto;

(xiv) a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower (A) attaching forecasts, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, of balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements for (x) each quarter for the first twelve months following the Closing Date and (y) each year commencing with the first fiscal year following the Closing Date for the term of this Agreement and (B) certifying that such forecasts were prepared in good faith on the basis of assumptions believed to be reasonable when made; and

(xv) evidence that (i) all of the general partnership interests in the Parent Borrower shall be owned by the General Partner and (ii) all ownership interests of the Parent Borrower’s Subsidiaries shall be owned by the Parent Borrower or one or more of the Parent Borrower’s Subsidiaries, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), free and clear of any Lien not permitted under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

 

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(b) Other than as set forth on Schedule 4.01 , after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, no third-party indebtedness for borrowed money of the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall remain outstanding as of the Closing Date other than Indebtedness incurred or permitted pursuant to this Agreement.

(c) Since December 31, 2013 there shall not have occurred any change, occurrence or development that has had or could be reasonably expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have an Acquisition Material Adverse Effect.

(d) (i) The Transactions shall have been consummated in accordance with the Acquisition Agreement, the other Acquisition Documents and other Transaction Documents, and such Acquisition Agreement, the other Acquisition Documents and other Transaction Documents shall not have been altered, amended or otherwise changed or supplemented or any condition therein waived, in each case, in a manner that is materially adverse to the Lenders without the prior written consent of the Lenders and (ii) the Parent Borrower shall have received additional proceeds to include at least $700,000,000 in cash proceeds from a combination of the Public Equity Offering, the LP Bridge Loans, the Senior Notes and the Parent Equity Investment, as each is applicable.

(e) The (x) Specified Representations and (y) Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.

(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate signed by a Responsible Offer of the Parent Borrower on behalf of itself and the other Loan Parties as to the matters set forth in clauses (c), (d) and (e).

(g) Total Outstandings shall be no greater than $250,000,000 as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions and all Credit Extensions under this Agreement on such date.

(h) Any fees required to be paid by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on or before the Closing Date in accordance with the Fee Letter or any other Loan Document shall have been paid (including reasonable legal fees).

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01 , each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

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4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions .

(a) Except as it pertains to the initial Credit Extension on the Closing Date, the obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(i) The representations and warranties of the Borrowers and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for such representations and warranties that have a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for such representations and warranties that have a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification, which shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02 , the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01 .

(ii) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

(iii) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

(b) Except in respect of clause (a)(ii) above for the initial Credit Extension on the Closing Date, each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrowers shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a)(i) , (ii) , and (iii)  have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

Article V.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrowers represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders that:

5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power.  Each Loan Party (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business in which it is currently engaged and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i), or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.02 Authorization; No Contravention . The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly

 

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authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) violate the terms of the Organization Documents of the General Partner or any Loan Party; (b) result in the creation of any Lien other than the Lien created pursuant to the Loan Documents, require any payment to be made under, or violate (i) any Material Contract or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.  Except as set forth on Schedule 5.03 hereof, no material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, permit, certificate, license, concession, grant, franchise or other authorization or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person (each, an “ Approval ”) is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (b) the recordings and filings to be made concurrently herewith or promptly following the Closing Date as required by the Security Documents, and (c) the consummation of the Acquisition and the other Transactions.

5.04 Binding Effect.  This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law.

5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect .

(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby (and with respect to any periods covered by the financial statements for comparison purposes), except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby (and with respect to any periods covered by the financial statements for comparison purposes), except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

(b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated March 31, 2014 and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, partners’ capital and cash flows for each completed quarter since the date of the most recent Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby (and with respect to any periods covered by the financial statements for comparison purposes), except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of Parent

 

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Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby (and with respect to any periods covered by the financial statements for comparison purposes), subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments. To the best knowledge of Parent Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries and unless otherwise disclosed on Schedule 5.05 , as of the Closing Date, neither Parent Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries have any material indebtedness or other liabilities, direct or contingent, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness, not disclosed in the items delivered pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of the Initial Financial Statements.

(c) The pro forma consolidated balance sheet of the Parent Borrower as of the date of the most recent consolidated balance sheet and the income statement and cash flow statement of the Parent Borrower for the interim fiscal period then most recently ended prior to the Closing Date delivered as an Initial Financing Statement were prepared giving effect to the Acquisition (and such other adjustments as have been agreed between the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent) as if the Acquisition (and such other adjustments) had occurred on such date or at the beginning of such period, as the case may be. Such pro forma financials (i) were prepared in good faith based on assumptions that are believed by the Borrowers to be reasonable as of the Closing Date (it being understood that such assumptions are based on good faith estimates with respect to certain items and that the actual amounts of such items on the Closing Date is subject to variation), (ii) accurately reflects all adjustments necessary to give effect to the Acquisition and the related transactions contemplated thereby and (iii) presents fairly, in all material respects, the pro forma financial position of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date of the most recent consolidated balance sheet delivered pursuant to clause (b) above, as if the Acquisition and the related transactions contemplated thereby had occurred on such date.

(d) The Initial Financing Statements are (i) not materially inconsistent with the pre-commitment information provided to the Arranger and (ii) with respect to the Parent Borrower and Target, meet the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all other accounting rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder applicable to a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 on Form S-1.

(e) Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.06 Litigation.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.06 , there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, threatened in writing or any ongoing, pending or threatened investigation known to the Borrowers, in each case, in any court or conducted before or by any arbitrator or Governmental Authority, by or against Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to the Transactions, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the extensions of credit contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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5.07 No Default.  Neither the Parent Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default under or with respect to, or a party to, any Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens.  The Parent Borrower and each Subsidiary has good defensible title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business. The property of Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01 .

5.09 Environmental Compliance.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.09 :

(a) the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries have complied with all Environmental Laws, and are in compliance with all Environmental Laws, except to the extent that failure to comply therewith could not, individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(b) all material facilities and property owned, leased, licensed or operated by the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary are in compliance with all Environmental Laws, except to the extent that failure to comply therewith could not, individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary after due inquiry and investigation, there have been no unresolved and outstanding past, and there are no pending or threatened:

(i) claims, complaints, notices or requests for information received by Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary with respect to any Environmental Law, including any alleged violation thereof, or

(ii) written complaints, written notices or written inquiries to Borrower or any Subsidiary regarding potential liability of Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary under any Environmental Law;

that, in each case, could reasonably be expected to result in an Environmental Liability in excess of $1,000,000 individually or $5,000,000 in the aggregate;

(d) to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary after due inquiry and investigation, no conditions exist at, on or under any property now or previously owned or leased by the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary which, with the passage of time, or the giving of notice or both, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to give rise to liability under any Environmental Law in excess of $1,000,000 individually or $5,000,000 in the aggregate; and

 

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(e) to the extent applicable, all facilities and property owned, leased, licensed or operated by the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary currently complies with all design, operation and equipment requirements imposed by the OPA or scheduled as of the Closing Date to be imposed by OPA during the term of this Agreement, and it does not have any reason to believe that such facilities or property, to the extent subject to OPA, will not be able to maintain compliance with the OPA requirements during the term of this Agreement, in each case except to the extent that non-compliance would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

5.10 Insurance.  The properties of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks (including public liability risks) as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where Parent Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates.

5.11 Taxes.  Except as set forth on Schedule 5.11 , the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed or have obtained extensions for filing, all federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against any Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their properties that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

5.12 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal and state Laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto, or if such plan is based on a prototype document, such prototype document is currently subject to an opinion from the IRS regarding its compliance in form with the requirements of Section 4.01(a) of the Code and, to the best knowledge of the Parent Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. The Parent Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 or 403 of the Code or Section 302 or 303 of ERISA, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA has been made with respect to any Plan.

(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Parent Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan or any Foreign Plan; (ii) the Parent Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the “funding target attainment percentage” (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Parent Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Parent Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Parent Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan.

5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. The Parent Borrower has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 , as supplemented from time to time by the Parent Borrower by written notice to the Administrative Agent, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Loan Party in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens other than Liens permitted under Section 7.01 . The Parent Borrower has no equity investments in any other corporation, entity or business venture other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule 5.13 , as supplemented from time to time by the Parent Borrower by written notice to the Administrative Agent. Schedule 5.13 , as supplemented from time to time by the Parent Borrower by written notice to the Administrative Agent identifies each Subsidiary by its state of organization, and its organizational identification number, and each Subsidiary on such schedule is a wholly-owned Subsidiary.

5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act. Neither the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries is engaged and none of the foregoing will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. None of the proceeds of any of the Credit Extensions hereunder will be used by any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB). None of the Borrowers, any Person Controlling the Borrowers, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

5.15 Disclosure.  The Borrowers have made available to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and has disclosed all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report,

 

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financial statement, certificate or other information furnished in writing by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any misstatement of fact or omits to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading with respect to any Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their operations, business and properties, taken as a whole; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrowers represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

5.16 Compliance with Laws.

(a) Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.16 , each of Borrowers and each Subsidiary thereof (both before and after giving effect to the Acquisition) is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Borrowers and each Subsidiary (both before and after giving effect to the Acquisition) have obtained and maintained all Approvals necessary pursuant to applicable Law to construct, own, maintain and operate their business in which it is currently engaged, including all properties, facilities and equipment associated therewith, and (ii) all such Approvals are in full force and effect and to the knowledge of the Borrowers, are not subject to any administrative or judicial proceeding that could result in modification, termination or revocation thereof.

5.17 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.  Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without known conflict with the rights of any other Person. To the best knowledge of the Borrowers, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes upon any IP Rights held by any other Person. No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrowers, threatened in writing, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.18 Material Contracts.   Schedule 5.18 sets forth an accurate and complete list of all Material Contracts (including all amendments thereto) in effect on or as of the Closing Date to which Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is bound (other than the Loan Documents). Complete copies of such documents have been made available to the Administrative Agent. All Material Contracts are in full force and effect and have not been

 

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terminated (except any such Material Contract that has expired by its terms) and neither Parent Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default thereunder, and to their knowledge, there is no uncured default by any counterparty thereto and neither Parent Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has altered or amended any material item or provision of any Material Contract except where such termination, non-enforceability, default, alterations or amendments, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lenders ( provided that the termination and replacement of a Material Contract (other than the Acquisition Agreement and other Acquisition Documents) in the ordinary course of business shall be deemed not to have such a Material Adverse Effect if the replacement will occur with reasonable promptness in the business judgment of the Parent Borrower, and the replacement Material Contract is substantially as favorable to the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders as the Material Contract being replaced). None of the Material Contracts prohibit the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Material Contract is currently in the name of, or has been assigned to, a Loan Party (with the consent or acceptance of each other party thereto if and to the extent that such consent or acceptance is required thereunder).

5.19 Labor Disputes and Acts of God. Neither the businesses nor the properties of any Loan Party are affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty, that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (except to the extent such event is covered by insurance sufficient to ensure that, upon application of the proceeds thereof, no Material Adverse Effect could reasonably be expected to occur).

5.20 Solvency . Upon giving effect to the execution of this Agreement, and the other Loan Documents and the other Transaction Documents by the Borrowers and each Guarantor that is a party hereto or thereto, as applicable, the consummation of the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, the Borrowers and each Guarantor, on a consolidated basis, will be Solvent.

5.21 Status as Senior Debt; Security Documents . The Obligations shall rank pari passu with any other senior Indebtedness or securities of the Borrowers and shall constitute senior Indebtedness of the Borrowers and the other Loan Parties under and as defined in any documentation documenting any junior Indebtedness of the Borrowers or the other Loan Parties. The provisions of the Security Documents are effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a legal, valid and enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01 ) on all right, title and interest of the respective Loan Parties in the Collateral described therein. Except for (i) filings completed prior to the Closing Date and (ii) appropriate filings or recordings in the appropriate offices as required under applicable Laws and as contemplated hereby and other actions required by the Security Documents, no filing or other action will be necessary to perfect or protect such Liens.

5.22 OFAC . Neither the Parent Borrower, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions or (ii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction.

 

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5.23 Anti-Corruption Laws . The Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

5.24 Acquisition and other Transactions . As of the Closing Date, the Borrowers have obtained all necessary Approvals for the Acquisition and the other Transactions and the Acquisition and other Transactions have been consummated in accordance with the Acquisition Documents and/or the Transaction Documents, as applicable.

Article VI.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Parent Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01 6.02 , and  6.04 ) cause each Subsidiary to:

6.01 Financial Statements.  Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of Parent Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows and consolidated partners’ capital (or other form of owners’ equity) for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by (i) a report and opinion of a Registered Public Accounting Firm of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and applicable Securities Laws and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit and (ii) an attestation report of such Registered Public Accounting Firm as to the Parent Borrower’s internal controls pursuant to Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley that does not identify any material weaknesses or scope limitations, other than (1) scope limitations related to acquisitions by Parent Borrower or the Subsidiaries that are effected during the period covered by the attestation report or (2) material weaknesses or scope limitations to which the Required Lenders do not object; and

(b) as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of Parent Borrower, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2014, a consolidated balance sheet of Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Parent

 

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Borrower’s fiscal year then ended (or, in the case of the statement of cash flows, solely the portion of Parent Borrower’s fiscal year then ended), and the consolidated partners’ capital (or other form of owners’ equity) for the portion of the Parent Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by a Responsible Officer of the General Partner as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, partners’ capital and cash flows of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(d) , the Parent Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Parent Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.

6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) , (i) a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the General Partner and (ii) a report, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, setting forth, as of the date of the most recent Compliance Certificate, all Hedging Contracts (if any) to which any Loan Party is a party;

(b) [reserved];

(c) promptly after receipt thereof, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or equivalent body or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Parent Borrower or the General Partner by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

(d) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the owners of Parent Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which Parent Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or with any national securities exchange, and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

(e) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any material statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02 ;

 

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(f) promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each written notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof that could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect;

(g) promptly after the assertion in writing thereof, notice of any action or proceeding against or of any noncompliance by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries with any Environmental Law that could (i) reasonably be expected to result in a material Environmental Liability or (ii) cause any real property described in the Security Documents to be subject to any material restrictions on ownership, occupancy, use or transferability under any Environmental Law;

(h) promptly upon the occurrence thereof, notice of any acquisition or divestiture by Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any assets or properties outside of the ordinary course of business or in excess of $10,000,000;

(i) promptly upon its becoming available, copies of all notices or documents received by the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party pursuant to any Material Contract (including without limitation, the Acquisition Agreement) alleging a material default or nonperformance by such Person thereunder or terminating or suspending any such Material Contract (including, without limitation, the Acquisition Agreement);

(j) as soon as available, and in any event within 45 days after the end of each fiscal year, a financial plan for Parent Borrower (in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), prepared or caused to be prepared by a Responsible Officer of the General Partner, setting forth for the then calendar year and financial projections for Parent Borrower, such projections certified by Responsible Officer of the General Partner as being based on reasonable estimates and assumptions taking into account all facts and information known (or reasonably available to the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) by such Responsible Officer;

(k) [reserved];

(l) [reserved];

(m) at any time upon or after a Borrower or any Guarantor having Indebtedness rated by Moody’s or S&P, prompt written notice of such rating or any change in such rating;

(n) concurrently with the annual renewal of the Loan Parties’ insurance policies, if requested by the Administrative Agent, a certificate of insurance showing all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

(o) promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after the effectiveness thereof, copies of any material amendment to any Borrower’s or any of the Guarantors’ charter, by-laws, partnership agreements, limited partnership agreements or other organizational documents, such notice to identify the amendments; and

 

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(p) promptly, such additional information regarding the Collateral or the business, financial, legal or corporate affairs of any Borrower or any Guarantor, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) or Section 6.02(b) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which Parent Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on Parent Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02 , or (ii) on which such documents are posted on Parent Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); or (iii) on which the Parent Borrower provides to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions ( i.e. , soft copies) of such documents (delivery of the Compliance Certificates required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) also being deemed delivered on such date if included within such electronic mail under this clause (iii)); provided , the Parent Borrower shall upon the request of the Administrative Agent provide to the Administrative Agent paper copies of any such electronically delivered Compliance Certificate); provided further , that the Parent Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions ( i.e. , soft copies) of such documents, and the Administrative Agent hereby agrees that it shall use reasonable commercial efforts to post such documents received pursuant to this clause (iii) on the Parent Borrower’s behalf to a commercial, third-party or other website sponsored by the Administrative Agent and notify the Lenders of such posting. Except as expressly provided in the foregoing clause (iii) the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Parent Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

The Borrowers hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials, projections and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrowers hereunder (collectively, “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on SyndTrak or IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “ Public Lender ”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Parent Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrowers hereby agree that so long as any Borrower is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders

 

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and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrowers shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrowers or their respective securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws ( provided , however , that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07 ); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”

6.03 [Reserved.]

6.04 Notices.  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent:

(a) of the occurrence of any Event of Default, or any Default of which the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has knowledge;

(b) the occurrence of any event which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, promptly after the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, after due and prompt investigation, conclude that such event could reasonably be expected to have such a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;

(d) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices adopted by Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary, including any determination by the Borrowers referred to in Section 2.10(b) ; and

(e) of the occurrence of any casualty event affecting property with a fair market value in excess of $10,000,000 or which casualty event is otherwise material.

Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the General Partner setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrowers have taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.04(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

6.05 Payment of Obligations.  Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by Parent Borrower or such Subsidiary; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by Law become a Lien upon its property, unless the same

 

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are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by Parent Borrower or its Subsidiaries; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness, in each case, except where the failure to make such payment will not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

6.06 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect the legal existence and good standing of the Loan Parties under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or  7.05 ; (b) take all reasonable action it deems necessary in its reasonable business judgment, to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary for the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.07 Maintenance of Properties. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.08 Maintenance of Insurance.  Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrowers, adequate insurance with respect to its properties (including properties that are subject to a mortgage or deed of trust) and business against loss or damage of the kinds (including public liability risks) customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons and providing (a) for payment of losses to the Collateral Agent as its interests may appear, (b) that such policies may not be canceled or reduced or affected in any material manner for any reason without 30 days prior notice to the Collateral Agent, and (c) for any other matters specified in any applicable Security Document or which the Collateral Agent may reasonably require. The Borrowers will and will cause Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries to (i) provide the Administrative Agent with a standard flood hazard determination form for such property, (ii) obtain and provide evidence of flood insurance (including evidence of renewal and payment of premiums therefor) in such total amount as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may from time to time reasonably require and prior to the expiration or lapse thereof if at any time the area in which any improvements located on any properties that are subject to a mortgage or deed of trust (where such improvements are subject to such mortgage or deed of trust) are within a “flood hazard area” in any Flood Insurance Rate Map published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency), (iii) furnish to the Administrative Agent prompt written notice of any redesignation of any such improved real property into or out of a special flood hazard area, and (iv) otherwise comply with the Flood Insurance Regulations. In addition, to the extent Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary fails to obtain or maintain satisfactory flood insurance required pursuant to the preceding sentence with respect to any relevant property, the Administrative Agent shall be permitted, in its sole discretion, to obtain forced placed insurance at the Borrowers’ expense to ensure compliance with any applicable flood insurance laws or Flood Insurance Regulations.

 

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6.09 Compliance with Laws.  Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.10 Books and Records.  Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of Parent Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

6.11 Inspection Rights.  Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties (to the extent accompanied by a representative of the Borrowers or applicable Subsidiary and subject to any terms of any applicable easement), to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the Parent Borrower at their own risk; provided , however , that if no Event of Default exists such audits shall be limited to once each fiscal year and Borrowers shall not be obligated to reimburse the Administrative Agent for such audits more than once each fiscal year.

6.12 Use of Proceeds.  Use the proceeds from the Credit Extensions under this Agreement (i) to finance in part the Acquisition, (ii) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Acquisition and the related Transactions contemplated thereby and hereby, (iii) to repay in full all borrowing outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement and (iv) to provide ongoing working capital and for other general partnership or company purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

6.13 Additional Guarantors.  At the time that any Person becomes a Domestic Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower, and in any event within 30 days, cause (a) such Person to (i) become a Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a counterpart of the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement or a joinder thereto, and (ii) deliver to the Collateral Agent documents of the types referred to in clauses (iv) and (v) of Section 4.01(a) and if requested by the Administrative Agent, favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability with respect only to such Subsidiary of the documentation referred to in this Section 6.13 ), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and (b) (i) cause all of the Equity Interest of such Person to be pledged to the Administrative Agent to secure the Obligations by executing and delivering the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement or a joinder thereto, (ii) pursuant to the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, deliver or cause the applicable Subsidiary to deliver to Administrative Agent all certificates, stock powers and other documents required by

 

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the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement with respect to all such Equity Interests of any such Subsidiary and (iii) take or cause the applicable Subsidiary to take such other actions, all as may be necessary to provide the Collateral Agent with a first priority perfected pledge or and security interest in such Equity Interests in such Subsidiary.

6.14 Agreement to Deliver Security Documents. In addition to any other requirement in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Section 6.17 hereof), with respect to any right, title or interest of any Loan Party in (i) Equity Interests or (ii) real property acquired after the date of this Agreement or arising from maintenance and other capital expenditures or expansions that, individually or together with all other unmortgaged real property, have a fair market value of at least $5,000,000, it will, within 30 calendar days grant or cause to be granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a first priority Lien of record on all such Equity Interests and/or real property (with no other Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01 ), upon terms substantially the same as those set forth in the Security Documents for property of a similar type, complete such other actions as would have been necessary to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 4.01 had such property been owned thereby on the date of this Agreement, complete such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Sections 6.17 , provide such legal opinions as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and pay, or cause to be paid, all taxes and fees related to any necessary registration, filing or recording in connection therewith.

6.15 Environmental Matters; Environmental Reviews.

(a) (i) Comply in all material respects with all Environmental Laws and implement procedures to ensure such compliance with all Environmental Laws now or hereafter applicable to such Person as well as all contractual obligations and agreements with respect to environmental remediation or other environmental matters, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in Environmental Liabilities exceeding $5,000,000, (ii) obtain, at or prior to the time required by applicable Environmental Laws, all material permits, licenses and other authorizations under applicable Environmental Laws necessary for its then current operations and will maintain such authorizations in full force and effect, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in Environmental Liabilities exceeding $5,000,000, (iii) conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials at or from any of its properties, as may be required by, and in accordance with the requirements of, applicable Environmental Laws, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in Environmental Liabilities exceeding $5,000,000. Promptly pay and discharge when due all debts, claims, liabilities and obligations with respect to any clean-up or remediation measures necessary to comply with Environmental Laws except, in each case, where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in Environmental Liabilities exceeding $5,000,000, or the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the applicable Person.

 

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(b) (i) Promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent all written notices of violation, orders, claims, citations, complaints, penalty assessments, suits or other proceedings received by such Person, or of which it has written notice, pending or threatened against such Person, the potential liability of which could reasonably be expected to result in Environmental Liabilities exceeding $5,000,000 if resolved adversely against such Person, by any Governmental Authority with respect to any alleged violation of or non-compliance with any applicable Environmental Laws or any permits, licenses or authorizations required under applicable Environmental Laws in connection with its ownership or use of its properties or the operation of its business, and (ii) promptly cure and have dismissed with prejudice to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders any material actions and proceedings relating to compliance with Environmental Laws to which Borrower or a Subsidiary is named a party, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in Environmental Liabilities exceeding $5,000,000, other than such actions or proceedings being contested in good faith and with the establishment of reasonable reserves.

(c) Promptly furnish to Administrative Agent all written requests for information, notices of claim, demand letters, and other written notifications, received by such Person in connection with its ownership or use of its properties or the conduct of its business, relating to potential responsibility with respect to any investigation or clean-up of Hazardous Material arising from its operations at any location, the potential liability of which could reasonably be expected to result in Environmental Liabilities exceeding $5,000,000 if resolved adversely against such Person.

(d) To the extent necessary to comply in all material respects with Environmental Laws, remediate or monitor contamination arising from a Release, disposal or reclamation of Hazardous Material, which solely, or together with other Releases, disposals or reclamations of Hazardous Materials could reasonably be expected to result in Environmental Liabilities exceeding $5,000,000.

(e) Provide such information and certifications which the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time to evidence compliance with this Section 6.15 .

6.16 Compliance with Agreements. Perform and observe all the terms and provisions of each Material Contract (including, without limitation, the Acquisition Agreement) to be performed or observed by it, maintain each such Material Contract in full force and effect, enforce each such Material Contract in accordance with its terms, upon and during the continuance of an Event of Default, take all such action to such end as may be from time to time requested by the Administrative Agent and, upon request of the Administrative Agent upon and during the continuance of an Event of Default, make to each other party to each such Material Contract such demands and requests for information and reports or for action as any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled to make under such Material Contract, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so, except, in each case, where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect (provided that the termination and replacement of a Material Contract in the ordinary course of business shall be deemed not to have such a Material Adverse Effect if the replacement will occur with reasonable promptness in the business judgment of the Parent Borrower, and the replacement Contractual Obligation is substantially as favorable to the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders as the Contractual Obligation being replaced).

 

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6.17 Further Assurances; Post-Closing Deliveries. (a) Deliver all of the Security Documents and any other document, instrument, agreement, recording or filing listed on Schedule 6.17 within the timeframe indicated therein and (b) promptly upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, or the Required Lenders through the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, (x) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Loan Document or in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation thereof, and (y) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, may reasonably require from time to time in order to (i) carry out the purposes of the Loan Documents, (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, subject any Loan Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties, assets, rights or interests to the Liens now or hereafter intended to be covered by any of the Security Documents, (iii) perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of any of the Security Documents and any of the Liens intended to be created thereunder and (iv) assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and confirm unto the Secured Parties the rights granted or now or hereafter intended to be granted to the Secured Parties under any Loan Document or under any other instrument executed in connection with any Loan Document to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is or is to be a party, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so.

6.18 Anti-Corruption Laws . Conduct its businesses in compliance with applicable Laws relating to bribery or anti-corruption and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

Article VII.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Parent Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

7.01 Liens.  Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign any accounts or other right to receive income, other than the following:

(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b) Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) no additional property is added to the property covered thereby, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased (except as contemplated by Section 7.03(e) ), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.03(e) ;

 

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(c) Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(d) landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;

(e) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation or security deductibles, self-insurance, insurance premiums, co-payment, co-insurance, retentions and similar obligations, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

(f) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(g) terms, conditions, exceptions, limitations, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), covenants, licenses, encroachments, protrusions and other similar charges or encumbrances, minor right-of-way gaps and minor title deficiencies on or with respect to any real property, in each case, whether now or hereafter in existence, that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrowers or materially detract from the use of the property which they affect, and for the purposes of this Agreement, any minor title deficiency shall include, but not be limited to, terms, conditions, exceptions, limitations, easements, rights-of-way, servitudes, permits, surface leases and other similar rights in respect of surface operations, and easements for pipelines, streets, alleys, highways, telephone lines, power lines, railways and other easements and rights-of-way on, over or in respect of any of the properties of any Loan Party that are customarily granted or permitted to exist in the oil and gas industry; provided , however , that such deficiencies, individually and in the aggregate, do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrowers and do not materially detract from the use of the property which they affect;

(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h) ;

(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(h) ; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the purchase price or cost of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition;

 

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(j) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies, or under general depository or brokerage agreements, and burdening only deposit or brokerage accounts or other funds and assets maintained with a creditor depository institution or brokerage;

(k) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements relating to operating leases and other contractual arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business that describe only the property subject to such operating lease or contractual arrangement;

(l) Liens arising from cash collateralization of Hedging Contracts in an aggregate amount of up to $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(m) rights reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority by the terms of any right, power, franchise, grant, license or permit, or by any provision of law, to revoke or terminate any such right, power, franchise, grant, license or permit or to condemn or acquire by eminent domain or similar process;

(n) rights reserved to or vested by law in any Governmental Authority to in any manner, control or regulate in any manner any of the properties of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the use thereof or the rights and interest of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries therein, in any manner under any and all laws;

(o) Liens existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Closing Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Liens are not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as applicable, (ii) such Liens shall not apply to any other property or assets of any Borrower or any of its other Subsidiaries, (iii) such Liens shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as applicable, and extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof and (iv) the debt secured by such Lien is debt permitted under Section 7.03(j) hereof;

(p) Liens arising in connection with Permitted Sale/Leaseback Transactions;

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

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

(s) Liens consisting of an agreement to transfer any property (other than with respect to a transfers resulting from any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding) that is permitted under this Agreement;

 

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(t) Leases, subleases, space leases, licenses or sublicenses, in each case in the ordinary course of business and which do not interfere in any material respect with the business of any Loan Party; and

(u) Liens on property not constituting the Collateral and not otherwise permitted so long as neither (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby nor (ii) the aggregate fair market value (determined as of the date such Lien is incurred) of the assets subject thereto exceeds (as to the Borrowers and all Subsidiaries) $10,000,000 at any one time.

provided , nothing in this Section 7.01 shall in and of itself constitute or be deemed to constitute an agreement or acknowledgment by the Administrative Agent or any Lender that any Indebtedness subject to or secured by any Lien, right or other interest permitted under subsections (a) through (l) above ranks senior in priority to any Obligation.

7.02 Investments.  Make or hold any Investments, except:

(a) Investments in existence on the Closing Date and described in Schedule 7.02 .

(b) Investments held by Borrowers or such Subsidiary in the form of Cash Equivalents or short-term marketable debt securities;

(c) loans or advances to officers, directors and employees of the General Partner, the Parent Borrower and Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

(d) Investments of (i) the Borrowers in Finance Co (subject to the limitations on the activities of Finance Co set forth in the definition thereof), (ii) the Borrowers in any wholly-owned Subsidiary that is a Guarantor, (iii) any wholly-owned Subsidiary that is a Guarantor in the Borrowers or in another wholly-owned Subsidiary that is a Guarantor (iv) any Loan Party in any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor in an amount such that all such Investments (measured at the time made) shall not exceed the greater of $30,000,000 or 5% of the net worth of the Parent Borrower; and (v) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;

(e) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;

(f) Guarantees permitted by Section 7.03 and Guarantees of Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors; provided such Indebtedness does not exceed $5,000,000;

 

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(g) Investments consisting of Equity Interests, real or personal property received as non-cash consideration pursuant to Dispositions permitted under Section 7.05(c) ;

(h) the purchase or other acquisition of property and assets or businesses of any Person or of assets constituting a business unit, a line of business or division of such Person, or Equity Interests in a Person that, upon the consummation thereof, will be a wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower (including as a result of a merger or consolidation); provided that, with respect to each purchase or other acquisition made pursuant to this Section 7.02(h) (each, a “ Permitted Acquisition ”):

(i) each applicable Loan Party and any such newly created or acquired Domestic Subsidiary (and, to the extent required by this Agreement, the Subsidiaries of such created or acquired Subsidiary) shall be a Guarantor and shall have complied with the requirements of Sections 6.13 and 6.14 , within the times specified therein;

(ii) the acquired property, assets, business or Person is in a line of business conducted by the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related, compatible, complimentary or incidental thereto;

(iii) the Parent Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent not less than 10 days (or such shorter period of time agreed to by the Administrative Agent) nor more than 90 days prior to the date of such acquisition, notice of such acquisition together with pro forma projected financial information regarding such acquisition, drafts (with executed copies to follow) of all material documents relating to such acquisition (including the acquisition agreement and any related document) and historical financial information (including income statements, balance sheets and cash flows) covering at least three complete fiscal years of the acquisition target, if available, prior to the effective date of the acquisition or the entire credit history of the acquisition target, whichever period is shorter, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(iv) (A) (I) immediately before and immediately after giving pro forma effect to any such purchase or other acquisition, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the representations and warranties set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for such representations and warranties that have a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification, which shall be true and correct in all respects) and (II) immediately after giving effect to such purchase or other acquisition, Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be (y) in pro forma compliance with all of the covenants set forth in Sections 7.19 and (z) the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis shall be at least 0.50x less than the maximum allowed under Section 7.19(b) at such time ) and (B) immediately prior to the consummation of such purchase or other acquisition, the Parent Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a certificate with respect to the matters set forth in clause (A) above;

 

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(v) the Administrative Agent shall have received satisfactory evidence showing that the business or Person being acquired does not have negative EBITDA calculated on trailing twelve-month basis; and

(vi) the board of directors or other Persons exercising similar functions of the seller of the assets or issuer of the Equity Interests being acquired shall not have disapproved such transaction or recommended that such transaction be disapproved;

(i) Investments constituting deposits made in connection with the purchase of goods or services in the ordinary course of business;

(j) other Investments in an outstanding aggregate amount at any time not exceeding $10,000,000; provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall result from the making of such Investment; and

(k) Investments in the form of Hedging Contracts limited solely to (a) Hedging Contracts entered into in the normal course of business consistent with industry practices and not for speculative purposes, and (b) Hedging Contracts entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from floating to fixed rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary.

7.03 Indebtedness.  Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) the LP Bridge Loans, if any;

(b) the Senior Notes and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of such Senior Notes is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, as a result of or in connection with such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension;

(c) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

(d) one or more additional Debt Issues (provided that the Consolidated Total Leverage is not greater than 0.50x less than the maximum amount then allowed under Section 7.19 );

(e) Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.03 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, as a result of or in connection with such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension;

 

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(f) Guarantees (i) of any Loan Party in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any other Loan Party, (ii) of any Loan Party in respect of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party; provided , such Indebtedness does not exceed $5,000,000, and (iii) of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in respect of Indebtedness of any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;

(g) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Hedging Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business consistent with industry practices and not for purposes of speculation, provided further that, the amount of cash collateral supporting all Hedging Contracts shall be limited to the amount set forth in Section 7.01(l);

(h) Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Leases (including obligations from Capitalized Leases arising from Permitted Sale/Leaseback Transactions), Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for the acquisition, construction or improvement of fixed or capital assets (including, without limitation, office equipment, data processing equipment and motor vehicles (whether or not constituting purchase money Indebtedness)) within the limitations set forth in Section 7.01(i) ; provided , however , that the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness at any one time outstanding shall not exceed the greater of (i) $20,000,000 or (ii) fifteen percent (15%) of Consolidated EBITDA;

(i) Indebtedness of any Loan Party owing to another Loan Party;

(j) any Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary that is assumed or acquired to finance the cost of Permitted Acquisitions to the extent all such Indebtedness at any one time outstanding does not exceed $10,000,000;

(k) the guarantee of or other reimbursement obligations in connection with performance bonds to the extent all such Indebtedness at any one time outstanding does not exceed $3,000,000;

(l) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $10,000,000, provided no Loan Party has any liability with respect thereto;

(m) Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties owing to any other Subsidiary, as permitted by Section 7.02(d) ;

(n) any Indebtedness arising from judgments or decrees not deemed to be a Default or Event of Default under subsection (h) of Section 8.01 ;

(o) Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business; and

(p) other unsecured Indebtedness not otherwise listed in clauses (a) through (k) above at any time outstanding in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $35,000,000.

 

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7.04 Fundamental Changes.  Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom:

(a) any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower may merge or consolidate with or into (i) the Parent Borrower, provided that the Parent Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Parent Borrower; and

(b) any Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Parent Borrower or to a wholly-owned Subsidiary.

No Loan Party shall issue any Equity Interests which (i) may be classified in whole or part as Indebtedness under GAAP, (ii) require mandatory distributions (other than dividends or distributions of additional Equity Interests of such type permitted under Section 7.06(b) or distributions of Available Cash permitted under Section 7.06(d) ) or mandatory redemption prior to 91 days after the Maturity Date, or (iii) provide for a scheduled distribution above generally prevailing market rates at the time of issuance (other than distribution of Available Cash). No Subsidiary of Parent Borrower will issue any additional Equity Interests, except a direct Subsidiary of a Loan Party may issue additional Equity Interests to such Loan Party or to the Parent Borrower so long as (i) such Subsidiary is a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower (or is Finance Co) after giving effect thereto, and (ii) such Equity Interests shall be pledged to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders pursuant to Security Documents acceptable to the Collateral Agent.

7.05 Dispositions.  Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

(a) Dispositions of obsolete, surplus or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business, including such Dispositions to other Subsidiaries;

(c) Dispositions (excluding leases of Service and Rental Fleet Equipment entered into in the normal course of business) of equipment or real property so long as (i) not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the purchase price for such asset shall be paid in cash; (ii) the aggregate purchase price paid to Loan Parties for such asset and all other such assets sold by Loan Parties during any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters pursuant to this clause (c) shall not exceed $5,000,000; (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist prior to or after giving effect to such sale and (iv) the Borrower shall make the prepayment or reinvestment of Net Cash Proceeds of such Disposition to the extent required by Section 2.05(d) ;

 

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(d) Dispositions of property by any Loan Party to another Loan Party;

(e) Liens permitted by Section 7.01 , Investments permitted by Section 7.02 , Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04 , and Restricted Payments permitted by Section 7.06 ;

(f) liquidations or other dispositions of cash and Cash Equivalents;

(g) disposition of owned or leased vehicles in the ordinary course of business;

(h) Permitted Sale/Leaseback Transactions; and

(i) leases of Service and Rental Fleet Equipment in effect on the Closing Date, such leases in the ordinary course of business, and leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses in each case in the ordinary course of business and that do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrowers or the Subsidiaries;

provided , however , that any Disposition pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (c), (f) and (i) shall be for fair market value. The Lenders hereby consent and agree to the release by the Collateral Agent of any and all Liens on the property sold or otherwise disposed of in compliance with this Section 7.05 .

7.06 Restricted Payments.  Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any such action described below or would result therefrom:

(a) each Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower may make Restricted Payments to the Parent Borrower and any other Person that owns an Equity Interest in such Subsidiary ratably according to their respective holdings of the type of Equity Interest in respect of which such Restricted Payment is being made;

(b) Parent Borrower and each Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the common or subordinated Equity Interests of such Person and Parent Borrower may issue common Equity Interests upon the conversion of subordinated Equity Interests;

(c) Parent Borrower may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire Equity Interests issued by it with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of new shares of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests), including, without limitation, the redemption of its Equity Interests from the General Partner that were purchased with the proceeds of the Parent Equity Investment;

(d) Parent Borrower may make cash distributions in an amount equal to Available Cash;

 

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(e) Parent Borrower may repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire its Equity Interests in connection with the administration of the LTIP (Long-Term Incentive Plan) as defined and referred to in the Partnership Agreement, including (i) in connection with the cashless exercise of unit options, restricted units, phantom units or other awards made under such plan, and (ii) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition of Equity Interests from employees, directors and other such recipients under such plan to satisfy federal, state or local tax withholding obligations of such employees, directors and other recipients with respect to income deemed earned as the result of unit options, unit grants restricted units, phantom units or other awards made under such plan, including the vesting or exercise of any such awards;

(f) Parent Borrower may repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire its Equity Interests held by any officers, directors or employees, or any former officers, directors or employees (or their transferees, estates or beneficiaries under their estates) upon any such individual’s death, disability, retirement, severance or termination of employment or severance; and

(g) the payment of cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000.

7.07 Change in Nature of Business.  Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

7.08 Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth on Schedule 7.08 , enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Parent Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to Parent Borrower or such Subsidiary, taken as a whole, as would be obtainable by Parent Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate; provided that , (a) so long as no Event of Default exists, any sale, lease or like-kind exchange of Compressor Equipment among Loan Parties and their Affiliates, including Subsidiaries (other than transactions described in clause (b)) shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.08 if such sale, lease, or exchange is for consideration that is equivalent to the amount determined, pursuant to a transfer pricing analysis prepared by a consultant that is not an Affiliate, to be the consideration that can be charged in such transaction consistent with the transfer pricing laws, rules, and regulations applicable to such transaction, so long as, (x) with respect to any sale or like-kind exchange, the consideration (A) attributed to any newly fabricated Compressor Equipment is equal to or greater than the Fabricated Cost thereof and (B) attributed to any other Compressor Equipment is equal to or greater than the net book value thereof, and (y) with respect to any Compressor Equipment that is being leased, the lease consideration is calculated by the consultant based on such Compressor Equipment having a value that is not less than the amount for which such Compressor Equipment could be transferred pursuant to the preceding clause (A) or (B), as applicable, if the transaction were a sale rather than a lease, (b) transactions are between or among any one or more Loan Parties not involving any other Affiliate, (c) any issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the General Partner’s board of directors, (d) the Omnibus

 

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Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and the Partnership Agreement, in each case, as in effect on the Closing Date and the transactions contemplated thereby, (e) any issuance (but not any redemption or purchase) by Parent Borrower of its units (including incentive distribution units) to the General Partner, and (f) any transactions approved by the Conflicts Committee; provided further that , it is understood and agreed that the existence of, or the performance by the Parent Borrower or its Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, the Acquisition Documents or other Transaction Documents to which it is a party as of the Closing Date are permitted hereunder, except that the existence of, or the performance by the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Closing Date shall only be permitted by this proviso to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement are not otherwise disadvantageous to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, and the L/C Issuer in any material respect.

7.09 Burdensome Agreements.  Enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to any Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to or invest in any Borrower or any Guarantor, except for any agreement in effect at the time any Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary of Parent Borrower, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of Parent Borrower, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower or (iii) of Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person in favor of the Collateral Agent; provided , however , that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit (A) any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(h) solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness, (B) customary non-assignment provisions in purchase and sale or exchange agreements or similar operational agreements, or provisions in licenses, easements or leases, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, which restrict the transfer, assignment or encumbrance thereof or (C) restrictions on cash or other deposits required by utility, insurance, surety or bonding companies, in each case, under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person, unless such Contractual Obligation provides that such requirement shall not apply with respect to Liens granted to secure the Obligations.

7.10 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.

7.11 [Reserved.]

7.12 Prepayments of Debt. Directly or indirectly, make (or give any notice in respect of) any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment on or redemption or acquisition for

 

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value of, or any prepayment, repurchase or redemption as a result of any asset sale, change of control or similar event of, any outstanding Senior Notes or Debt Issue, except (a) with the net cash proceeds, or in exchange for, the Senior Notes or a Debt Issue, and (b) notices in respect of repurchases (but not the repurchases themselves) pursuant to “change of control” or “asset sale” provisions of the Senior Notes or a Debt Issue.

7.13 Sale or Discount of Receivables. Other than in connection with the bankruptcy or financial distress of counterparties, discount, assign or sell (with or without recourse) any income or revenues (including notes receivable and accounts receivable) or any rights in respect thereof.

7.14 Material Contracts. (a) Cancel or terminate any Material Contract (or consent to or accept any cancellation or termination thereof), or (b) amend or otherwise modify any provision of any Material Contract or give any consent, waiver or approval thereunder, or waive any material breach of or material default under any Material Contract in each case that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect ( provided that for purposes of this Section 7.14 , the termination and replacement of a Material Contract in the ordinary course of business shall be deemed not to have such an adverse effect if the replacement will occur with reasonable promptness in the business judgment of the Parent Borrower, and the replacement Contractual Obligation is substantially as favorable to the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders as the Contractual Obligation being replaced).

7.15 Amendments to Organizational Documents and Certain Other Documents. (a) Amend, modify or otherwise change, or consent to any amendment, modification or change to (or otherwise permit) or waive any material right or obligation of any Person under, its Organization Documents, except to the extent that, such amendment, modification, changes and consents (i) does not violate the terms and conditions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and (ii) could not reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, or any Loan Parties, (b) amend, modify or otherwise change, or consent to any amendment, modification or change to (or otherwise permit) the definition of Available Cash (or any related definitions having similar effect) in the Partnership Agreement or (c) amend, modify or otherwise change, or consent to any amendment, modification or change to (or otherwise permit) the terms of or documents evidencing the Senior Notes, a Debt Issue, or any LP Bridge Loan, in a manner that could reasonably be expected to be adverse to the Lenders.

7.16 Sale Leasebacks. Except for Permitted Sale/Leaseback Transactions, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby it or any of its Subsidiaries shall sell or transfer any of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and whereby it or any of its Subsidiaries shall then or thereafter rent or lease such Property or any part thereof or other Property that it or such Subsidiary intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the Property sold or transferred.

 

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7.17 Anti-Corruption Laws .

(a) Directly or indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, or other similar legislation in other jurisdictions.

(b) Cause or permit any of the funds of any Loan Party that are used to repay the Loans to be derived from any unlawful activity with the result that the making of the Loans would be in violation of any Law.

7.18 Sanctions. Directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity, to fund any activities of or business with any individual or entity, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender, or otherwise) of Sanctions.

7.19 Financial Covenants.

(a) Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio . Permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of Parent Borrower to be less than 3.00 to 1.00.

(b) Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio . Permit the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of Parent Borrower (i) for any period through and including the end of the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2015, to be greater than 5.50 to 1.00, (i) for any period thereafter through and including the end of the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2016, to be greater than 5.25 to 1.00 and (iii) for any period thereafter, to be greater than 5.00 to 1.00.

(c) Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio . Permit the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of Parent Borrower to be greater than 4.00 to 1.0.

7.20 Capital Expenditures. Make or become legally obligated to make any expenditure in respect of the purchase or other acquisition of any fixed or capital asset, except for capital expenditures in the ordinary course of business not exceeding, in the aggregate for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during each fiscal year in an amount not to exceed $150,000,000; provided that , this limitation shall only be in effect for a given fiscal year if such an expenditure is made during such fiscal year and immediately after giving pro forma effect to such expenditure, the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio is greater than 4.0 to 1.0.

7.21 Accounting Changes. Make any change in (a) material accounting policies or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP, or (b) fiscal year.

7.22 Control Agreements. Open or maintain any deposit account, securities account or commodities account without subjecting such account to a first priority Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in the case of newly opened accounts

 

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within ten (10) Business Days after such account is opened or such longer period as may be agreed to by the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion (but not to exceed thirty (30) days), subject to liens permitted hereunder, pursuant to a Control Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Article VIII.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

(a) Non-Payment . The Borrowers or any other Loan Party fails to (i) pay when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation or deposit any funds as Cash Collateral in respect of L/C Obligations, or (ii) pay within three days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) pay within five days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants . The Borrowers fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Sections 6.04 , 6.06(a) , 6.11, 6.12 , 6.13 or 6.14 , 6.18 or Article VII ; or

(c) Other Defaults . Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days; or

(d) Representations and Warranties . Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrowers or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith that does not have a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made or (ii) any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrowers or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith that has a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification shall be incorrect or misleading in any respect when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross-Default . (i) The Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Hedging Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or

 

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beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with or without the giving of notice, the passage of time, or both, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Hedging Contract an “Early Termination Date” (as defined in such Hedging Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Hedging Contract as to which Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary is the “Defaulting Party” (as defined in such Hedging Contract) or (B) any “Termination Event” (as so defined) under such Hedging Contract as to which Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary is an “Affected Party” (as so defined) and, in either event, the Hedging Termination Value owed by Parent Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc . The Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 90 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 90 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment . (i) The Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 60 days after its issue or levy; or

(h) Judgments . There is entered against any Loan Party one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments and orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not adequately covered by solvent independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer is rated at least “A” by A.M. Best Company, has been notified of the potential claim and does not dispute coverage), and (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days from the date of entry during which such judgment remains unpaid, unvacated, unbonded or a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

(i) ERISA . (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or Foreign Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Loan Parties in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount and such ERISA Event is not corrected and such determination is not revoked within

 

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sixty (60) days after notice thereof has been given to the plan administrator of such Pension Plan, or (ii) the Parent Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents . Any provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any provision of any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any provision of any Loan Document; or

(k) Change in Control . There occurs any Change in Control.

8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(a) declare the Commitment of each Lender to make Loans (including with respect to the Swing Line Lender and Swing Line Loans) and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such Commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans (including Swing Line Loans), all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers;

(c) require that the Borrowers Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

(d) exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under the Loan Documents;

provided , however , that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrowers to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

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8.03 Application of Funds.  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02 ), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.15 and 2.16 be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuer arising under the Loan Documents and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans (including Swing Line Loans), L/C Borrowings and other Obligations arising under the Loan Documents, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans (including Swing Line Loans) and L/C Borrowings and to the Secured Hedging Obligations and Secured Cash Management Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Lender Counterparties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth , to the Collateral Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.03 and 2.14 ; and

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrowers or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section 2.03(c) and Section 2.15 , amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

 

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Article IX.

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT

9.01 Appointment and Authority .

(a) Each of the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (for purposes of this Article IX only, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent are referred to collectively as the “ Agents ”) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Agents to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to such Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Agents, the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer, and neither the Borrowers nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Agents is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

(b) The Collateral Agent shall act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Collateral Agent to act as the agent of such Lender, the Swing line Lender and the L/C Issuer for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Collateral Agent, as “collateral agent” and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 9.05 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Security Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Collateral Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX and Article X (including Section 10.04(c) , as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as an Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not an Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither Agent shall have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and each Agent’s duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither Agent:

(a) shall be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

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(b) shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that such Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that neither Agent shall be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

(c) shall, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, or be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as an Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

Neither Agent shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as such Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final nonappealable judgment. Neither Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to such Agent by the Parent Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer.

Neither Agent shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, Acquisition Document or Transaction Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Security Documents, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to such Agent.

9.04 Reliance by Agents .  Each Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet

 

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website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. Each Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, each Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C Issuer unless such Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrowers), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

9.05 Delegation of Duties.  Each Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by such Agent. Each Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Agents and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Agent. Neither Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that such Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

9.06 Resignation of Agents .  Either Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Parent Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Parent Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if such Agent shall notify the Parent Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by such Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through such Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as an Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other

 

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Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrowers to a successor Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrowers and such successor. After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Agent was acting as such Agent.

Any resignation or removal by Bank of America as Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. If Bank of America resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment by the Borrowers of a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder (which successor shall in all cases be a Lender other than a Defaulting Lender), (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as applicable, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.

9.07 Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders .  Each Lender and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agents or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agents or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

9.08 No Other Duties, Etc .  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the bookrunners, arrangers, co-syndication agents or co-documentation agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as an Agent, a Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.

 

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9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim ; Credit Bidding.  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrowers) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(h) and (i) , 2.09 and 10.04 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and  10.04 .

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or the L/C Issuer or in any such proceeding.

The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, or any similar Laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, (b) at any other sale or foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable Law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests

 

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in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that would vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) in the asset or assets so purchased (or in the Equity Interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are used to consummate such purchase). In connection with any such bid (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles to make a bid, (ii) to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Equity Interests thereof shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Lenders, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in clauses (a) through (h) of Section 10.01 of this Agreement, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to assign the relevant Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle pro rata by the Lenders, as a result of which each of the Lenders shall be deemed to have received a pro rata portion of any Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by such an acquisition vehicle on account of the assignment of the Obligations to be credit bid, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (iv) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of debt credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Lenders pro rata and the Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of the Obligations that had been assigned to the acquisition vehicle shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action.

9.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters .  The Lenders and the L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize each Agent, at its option and in its discretion,

(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Agents under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit, (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii) subject to Section 10.01 , if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders;

(b) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Agents under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 7.01(i) ; and

(c) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.

Upon request by either Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing such Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty and Collateral

 

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Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.10 . In each case as specified in this Section 9.10 , the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, will, at the Borrowers’ expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Security Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under the guaranty contained in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.10 .

Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Collateral Agent’s Lien thereon, or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

Article X.

MISCELLANEOUS

10.01 Amendments, Etc .  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrowers or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrowers or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided , however , that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender;

(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 ) without the written consent of such Lender;

(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any scheduled payment or prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) or any mandatory reduction of the Aggregate Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided , however , that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

 

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(e) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

(f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

(g) release all or substantially all of the value of the guaranty contained in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement without the written consent of each Lender, except as provided in Section 9.10 ; or

(h) release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions without the written consent of each Lender, except as provided in Section 9.10 ;

and, provided further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; and (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender disproportionately more adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication .

(a) Notices Generally . Except as expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 ; and

 

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(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrowers).

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

(b) Electronic Communications . Notices and other communications to the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail, FpML messaging, and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Parent Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(c) The Platform . THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY

 

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OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrowers, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Borrower’s, any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials or notices through the platform, any other electronic platform or electronic messaging service, or through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided , however , that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrowers, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d) Change of Address, Etc . Each of the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the L/C Issuer may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the L/C Issuer. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal or state securities laws.

(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders . The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic or electronic notices, Committed Loan Notices, Letter of Credit Applications and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by the Borrowers or on behalf of the Borrowers even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrowers shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by the Borrowers or on behalf of

 

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the Borrowers. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies .  No failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer, the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuer; provided , however , that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.12 ), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided , further , that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.12 , any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver .

(a) Costs and Expenses . The Borrowers shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and their Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the

 

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Administrative Agent, any Lender (including the Swing Line Lender) or the L/C Issuer, including the legal fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender (including the Swing Line Lender) or the L/C Issuer, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

(b) Indemnification by Borrowers . The Borrowers shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent (and any sub-agent of either of the foregoing), each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrowers or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE ; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) relate to claims, damages, losses, liabilities or expenses that are found in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from any dispute solely among Indemnitees (other than any claims against any Indemnitee in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as an Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Co-Documentation Agent, Co-Syndication Agent or Arranger and other than any claims arising out of an act or omission on the part of the Parent Borrower, its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates). Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(c) , this Section 10.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

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(c) Reimbursement by Lenders . To the extent that the Borrowers for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d) .

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Loan Parties shall not assert, and hereby waive, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

(e) Payments . All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after written demand therefor.

(f) Survival . The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provision of Section 10.04(b) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

10.05 Payments Set Aside .  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Loan Parties is made to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender (including the Swing Line Lender), or the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender (including the Swing Line Lender) exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or such Lender or Swing Line Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment

 

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had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender (including the Swing Line Lender) and the L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders (including the Swing Line Lender) and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

10.06 Successors and Assigns .

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally . The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (other than pursuant to a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 ) neither the Borrowers nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender (including the Swing Line Lender) and no Lender (including the Swing Line Lender) may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders (including the Swing Line Lender)) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders . Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that

(i) except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Parent Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably

 

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withheld or delayed); provided , however , that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met;

(ii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii)  shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans;

(iii) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, the consent of the Parent Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) shall be required for any assignment unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment; provided that the Parent Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 5 Business Days after having received notice thereof);

(iv) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld);

(v) the consent of the L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding);

(vi) the parties (other than the Parent Borrower unless its consent to such assignment is required hereunder) to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; provided , however , that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire;

(vii) no such assignment shall be made (A) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (A), (B) to a natural person or (C) to the Parent Borrower or its respective Affiliates or Subsidiaries; and

(viii) in connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment,

 

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purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 , 3.05 , and  10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Borrowers (at their expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

(c) Register . The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. The Register shall be available for inspection by each of the Borrowers, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and the Collateral Agent at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

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(d) Participations . Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, a Defaulting Lender or the Parent Borrower or any of the Parent Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Each Lender that sells a participation pursuant to this Section 10.6(d) shall maintain a register on which it records the name and address of each participant and the principal amounts of each participant’s participation interest with respect to the Loans (each, a “ Participant Register ”). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of a participation with respect to the Loans for all purposes under this Agreement, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 3.01(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights . A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Parent Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Parent Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and provided with all information required to be included in the Register and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrowers, to comply with Section 3.01(f) as though it were a Lender.

(f) Certain Pledges . Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if

 

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any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or another central bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(g) Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Parent Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days’ notice to the Parent Borrower and the Lenders, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Parent Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided , however , that no failure by the Parent Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c) ). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c) . Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be and (b) the successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit. Notwithstanding anything else to the contary herein, any successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender must agree to be appointed by the Parent Borrower prior to its appointment taking effect.

10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality .  Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement

 

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containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any Hedging Contract relating to any Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the written consent of the Parent Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrowers.

For purposes of this Section, “ Information ” means all information received from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof relating to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof or their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, provided that, in the case of information received from a Loan Party or any such Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Parent Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States federal and state securities Laws.

10.08 Right of Setoff .  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrowers or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrowers or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrowers or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided , that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.15 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative

 

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Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

The Administrative Agent hereby appoints each of the L/C Issuer and Lenders to serve as its bailee to perfect the Administrative Agent’s Liens in any Collateral in the possession of such L/C Issuer and Lender. L/C Issuer and each Lender possessing any Collateral agrees to so act as bailee for the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms and provisions hereof. In furtherance of the forgoing, L/C Issuer and each Lender acknowledges that certain of the Loan Parties maintain deposit accounts, securities accounts and commodities accounts with one or more of the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders (all such accounts maintained by Loan Parties with one or more of the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders being herein collectively called the “ Lender Party Accounts ” and individually a “ Lender Party Account ”). L/C Issuer and each Lender agrees to hold its Lender Party Accounts as bailee for the Administrative Agent to perfect the security interest held for the benefit of the L/C Issuer or a Lender therein. Prior to the receipt by L/C Issuer or a Lender of notice from the Administrative Agent that it is exercising exclusive control over any Lender Party Account (a “ Notice of Exclusive Control ”), the Loan Parties are entitled to make withdrawals from the Lender Party Accounts and make deposits into and give entitlement orders with respect to the Lender Party Accounts. Once L/C Issuer or a Lender has a Notice of Exclusive Control, which such notice shall not be given until an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall be the only party entitled to make withdrawals from or otherwise give any entitlement order or other direction with respect to the Lender Party Accounts. To the extent not already occurring, L/C Issuer and each Lender agrees to transfer, in immediately available funds by wire transfer to the Administrative Agent, the amount of the collected funds credited to the deposit accounts which are Lender Party Accounts held by such L/C Issuer or Lender, and deliver to the Administrative Agent all moneys or instruments relating thereto or held therein and any other Collateral at any time the Administrative Agent demands payment or delivery thereof after a Notice of Exclusive Control has been delivered to such L/C Issuer or Lender. Each Loan Party agrees that L/C Issuer and each Lender is authorized to immediately deliver all the Collateral to the Administrative Agent upon the L/C Issuer’s or Lender’s receipt of a Notice of Exclusive Control from the Administrative Agent.

10.09 Interest Rate Limitation .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”). If the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrowers. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment

 

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that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness .  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging means (e.g., “pdf” or “tiff”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties .  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

10.12 Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12 , if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

10.13 Replacement of Lenders .  If (a) any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 or gives notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , (b) the Borrowers are required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , (c) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (d) any Lender fails to consent

 

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to an election, consent, amendment, waiver or other modification to this Agreement (a “ Non-Consenting Lender ”) or any other Loan Document that requires the consent of a greater percentage of the Lenders than the Required Lenders and such election, consent, amendment, waiver or other modification is otherwise consented to by the Required Lenders, or (e) if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Parent Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Parent Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06 ), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

(a) the Parent Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b) except in the case of an assignment to another Lender, in which case the Administrative Agent shall waive the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b) ;

(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts);

(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and

(e) in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender being a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Parent Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc .

(a) GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION . THE BORROWERS AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE

 

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COLLATERAL AGENT, ANY LENDER (INCLUDING THE SWING LINE LENDER), THE L/C ISSUER, OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE . THE COLLATERAL AGENT, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, EACH LENDER, THE L/C ISSUER, THE BORROWERS AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02 . NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).

 

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EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each of the Borrowers acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrowers and their Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) the Borrowers have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrowers are capable of evaluating, and understand and accept, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, and each Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrowers and their Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrowers or their Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrowers hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

10.17 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any Loan Document or any other document executed in connection herewith or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including, without limitation, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that notwithstanding anything

 

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contained herein to the contrary neither the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer nor any Lender is under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or such Lender pursuant to procedures approved by it and provided further without limiting the foregoing, upon the request of any party, any electronic signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.

10.18 General Partner Limitation of Liability .  The General Partner, acting solely in its capacity as general partner of Compressco LP, shall not be liable for the obligations of any Loan Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, by reason of any payment obligation imposed by governing state partnership statutes and any provision of the applicable limited partnership agreement of Compressco LP or any other Loan Party that requires the General Partner to restore a capital account deficit; provided that nothing in this Section 10.18 shall be construed so as to prevent the Administrative Agent or any Lender from commencing any action, suit or proceeding with respect to or causing legal papers to be served upon the General Partner for the purpose of (a) obtaining jurisdiction over Compressco LP or (b) obtaining any judgment, order or execution against the General Partner arising out of any fraud or intentional misrepresentation by the General Partner in connection with the Loan Documents or in order to recover moneys received by the General Partner in violation of the terms of this Agreement.

10.19 USA PATRIOT Act Notice .  Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the Act. The Borrowers shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

10.20 Entire Agreement .   THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

Article XI.

THE PARENT BORROWER

11.01 Appointment; Nature of Relationship . Compressco LP is hereby appointed by each of the Borrowers as its contractual representative (herein referred to as the “ Parent Borrower ”) hereunder and under each other Loan Document, and each of the Borrowers irrevocably authorizes the Parent Borrower to act as the contractual representative of such

 

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Borrower with the rights and duties expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. The Parent Borrower agrees to act as such contractual representative upon the express conditions contained in this Article XI. Additionally, the Borrowers hereby appoint the Parent Borrower as their agent to receive all of the proceeds of the Loans, at which time the Parent Borrower shall promptly disburse such Loans to the appropriate Borrowers. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and their respective officers, directors, agents or employees, shall not be liable to the Parent Borrower or any Borrower for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Parent Borrower or the Borrowers pursuant to this Section 11.01. For the avoidance of doubt, each of the Loan Parties hereby appoints the Parent Borrower to act as its agent for all purposes of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and all other documents and electronic platforms entered into in connection herewith and agrees that (a) the Parent Borrower may execute such documents and provide such authorizations on behalf of such Loan Parties as the Parent Borrower deems appropriate in its sole discretion and each Loan Party shall be obligated by all of the terms of any such document and/or authorization executed on its behalf, (b) any notice or communication delivered by the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer or a Lender to the Parent Borrower shall be deemed delivered to each Loan Party and (c) the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer or the Lenders may accept, and be permitted to rely on, any document, authorization, instrument or agreement executed by the Parent Borrower on behalf of each of the Loan Parties.

11.02 Powers . The Parent Borrower shall have and may exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to the Parent Borrower by the terms of each thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Parent Borrower shall have no implied duties to the Borrowers, or any obligation to the Lenders to take any action thereunder except any action specifically provided by the Loan Documents to be taken by the Parent Borrower.

11.03 Employment of Agents . The Parent Borrower may execute any of its duties as the Parent Borrower hereunder and under any other Loan Document by or through authorized officers.

11.04 No Successor Parent Borrower . The Parent Borrower may not resign from its capacity as Parent Borrower under this Agreement.

11.05 Execution of Loan Documents . The Borrowers hereby empower and authorize the Parent Borrower, on behalf of the Borrowers, to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the Loan Documents and all related agreements, certificates, notices, consents, documents or instruments as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the Compliance Certificates. Each Borrower agrees that any action taken by the Parent Borrower or the Borrowers in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and the exercise by the Parent Borrower of its powers set forth therein or herein, together with such other powers that are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be binding upon all of the Borrowers.

 

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

 

COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.,

as Borrower and as Parent Borrower

By: COMPRESSCO PARTNERS GP INC.,

its general partner

By:  

/s/ James Rounsavall

  Name: James Rounsavall
  Title: CFO, Secretary and Treasurer

COMPRESSCO PARTNERS SUB, INC.,

as Borrower

By:  

/s/ James Rounsavall

  Name: James Rounsavall
  Title: CFO, Secretary and Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
By:  

/s/ Linda Lov

Name:   Linda Lov
Title:   AVP

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as a Lender, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender
By:  

/s/ Julie Castano

Name:   Julie Castano
Title:   Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as L/C Issuer
By:  

/s/ Erin R. Hubbard

Name:   Erin R. Hubbard
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement


JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as a Co-Syndication Agent and a Lender
By:  

/s/ Erin R. Hubbard

Name:   Erin R. Hubbard
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement


Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as a Co-Syndication Agent and a Lender
By:  

/s/ C. David Allman

Name:   C. David Allman
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement


Royal Bank of Canada, as a Co-Syndication Agent and a Lender
By:  

/s/ Kristan Spivey

Name:   Kristan Spivey
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement


Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as a Co-Documentation Agent and a Lender
By:  

/s/ Nupur Kumar

Name:   Nupur Kumar
Title:   Authorized Signatory
By:  

/s/ Samuel Miller

Name:   Samuel Miller
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement


Capital One, NA, as a Co-Documentation Agent and a Lender
By:  

/s/ Juan Trejo

Name:   Juan Trejo
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement


Barclays Bank PLC, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Vanessa A. Kurbatskiy

Name:   Vanessa A. Kurbatskiy
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement


Raymond James Bank, N.A., as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Alexander L. Rody

Name:   Alexander L. Rody
Title:   Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement


BOKF, N.A. d/b/a Bank of Oklahoma, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Tyler Armstrong

Name:   Tyler Armstrong
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement


OneWest Bank, N.A., as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Sean Murphy

Name:   Sean Murphy
Title:   Executive Vice President

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement


Texas Capital Bank, N.A., as a Lender
By:  

/s/ John Kallina

Name:   John Kallina
Title:   Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

 

LOGO

 

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TETRA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF

COMPRESSOR SYSTEMS, INC. ACQUISITION BY COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.

The Woodlands, Texas (August 4, 2014) – TETRA Technologies, Inc. (TETRA or the Company) (NYSE:TTI) today announced that its Compressco Partners, L.P. subsidiary (Compressco Partners or the Partnership), has completed the previously announced purchase of all the outstanding shares of Compressor Systems, Inc. (CSI). At the closing of the transaction, Compressco paid $825.0 million in cash for the acquisition, representing the base purchase price. The purchase price remains subject to adjustment for working capital and other adjustments, post-closing. The purchase price was funded through a combination of cash proceeds from the Partnership’s issuances of common units and senior notes, and initial borrowings under a new credit facility.

Stuart Brightman, TETRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Compressco Partners, commented, “With this acquisition, we have positioned TETRA to generate improved and more predictable earnings and cash flows, and we anticipate that the expansion of Compressco Partners’ portfolio of customers and compression services will provide new opportunities across our organization. We have an integration plan in place, and we will immediately turn our focus toward ensuring that this transaction generates the growth and increased shareholder returns that we anticipate.”

TETRA is a geographically diversified oil and gas services company focused on completion fluids and associated products and services, water management, after-frac flow back, production well testing, offshore rig cooling, compression based production enhancement, and selected offshore services, including well plugging and abandonment, decommissioning, and diving.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements that are deemed to be forward-looking statements. Generally, the use of words such as “may,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “projects,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “assume,” “could,” “should,” “plans,” “targets” or similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events, activities, expectations or outcomes identify forward-looking statements that the Company intends to be included within the safe harbor protections provided by the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements include statements concerning anticipated benefits and growth of Compressco Partners following the acquisition, including increases in cash distributions per unit, financial guidance, estimated earnings, earnings per share, and statements regarding the Company’s beliefs, expectations, plans, goals, future events and performance, and other statements that are not purely historical. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company including the ability of Compressco Partners to successfully integrate the operations of CSI and the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performances or results and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could affect Compressco’s actual results are described in Compressco Partners’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. Some of the factors that could affect TETRA’s actual results are described in the section titled “Risk Factors” contained in TETRA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as well as other risks identified from time to time in its reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:

TETRA Technologies, Inc., The Woodlands, Texas

Stuart M. Brightman, 281/367-1983

Fax: 281/364-4346

www.tetratec.com