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): January 19, 2018

 

 

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   0-22664   75-2504748

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

10713 West Sam Houston Pkwy N.,

Suite 800

Houston, Texas

  77064
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(281) 765-7100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On January 19, 2018, Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) completed its offering (the “Offering”) of $525 million aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.95% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”). The Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries (each, a “Guarantor” and, collectively, the “Guarantors”): Patterson Petroleum LLC, Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC, Patterson-UTI Management Services, LLC, Universal Pressure Pumping, Inc., Drilling Technologies 1 LLC, Drilling Technologies 2 LLC, Warrior Rig Technologies US LLC, Seventy Seven Energy LLC, Seventy Seven Operating LLC, Great Plains Oilfield Rental, L.L.C., PTL Prop Solutions, L.L.C., Seventy Seven Land Company LLC and MS Directional, LLC. The Notes were issued in a private offering exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A and to persons outside of the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Indenture

On January 19, 2018, the Company and the Guarantors entered into a base indenture (the “Base Indenture”) and a supplemental indenture (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to which the Notes were issued.

The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company, which rank equally with all other existing and future senior unsecured debt of the Company and will rank senior in right of payment to all other future subordinated debt of the Company. The Notes will be effectively subordinated to any of the future secured debt of the Company to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. In addition, the Notes will be structurally subordinated to the liabilities (including trade payables) of the Company’s subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Notes. The Guarantors’ guarantees of the Notes (the “Guarantees”) will rank equally in right of payment with all of the Guarantors’ future unsecured senior debt and senior in right of payment to all of the Guarantors’ future subordinated debt. The Guarantees will be effectively subordinated to any of the Guarantors’ future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. In the future, the Guarantees may be released and terminated under certain circumstances.

The Company, at its option, may redeem the Notes in whole or part, at any time or from time to time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on those Notes to the redemption date, plus a make-whole premium. Additionally, commencing on November 1, 2027, the Company, at its option, may redeem the Notes in whole or part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on those Notes to the redemption date.

The Indenture includes covenants that, among other things, limit the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to incur certain liens, engage in sale and lease-back transactions or consolidate, merge, or transfer all or substantially all of their assets. These covenants are subject to important qualifications and limitations set forth in the Indenture.

Upon the occurrence of a change of control, as defined in the Indenture, each holder of the Notes may require the Company to purchase all or a portion of such holder’s Notes at a price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.

The Indenture also provides for events of default which, if any of them occurs, would permit or require the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, on the Notes to become or to be declared due and payable.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to repay amounts outstanding under its existing credit agreement and for general corporate purposes.

The above description of the Indenture and the Notes does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of the Indenture and the form of note. A copy of the Base Indenture is attached as Exhibit 4.1, a copy of the First Supplemental Indenture is attached as Exhibit 4.2 and a copy of the form of note is attached as Exhibit 4.3 and each is incorporated in this report by reference.

The Notes and Guarantees have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or blue sky laws.


Registration Rights Agreement

On January 19, 2018, in connection with the issuance of the Notes, the Company and the Guarantors entered into a registration rights agreement with Goldman, Sachs & Co. LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the initial purchasers of the Notes (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). Under the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an offer to exchange the Notes for freely tradable notes substantially identical to the Notes that are registered under the Securities Act. In addition, the Company and the Guarantors have agreed to exchange the Guarantees related to the Notes for registered guarantees having substantially the same terms as the original Guarantees. The Company and the Guarantors have agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the registration statement to be declared effective by January 4, 2019. The Company and the Guarantors further agreed to file a shelf registration statement for the resale of the Notes if they cannot effect the exchange offer and in certain other circumstances. If the Company and the Guarantors fail to fulfill their obligations described above within specified time periods, additional interest on the Notes will accrue.

The above description of the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is attached as Exhibit 4.4 and is incorporated in this report by reference.

Relationships

The Trustee, certain of the Representatives and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of services to the Company and to persons and entities with relationships with the Company, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses. Specifically, the Trustee, certain of the Representatives and their respective affiliates are lenders, arrangers and/or agents under the Company’s credit agreement, and have and/or will receive fees, expense reimbursements and interest payments in connection therewith.

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

The information set forth under “Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On January 19, 2018, the Company issued a news release announcing the closing of the Offering. A copy of the news release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

The information furnished in this Item 7.01 and the information attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

  4.1    Base Indenture, dated January  19, 2018, among Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., the several guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee
  4.2    First Supplemental Indenture, dated January  19, 2018, among Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., the several guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee
  4.3    Form of Note (included in Exhibit 4.2 above)
  4.4    Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 19, 2018, among Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., the several guarantors named therein and Goldman, Sachs  & Co. LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
99.1    Press Release dated January 19, 2018


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.

Date: January 19, 2018

 

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
By:  

/s/ Seth D. Wexler

  Name:   Seth D. Wexler
  Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Exhibit 4.1

Execution Version

 

 

 

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.

as Issuer

and

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee

 

 

Indenture

Dated as of January 19, 2018

 

 

Debt Securities

 

 

 


PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939

and Indenture, dated as of January 19, 2018

 

 

 

Section of
Trust Indenture
Act of 1939

          Section(s) of
Indenture
  § 310      (a)(1)    7.10
   (a)(2)    7.10
   (a)(3)    Not Applicable
   (a)(4)    Not Applicable
   (a)(5)    7.10
   (b)    7.08, 7.10
  § 311      (a)    7.11
   (b)    7.11
   (c)    Not Applicable
  § 312      (a)    2.07
   (b)    11.03
   (c)    11.03
  § 313      (a)    7.06
   (b)    7.06
   (c)    7.06
   (d)    7.06
  § 314      (a)    4.03, 4.04
   (b)    Not Applicable
   (c)(l)    11.04
   (c)(2)    11.04
   (c)(3)    Not Applicable
   (d)    Not Applicable
   (e)    11.05
  § 315      (a)    7.01(b)
   (b)    7.05
   (c)    7.01(a)
   (d)    7.01(c)
   (d)(1)    7.01(c)(l)
   (d)(2)    7.01(c)(2)
   (d)(3)    7.01(c)(3)
   (e)    6.11
  § 316      (a)(1)(A)    6.05
   (a)(1)(B)    6.04
   (a)(2)    Not Applicable
   (a)(last sentence)    2.11
   (b)    6.07
  § 317      (a)(1)    6.08
   (a)(2)    6.09
   (b)    2.06
  § 318      (a)    11.01

 

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     1  

SECTION 1.01

 

Definitions

     1  

SECTION 1.02

 

Other Definitions

     6  

SECTION 1.03

 

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

     7  

SECTION 1.04

 

Rules of Construction

     7  

ARTICLE II THE SECURITIES

     8  

SECTION 2.01

 

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

     8  

SECTION 2.02

 

Denominations

     11  

SECTION 2.03

 

Forms Generally

     11  

SECTION 2.04

 

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

     11  

SECTION 2.05

 

Registrar and Paying Agent

     13  

SECTION 2.06

 

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

     14  

SECTION 2.07

 

Holder Lists

     14  

SECTION 2.08

 

Transfer and Exchange

     14  

SECTION 2.09

 

Replacement Securities

     15  

SECTION 2.10

 

Outstanding Securities

     16  

SECTION 2.11

 

Original Issue Discount, Foreign-Currency Denominated and Treasury Securities

     16  

SECTION 2.12

 

Temporary Securities

     16  

SECTION 2.13

 

Cancellation

     17  

SECTION 2.14

 

Payments; Defaulted Interest

     17  

SECTION 2.15

 

Persons Deemed Owners

     17  

SECTION 2.16

 

Computation of Interest

     18  

SECTION 2.17

 

Global Securities; Book-Entry Provisions

     18  

ARTICLE III REDEMPTION

     20  

SECTION 3.01

 

Applicability of Article

     20  

SECTION 3.02

 

Notice to the Trustee

     20  

SECTION 3.03

 

Selection of Securities To Be Redeemed

     21  

SECTION 3.04

 

Notice of Redemption

     21  

SECTION 3.05

 

Effect of Notice of Redemption

     22  

SECTION 3.06

 

Deposit of Redemption Price

     22  

SECTION 3.07

 

Securities Redeemed in Part

     23  

SECTION 3.08

 

Purchase of Securities

     23  

SECTION 3.09

 

Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds

     23  

SECTION 3.10

 

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

     24  

SECTION 3.11

 

Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

     24  

ARTICLE IV COVENANTS

     25  

SECTION 4.01

 

Payment of Securities

     25  

SECTION 4.02

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     25  

SECTION 4.03

 

SEC Reports; Financial Statements

     26  

SECTION 4.04

 

Compliance Certificate

     26  

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION 4.05

 

Existence

     27  

SECTION 4.06

 

Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws

     27  

SECTION 4.07

 

Additional Amounts

     27  

ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS

     28  

SECTION 5.01

 

Limitations on Mergers and Consolidations

     28  

SECTION 5.02

 

Successor Person Substituted

     28  

ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

     29  

SECTION 6.01

 

Events of Default

     29  

SECTION 6.02

 

Acceleration

     31  

SECTION 6.03

 

Other Remedies

     32  

SECTION 6.04

 

Waiver of Defaults

     32  

SECTION 6.05

 

Control by Majority

     32  

SECTION 6.06

 

Limitations on Suits

     33  

SECTION 6.07

 

Rights of Holders to Receive Payment

     33  

SECTION 6.08

 

Collection Suit by Trustee

     33  

SECTION 6.09

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     34  

SECTION 6.10

 

Priorities

     34  

SECTION 6.11

 

Undertaking for Costs

     35  

ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE

     35  

SECTION 7.01

 

Duties of Trustee

     35  

SECTION 7.02

 

Rights of Trustee

     36  

SECTION 7.03

 

May Hold Securities

     37  

SECTION 7.04

 

Trustee’s Disclaimer

     38  

SECTION 7.05

 

Notice of Defaults

     38  

SECTION 7.06

 

Reports by Trustee to Holders

     38  

SECTION 7.07

 

Compensation and Indemnity

     38  

SECTION 7.08

 

Replacement of Trustee

     39  

SECTION 7.09

 

Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

     41  

SECTION 7.10

 

Eligibility; Disqualification

     41  

SECTION 7.11

 

Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor

     42  

ARTICLE VIII DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

     42  

SECTION 8.01

 

Termination of the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ Obligations

     42  

SECTION 8.02

 

Application of Trust Money

     47  

SECTION 8.03

 

Repayment to Company or Subsidiary Guarantor

     47  

SECTION 8.04

 

Reinstatement

     47  

 

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES AND AMENDMENTS

     48  

SECTION 9.01

 

Without Consent of Holders

     48  

SECTION 9.02

 

With Consent of Holders

     49  

SECTION 9.03

 

Compliance with the Trust Indenture Act

     51  

SECTION 9.04

 

Revocation and Effect of Consents

     51  

SECTION 9.05

 

Notation on or Exchange of Securities

     52  

SECTION 9.06

 

Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

     52  

ARTICLE X GUARANTEE

     52  

SECTION 10.01

 

Guarantee

     52  

SECTION 10.02

 

Execution and Delivery of Guarantees

     54  

SECTION 10.03

 

Limitation on Liability of the Subsidiary Guarantors

     55  

SECTION 10.04

 

Release of Subsidiary Guarantors from Guarantee

     55  

SECTION 10.05

 

Contribution

     56  

SECTION 10.06

 

Guarantee for Benefit of Holders

     56  

ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS

     56  

SECTION 11.01

 

Trust Indenture Act Controls

     56  

SECTION 11.02

 

Notices

     56  

SECTION 11.03

 

Communication by Holders with Other Holders

     58  

SECTION 11.04

 

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     58  

SECTION 11.05

 

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     58  

SECTION 11.06

 

Rules by Trustee and Agents

     59  

SECTION 11.07

 

Legal Holidays

     59  

SECTION 11.08

 

No Recourse Against Others

     59  

SECTION 11.09

 

Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial

     59  

SECTION 11.10

 

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

     59  

SECTION 11.11

 

Successors

     59  

SECTION 11.12

 

Severability

     60  

SECTION 11.13

 

Counterpart Originals

     60  

SECTION 11.14

 

Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

     60  

SECTION 11.15

 

USA PATRIOT Act

     60  

 

iv


INDENTURE dated as of January 19, 2018 among Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined herein) party hereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount (herein called the “Securities”), and the related Guarantees (as hereinafter defined), if any, as provided in this Indenture.

The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are members of the same consolidated group of companies. The Subsidiary Guarantors will derive direct and indirect economic benefit from the issuance of the Securities. Accordingly, each Subsidiary Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture in light of the possibility that such Subsidiary Guarantor will provide its full and unconditional guarantee of a series of the Securities to the extent provided in this Indenture.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

SECTION 1.01 Definitions.

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts required by the express terms of a Security or by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified therein or pursuant thereto, to be paid by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, with respect to certain taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on certain Holders and that are owing to such Holders.

“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” of a Person shall mean the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

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

“Board of Directors,” when used with reference to the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, means the Board of Directors or comparable governing body of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, or any committee thereof duly authorized, with respect to any particular matter, to act by or on behalf of the Board of Directors or comparable governing body of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

1


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

“Business Day” means any day that is not a Legal Holiday.

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

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person; provided , however , that for purposes of any provision contained herein which is required by the TIA, “Company” shall also mean each other obligor (if any), other than a Subsidiary Guarantor, on the Securities of a series.

“Company Order” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Company by two of its Officers and delivered to the Trustee.

“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” means the office of the Trustee located at 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 4300, Dallas, Texas 75202, Attention: Corporate, Municipal & Escrow Services, and as may be located at such other address as the Trustee may give notice to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

“Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2012, by and among the Company, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, an l/c issuer, swing line lender and a lender and the other lender parties thereto, as amended, restated, replaced or refinanced from time to time, whether with the same or different lenders.

“Debt” means debt for money borrowed.

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

“deliver” or “delivery” means, in the context of certificated Securities, actual physical delivery of the certificated Securities to the relevant Person required hereunder, together with all endorsements, and in the context of Global Securities, the designation on the records of the Depositary of a change in the beneficial interests of a holder in a Global Security.

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof as the initial Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include such successor.

 

2


“Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debt.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute.

“Existing Senior Notes” means the 4.97% Series A Senior Notes due 2020 and the 4.27% Series B Senior Notes due 2022 of the Company.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States, as in effect from time to time.

“Global Security” means a Security that is issued in global form in the name of the Depositary with respect thereto or its nominee.

“Government Obligations” means, with respect to a series of Securities, (i) direct obligations of a government that issues the currency in which the Securities of the series are payable for the payment of which the full faith and credit of such government is pledged, or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clause (i) or (ii) above, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof; or (iii) depository receipts issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligations or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

“Guarantee” means the guarantee of the Company’s obligations under the Securities of a series by a Subsidiary Guarantor (if but only if specified with respect to such series as contemplated by Section 2.01(9)) as provided in Article X.

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

“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time pursuant to the provisions hereof, and includes the terms of a particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.01.

“interest” means, with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, interest payable after Maturity.

“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Security, shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Security as contemplated by Section 2.01.

 

3


“Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in any of The City of New York, New York or a Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

“Maturity” means, with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity thereof, or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of a Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by any two of its Officers.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. Such counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.

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

“Place of Payment” means, with respect to the Securities of any series, the place or places where the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of that series are payable as specified in accordance with Section 2.01 subject to the provisions of Section 4.02.

“principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the Security.

“Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Redemption Price” means, with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

“Responsible Officer” means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture or any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

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“Rule 144A Securities” means Securities of a series designated pursuant to Section 2.01 as entitled to the benefits of Section 4.03(b).

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the preamble of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute.

“Security Custodian” means, with respect to Securities of a series issued in global form, the Trustee for Securities of such series, as custodian with respect to the Securities of such series, or any successor entity thereto.

“Significant Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary that is a “significant subsidiary” of the Company as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X as in effect on the date hereof.

“Stated Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

“Subsidiary” means (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Voting Stock is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or one or more of the other Subsidiaries or a combination thereof and (2) any partnership or limited liability company of which (x) 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 the Company or one or more of the other Subsidiaries or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

“Subsidiary Guarantors” means, with respect to any series of Securities, the Subsidiaries of the Company party hereto and the other Person or Persons that have executed a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 10.02, if any, in each case named in accordance with Section 2.01(9) as the “Subsidiary Guarantors” (i) in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate or in a Company Order, or (ii) in a supplemental indenture establishing the terms of such series of Securities, and any other Subsidiary of the Company who may execute this Indenture, or a supplement thereto, for the purpose of providing a Guarantee for such series of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, in each case, until a successor Person or Persons shall have become such pursuant to the applicable

 

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provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Subsidiary Guarantors” with respect to such series of Securities shall mean such successor Person or Persons. If a series of Securities does not have any Subsidiary Guarantors as contemplated by Section 2.01(9), all references in this Indenture to Subsidiary Guarantors shall be ignored with respect to such series of Securities. For the avoidance of doubt, no Security of any series shall be entitled to the benefits of any Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor unless so specified in accordance with Section 2.01(9).

“surrender” shall have the same meaning as “deliver” in the context of the surrender of a Security.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that, in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

“Trustee” means the Person named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” means each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series means the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia) and its territories and possessions, which include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the capital stock or other equity interests of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors or comparable body of such Person.

 

SECTION 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined
in Section

“Agent Members”

   2.17

“Bankruptcy Custodian”

   6.01

“Conversion Event”

   6.01

“Covenant defeasance”

   8.01

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Exchange Rate”

   2.11

“Funding Guarantor”

   10.05

“Judgment Currency”

   6.10

“legal defeasance”

   8.01

“mandatory sinking fund payment”

   3.09

“Notation of Guarantee”

   10.02

“Optional sinking fund payment”

   3.09

“Paying Agent”

   2.05

“Registrar”

   2.05

“Required Currency”

   6.10

“Shortfall”

   8.01

“Successor”

   5.01

 

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SECTION 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture (and if the Indenture is not qualified under the TIA at that time, as if it were so qualified unless otherwise provided). The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

“Commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Securities.

“indenture security holder” means a Holder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

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

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor on the Securities.

All terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by a TIA reference to another statute or defined by an 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)    words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

(5)    provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and

(6)    all references in this instrument to Articles and Sections are references to the corresponding Articles and Sections in and of this instrument.

 

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ARTICLE II

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 2.01 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate or in a Company Order, or established in one or more supplemental indentures, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

(1)    the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from the Securities of all other series);

(2)    if there is to be a limit, the limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 2.08, Section 2.09, Section 2.12, Section 2.17, Section 3.07 or Section 9.05 and except for any Securities that, pursuant to Section 2.04 or Section 2.17, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder); provided , however , that unless otherwise provided in the terms of the series, the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased before or after the issuance of any Securities of the series by a Board Resolution (or action pursuant to a Board Resolution) to such effect;

(3)    whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form, as Global Securities or otherwise, and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 2.17, and the initial Depositary and Security Custodian, if any, for any Global Security or Securities of such series;

(4)    the manner in which any interest payable on a temporary Global Security on any Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 2.14;

(5)    the date or dates on which the principal of and premium (if any) on the Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;

(6)    the rate or rates, or the method of determination thereof, at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, whether and under what circumstances Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities shall be payable, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the record date for the interest payable on any Securities on any Interest Payment Date, or if other than provided herein, the Person to whom any interest on Securities of the series shall be payable;

 

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(7)    the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 4.02, the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series shall be payable;

(8)    the period or periods within which, the price or prices (whether denominated in cash, securities or otherwise) at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option, and the manner in which the Company must exercise any such option, if different from those set forth herein;

(9)    whether Securities of the series are entitled to the benefits of any Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to this Indenture, the identity of any such Subsidiary Guarantors (which may, but is not required to, include each of the Subsidiaries of the Company a party hereto) and any terms of such Guarantee with respect to the Securities of the series in addition to those set forth in Article X, or any exceptions to or changes to those set forth in Article X;

(10)    the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices (whether denominated in cash, securities or otherwise) at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid in whole or in part pursuant to such obligation;

(11)    if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denomination in which any Securities of that series shall be issuable;

(12)    if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) or the form, including equity securities, other debt securities (including Securities), warrants or any other securities or property of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person, in which payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series shall be payable;

(13)    if the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies (including composite currencies) other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made;

 

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(14)    if the amount of payments of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to any commodities, currencies or indices, values, rates or prices or any other index or formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(15)    if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02;

(16)    any additional means of satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and any additional conditions or limitations to discharge with respect to Securities of the series and the related Guarantees, if any, pursuant to Article VIII or any modifications of or deletions from such conditions or limitations;

(17)    any deletions or modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 6.01 or covenants of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor set forth in Article IV pertaining to the Securities of the series;

(18)    any restrictions or other provisions with respect to the transfer or exchange of Securities of the series, which may amend, supplement, modify or supersede those contained in this Article II;

(19)    if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock, other debt securities (including Securities), warrants, other equity securities or any other securities or property of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person, at the option of the Company or the Holder or upon the occurrence of any condition or event, the terms and conditions for such conversion or exchange;

(20)    whether the Securities of the series are to be entitled to the benefit of Section 4.03(b) (and accordingly constitute Rule 144A Securities); and

(21)    any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 2.03) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate or Company Order referred to above or in any such supplemental indenture.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action, together with such Board Resolution, shall be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate or certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate or Company Order setting forth the terms of the series.

 

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SECTION 2.02 Denominations.

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 2.01. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

SECTION 2.03 Forms Generally.

The Securities of each series shall be in fully registered form and in substantially such form or forms (including temporary or permanent global form) established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more supplemental indentures. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, securities exchange rule, the Company’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other similar governing documents, agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). A copy of the Board Resolution establishing the form or forms of Securities of any series shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 2.04 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

The definitive Securities of each series shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

“This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,  as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory
Dated:”.

 

SECTION 2.04 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

Two Officers of the Company shall sign the Securities on behalf of the Company and, with respect to any related Guarantees, an Officer of each Subsidiary Guarantor shall sign the Notation of Guarantee on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case by manual or facsimile signature.

If an Officer of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall be valid nevertheless.

 

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A Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or the related Guarantees, if any, or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee, which signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security has been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company delivers such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 2.13, together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 11.05 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or the related Guarantees, if any.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company (with, if applicable, the Notation of Guarantee for such series executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor thereof) to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities for original issue upon a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by Company Order. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated, the name or names of the initial Holder or Holders and any other terms of the Securities of such series not otherwise determined. If provided for in such procedures, such Company Order may authorize (1) authentication and delivery of Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, with certain terms (including, without limitation, the Maturity date or dates, original issue date or dates and interest rate or rates) that differ from Security to Security and (2) authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent, which instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing.

If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 2.01, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be provided with (in addition to the Company Order referred to above and the other documents required by Section 11.04), and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(a)    an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Board Resolution and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant thereto, as contemplated by the last paragraph of Section 2.01; and

(b)    an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that:

(i)    the form of such Securities has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii)    the terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

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(iii)    that when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, such Securities and the related Guarantees, if any, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, respectively, enforceable against the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, respectively, in accordance with their respective terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or other similar laws in effect from time to time affecting the rights of creditors generally, and the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver such Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel at the time of issuance of each such Security, but such Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued.

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issuance of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture would affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities 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 the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

SECTION 2.05 Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Company shall maintain an office or agency for each series of Securities where Securities of such series may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Securities of such series may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities of such series and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

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

 

SECTION 2.06 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

The Company shall 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, premium, if any, or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed. Upon payment over to the Trustee and upon accounting for any funds disbursed, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or another Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or another Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Each Paying Agent shall otherwise comply with TIA § 317(b).

 

SECTION 2.07 Holder Lists.

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least five Business Days before each Interest Payment Date with respect to such series of Securities, and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders of such series, and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).

 

SECTION 2.08 Transfer and Exchange.

Except as set forth in Section 2.17 or as may be provided pursuant to Section 2.01:

When Securities of any series are presented to the Registrar with the request to register the transfer of such Securities or to exchange such Securities for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same series of like tenor and of other authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its requirements and the requirements of this Indenture for such transactions are met; provided, however , that the Securities presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or by his attorney, duly authorized in writing, on which instruction the Registrar can rely.

 

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To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute Securities (with, if applicable, the Notation of Guarantee for such series executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor thereof) and the Trustee shall authenticate such Securities at the Registrar’s written request and submission of the Securities or Global Securities. No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith (other than such tax or other governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Section 2.12, Section 3.07 or Section 9.05). The Trustee shall authenticate Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.04. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to register the transfer or exchange of (a) any Security selected for redemption in whole or in part pursuant to Article III, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part, or (b) any Security during the period beginning 15 Business Days prior to the giving of notice of any offer to repurchase Securities of the series required pursuant to the terms thereof or of redemption of Securities of a series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of transmission.

The transferor of any Securities shall provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the Code. The Trustee may rely on information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information. In connection with any proposed exchange of a certificated Security for a Global Security, the Company or the Depositary shall be required to provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the Code. The Trustee may rely on information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

 

SECTION 2.09 Replacement Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been destroyed, lost or stolen and the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security, the Company shall issue, each Subsidiary Guarantor, if any, with respect to such series shall execute the Notation of Guarantee relating to, and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security of the same series if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security. Such Holder must furnish an indemnity bond that is sufficient in the judgment of each of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee, any Agent or any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge a Holder for their expenses in replacing a Security.

Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the Company.

 

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SECTION 2.10 Outstanding Securities.

The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Security effected by the Trustee hereunder and those described in this Section 2.10 as not outstanding.

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.09, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser.

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

Except to the extent provided in Section 2.11, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor holds the Security.

 

SECTION 2.11 Original Issue Discount, Foreign-Currency Denominated and Treasury Securities.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, amendment, supplement, waiver or consent, (a) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security shall be the principal amount thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02, (b) the principal amount of a Security denominated in a foreign currency shall be the Dollar equivalent, as determined by the Company by reference to the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for such currency, as such rate is certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Exchange Rate”) on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent, as determined by the Company by reference to the Exchange Rate on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the amount determined as provided in (a) above), of such Security and (c) Securities owned by the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, of a Subsidiary Guarantor or of such other obligor shall be disregarded, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such direction, amendment, supplement, waiver or consent, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

 

SECTION 2.12 Temporary Securities.

Until definitive Securities of any series are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and execute, each Subsidiary Guarantor, if any, with respect to such series shall execute the Notation of Guarantee relating to, and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities, but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and execute, each Subsidiary Guarantor, if any, with respect to such series shall execute the Notation of Guarantee relating to, and the Trustee

 

16


shall authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities.

 

SECTION 2.13 Cancellation.

The Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or redemption or for credit against any sinking fund payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, redemption, replacement or cancellation or for credit against any sinking fund. Unless the Company shall direct in writing that canceled Securities be returned to it, all canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with the usual disposal procedures of the Trustee. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that have been paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

SECTION 2.14 Payments; Defaulted Interest.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.01, interest (except defaulted interest) on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Persons who are registered Holders of that Security at the close of business on the record date next preceding such Interest Payment Date, even if such Securities are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date. The Holder must surrender a Security to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. Unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of any series, the Company will pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities in Dollars. Such amounts shall be payable at the offices of the Trustee or any Paying Agent, provided that at the option of the Company, the Company may pay such amounts (1) by wire transfer with respect to Global Securities or (2) by check payable in such money mailed to a Holder’s registered address with respect to any Securities.

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities of any series, the Company shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest on the defaulted interest, in each case at the rate provided in the Securities of such series and in Section 4.01. The Company may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. At least 15 days before any special record date selected by the Company, the Company (or the Trustee, in the name of and at the expense of the Company upon 20 days’ prior written notice from the Company setting forth such special record date, the related payment date and the interest amount to be paid) shall transmit to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

SECTION 2.15 Persons Deemed Owners.

The Company, any Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent may treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payments of principal of, premium (if any) or

 

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interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security and for all other purposes. None of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee, any Agent or any authenticating agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

SECTION 2.16 Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a year comprising twelve 30-day months.

 

SECTION 2.17 Global Securities; Book-Entry Provisions.

If Securities of a series are issuable in global form as a Global Security, as contemplated by Section 2.01, then, notwithstanding clause (11) of Section 2.01 and the provisions of Section 2.02, any such Global Security shall represent such of the outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges, transfers or redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee (i) in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified in such Security or in a Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.04 or (ii) otherwise in accordance with written instructions or such other written form of instructions as is customary for the Depositary for such Security, from such Depositary or its nominee on behalf of any Person having a beneficial interest in such Global Security. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.04 and, if applicable, Section 2.12, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified in such Security or in the applicable Company Order. With respect to the Securities of any series that are represented by a Global Security, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors authorize the execution and delivery by the Trustee of a letter of representations or other similar agreement or instrument in the form customarily provided for by the Depositary appointed with respect to such Global Security. Any Global Security may be deposited with the Depositary or its nominee, or may remain in the custody of the Trustee or the Security Custodian therefor pursuant to a FAST balance certificate agreement or similar agreement between the Trustee and the Depositary. If a Company Order has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 11.05 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee or the Security Custodian as its custodian, or under such Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee or the Security Custodian and any agent of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee or the Security Custodian as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the registered holder of a Global Security of a

 

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series may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action that a Holder of Securities of such series is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities of such series and (ii) nothing herein shall prevent the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee or the Security Custodian, or any agent of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee or the Security Custodian, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or shall impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a beneficial owner of any Security.

Notwithstanding Section 2.08, and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.01, transfers of a Global Security shall be limited to transfers of such Global Security in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees; interests of beneficial owners in a Global Security may be transferred in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary; and Securities shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Security if, and only if, either (1) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Security and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice, (2) an Event of Default has occurred with respect to such series and is continuing and the Registrar has received a request from the Depositary to issue Securities in lieu of all or a portion of the Global Security (in which case the Company shall deliver Securities within 30 days of such request) or (3) the Company in its sole discretion determines not to have the Securities represented by a Global Security.

In connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial interests in a Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to this Section 2.17, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Global Security to be transferred, and the Company shall execute, each Subsidiary Guarantor, if any, with respect to such series shall execute the Notation of Guarantee relating to, and the Trustee upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Securities shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Securities of the same series of like tenor and amount.

In connection with the transfer of all of the beneficial interests in a Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to this Section 2.17, the Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, each Subsidiary Guarantor, if any, with respect to such series shall execute the Notation of Guarantee relating to, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interests in the Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Securities of authorized denominations.

None of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, Securities by the Depositary, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depositary relating to such Securities. None of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee shall be liable for any delay by the Holder of the Global Security or the Depositary in identifying the beneficial owners, and each such Person may conclusively rely on, and shall be

 

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protected in relying on, instructions from such Holder of the Global Security or the Depositary for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Securities to be issued).

The provisions of the last sentence of the third paragraph of Section 2.04 shall apply to any Global Security if such Global Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor delivers to the Trustee the Global Security together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 11.05 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the cancellation or reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of the third paragraph of Section 2.04.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.03 and Section 2.14, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01, payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Global Security shall be made to the Depositary.

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

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, delivery or surrender of a Security shall not be required in the case of Global Securities in order to obtain the rights or benefits provided hereunder upon the delivery or surrender of a Security.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

 

SECTION 3.01 Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article III.

 

SECTION 3.02 Notice to the Trustee.

If the Company elects to redeem Securities of any series pursuant to this Indenture, it shall notify the Trustee of the Redemption Date and the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed. The Company shall so notify the Trustee at least five Business Days before the giving of a notice of redemption to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed pursuant to Section 3.04 (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) by delivering to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such redemption will comply with the provisions of this Indenture and of the Securities of such series. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to the giving of such notice of such redemption to any Holder and shall thereupon be void and of no effect.

 

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SECTION 3.03 Selection of Securities To Be Redeemed.

If less than all of the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all of the Securities of such series of a specified tenor are to be redeemed), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date from the outstanding Securities of such series (and tenor) not previously called for redemption, on a pro rata basis; provided that, if at the time of redemption such Securities are registered as a Global Security, the Depositary shall determine, in accordance with its procedures, the principal amount of such Securities held by each beneficial owner of Securities to be redeemed.

If the Trustee selects the Securities to be redeemed, the Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Registrar in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

For purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any of the Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount thereof which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

SECTION 3.04 Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be transmitted not less than 30 days (or not less than 15 days in the case of convertible Securities) nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date ( provided that notice may be given more than 60 days prior to the applicable Redemption Date in connection with a defeasance or satisfaction and discharge pursuant to Section 8.01), to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, in accordance with Section 11.02.

All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:

(1)     the Redemption Date;

(2)    the Redemption Price (or the method of calculating or determining the Redemption Price);

(3)    that, unless the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, if any, default in making the redemption payment, interest on Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date, and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Securities is to receive payment of the Redemption Price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Securities redeemed;

(4)    if any Security is to be redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender for cancellation of such Security to the Paying Agent, a new Security or Securities in the aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued without charge to the Holder;

 

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(5)    that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price and the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(6)    that the redemption is for a sinking or analogous fund, if such is the case;

(7)    if such Securities are convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock, other debt securities (including Securities), warrants, other equity securities or any other securities or property of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person, the name and address of the conversion or exchange agent, the date on which the right to convert or exchange is terminated and the conversion or exchange rate;

(8)    the CUSIP number, if any, relating to such Securities; and

(9)    any conditions precedent to such redemption.

If such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice of redemption shall also state that, in the Company’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice of redemption 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.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s written request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company upon the Company’s delivery of an Officers’ Certificate (which may be included and combined with the Officers’ Certificate to be provided under Section 3.02) requesting that the Trustee give such notice of redemption and setting forth the information required by this Section 3.04 at least five Business Days prior to the giving of a notice of redemption to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).

 

SECTION 3.05 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is mailed, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities called for redemption shall be paid at the Redemption Price, but interest installments whose maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable on the relevant Interest Payment Dates to the Holders of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates specified pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

SECTION 3.06 Deposit of Redemption Price.

By 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor shall deposit with the Trustee or the Paying Agent (or, if either of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor is acting as the Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust

 

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as provided in Section 2.06) an amount of money in same day funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date, other than Securities or portions thereof called for redemption on that date which have been delivered by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee for cancellation.

If the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor complies with the preceding paragraph, then, unless the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors default in the payment of such Redemption Price, interest on the Securities to be redeemed will cease to accrue on and after the applicable Redemption Date, whether or not such Securities are presented for payment, and the Holders of such Securities shall have no further rights with respect to such Securities except for the right to receive the Redemption Price, together with any such accrued interest and Additional Amounts, upon surrender of such Securities. If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal, premium, if any, any Additional Amounts, and, to the extent lawful, accrued interest thereon shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate specified pursuant to Section 2.01 or provided in the Securities or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, such Securities’ yield to maturity.

 

SECTION 3.07 Securities Redeemed in Part.

Upon surrender to the Paying Agent of a Security to be redeemed in part, the Company shall execute, each Subsidiary Guarantor, if any, with respect to such series shall execute the Notation of Guarantee relating to, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge a new Security or Securities, of the same series and of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to, and in exchange for, the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered that is not redeemed.

 

SECTION 3.08 Purchase of Securities.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01, the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor and any Affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor may at any time purchase or otherwise acquire Securities in the open market or by private agreement. Any such acquisition shall not operate as or be deemed for any purpose to be a redemption of the indebtedness represented by such Securities. Any Securities purchased or acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor may be delivered to the Trustee and, upon such delivery, the indebtedness represented thereby shall be deemed to be satisfied. Section 2.13 shall apply to all Securities so delivered.

 

SECTION 3.09 Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” Unless otherwise provided by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to

 

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reduction as provided in Section 3.10. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series and by this Article III.

 

SECTION 3.10 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor may deliver outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and may apply as a credit Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such series of Securities; provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

SECTION 3.11 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 45 days prior (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivery of or by crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.10 and will also deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Failure of the Company to timely deliver or cause to be delivered such Officers’ Certificate and Securities specified in this paragraph, if any, shall not constitute a default but shall constitute the election of the Company (i) that the mandatory sinking fund payment for such series due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date shall be paid entirely in cash without the option to deliver or credit Securities of such series in respect thereof and (ii) that the Company will make no optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series as provided in this Section 3.11.

If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional or both) to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash shall exceed $100,000 (or the Dollar equivalent thereof based on the applicable Exchange Rate on the date of original issue of the applicable Securities) or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request with respect to the Securities of any particular series, such cash shall be applied on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date to the redemption of Securities of such series at the sinking fund redemption price together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. If such amount shall be $100,000 (or the Dollar equivalent thereof as aforesaid) or less and the Company makes no such request then it shall be carried over until a sum in excess of $100,000 (or the Dollar equivalent thereof as aforesaid) is available. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date, the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date shall be selected in the manner specified in Section 3.03 and notice of the redemption thereof shall be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.04. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.05, Section 3.06 and Section 3.07.

 

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ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 4.01 Payment of Securities.

The Company shall pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of each series on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities of such series and in this Indenture. Principal, premium, interest and any Additional Amounts shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or another Subsidiary) holds by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on that date money deposited by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, interest and any Additional Amounts then due.

The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium (if any), at a rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Securities to the extent lawful; and it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and any Additional Amount (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

SECTION 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent) where Securities of that series may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of that series may be presented for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. Unless otherwise designated by the Company by written notice to the Trustee and the Subsidiary Guarantors, such office or agency shall be the office of the Trustee in The City of New York, which on the date hereof is located at 150 East 42nd Street, 40th Floor, New York, New York 10017. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee and the Subsidiary Guarantors of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee and the Subsidiary Guarantors with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee; provided that nothing herein shall require the Trustee to accept service of process on behalf of the Company.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series 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 shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

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SECTION 4.03 SEC Reports; Financial Statements.

(a)    The Company shall furnish to the Trustee, within 15 days after it files the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or pursuant to TIA § 314(a); provided, however , that the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports, information and documents to the Trustee if it has filed such reports, information and documents with the SEC using the EDGAR filing system and such reports, information and documents are publicly available.

(b)    At any time when the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and any Rule 144A Securities of a series are not freely transferrable under the Securities Act, upon the request of a Holder of Rule 144A Securities of such series, the Company will promptly furnish or cause to be furnished the information specified under Rule 144A(d)(4) of the Securities Act to such Holder, or to a prospective purchaser of a Rule 144A Security of such series designed by such Holder, in order to permit compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

(c)    Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt thereof shall not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates and statements pursuant to Section 4.04(a)). The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Company’s compliance with this Section 4.03 or to determine whether information, documents or reports have been posted on any website or filed with the SEC.

 

SECTION 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

(a)    The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a statement signed by the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company, which need not constitute an Officers’ Certificate, complying with TIA § 314(a)(4) and stating that in the course of performance by the signing officer of his duties as such officer of the Company, he would normally obtain knowledge of the keeping, observing, performing and fulfilling by each of the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor of its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating that to the best of his knowledge each of the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which such officer may have knowledge and what action the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

 

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(b)    The Company shall, so long as Securities of any series are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, as soon as practicable, but in no event more than 30 days, after any Officer of the Company becomes aware of any Default or Event of Default under this Indenture, a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 4.05 Existence.

Subject to Article V, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence. This Section 4.05 shall not prohibit or restrict the Company from converting into a different form or jurisdiction of legal entity.

 

SECTION 4.06 Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.

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

 

SECTION 4.07 Additional Amounts.

If the Securities of a series expressly provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of such series Additional Amounts as expressly provided therein. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or the net proceeds received from the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for in this Section 4.07 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4.07 and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

If Additional Amounts are payable on Securities of a series, the Company shall provide an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee not less than five Business Days prior to the date such Additional Amounts are payable setting forth the accrual period and the amount of such Additional Amounts in reasonable detail. The Trustee may provide a copy of such Officers’ Certificate or other notice received from the Company relating to Additional Amounts to any Holder of the applicable Securities of a series upon request. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives at the Corporate Trust Office such a certificate, the Trustee may

 

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assume without inquiry that no such Additional Amounts are payable. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine whether any Additional Amounts are payable, or with respect to the nature, extent or calculation of the amount of any Additional Amounts owed, or with respect to the method employed in such calculation of any Additional Amounts. If the Company has paid Additional Amounts directly to the Persons entitled to it, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the particulars of such payment.

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSORS

 

SECTION 5.01 Limitations on Mergers and Consolidations.

The Company shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge with or into any other Person or sell, convey, transfer or lease the Company’s assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:

(1)    either (a) the Company shall be the surviving Person or (b) the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into or with which the Company is merged, or to which such sale, conveyance, transfer or lease shall be made (collectively, the “Successor”), shall be organized under the laws of the United States of America, any political subdivision thereof or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and expressly assumes by supplemental indenture the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to all the Securities and the performance of the Company’s covenants and obligations under this Indenture and the Securities; and

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the limitations set forth in this Section 5.01 shall not apply to a sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of assets between or among the Company and any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries.

 

SECTION 5.02 Successor Person Substituted.

Upon any consolidation, amalgamation or merger of the Company or any sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of the Company’s assets substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 5.01, the Successor formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities with the same effect as if such Successor had been named as the Company herein and the predecessor Company, in the case of a sale, conveyance or transfer (except a lease), shall be released from all obligations under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

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ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

SECTION 6.01 Events of Default.

Unless either inapplicable to a particular series or specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture or Board Resolution establishing such series of Securities or in the form of Security for such series, an “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, occurs if:

(1)    there is a default in the payment of interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of that series when the same becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

(2)    there is a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Security of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon required repurchase or otherwise;

(3)    there is a default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Security of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

(4)    the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to comply with any of its other covenants or agreements in, or provisions of, the Securities of such series or this Indenture (other than an agreement, covenant or provision that has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than that series) which shall not have been remedied within the specified period after written notice, as specified in the last paragraph of this Section 6.01;

(5)    the Company, or if that series of Securities is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor, any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiary Guarantors that, considered in the aggregate as a single Subsidiary, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A)    commences a voluntary case,

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

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

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

 

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(6)    a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days and that:

(A)    is for relief against the Company or, if that series of Securities is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor, against any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiary Guarantors that, considered in the aggregate as a single Subsidiary, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, as debtor in an involuntary case,

(B)    appoints a Bankruptcy Custodian of the Company or any such Subsidiary Guarantor or group of Subsidiary Guarantors or a Bankruptcy Custodian for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any such Subsidiary Guarantor or group of Subsidiary Guarantors, or

(C)    orders the liquidation of the Company or any such Subsidiary Guarantor or group of Subsidiary Guarantors;

(7)    if that series of Securities is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor, the Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiary Guarantors that, considered in the aggregate as a single Subsidiary, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, ceases to be in full force and effect with respect to Securities of that series (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture); or

(8)    any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series occurs.

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

The Trustee shall not be deemed to know or have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default or Event of Default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.

When a Default or Event of Default is cured, it ceases.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.01, if the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or Additional Amounts with respect to any Security is payable in a currency or currencies (including a composite currency) other than Dollars and such currency or currencies are not available to the Company for making payment thereof due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company (a “Conversion Event”), the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders of the Securities by making such payment in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar equivalent of the amount payable in such other currency, as determined by the Company by reference to the Exchange Rate on the date of such payment, or, if such rate is not then available, on the basis of the most recently available Exchange Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.01, any payment made under such circumstances in Dollars where the required payment is in a currency other than Dollars will not constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture.

 

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Promptly after the occurrence of a Conversion Event, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Trustee; and the Trustee, promptly after receipt of such notice, shall give notice thereof in the manner provided in Section 11.02 to the Holders. Promptly after the making of any payment in Dollars as a result of a Conversion Event, the Company shall give notice in the manner provided in Section 11.02 to the Holders, setting forth the applicable Exchange Rate and describing the calculation of such payments.

A Default under clause (4) or (8) of this Section 6.01 is not an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of the series affected by such Default (or, in the case of a Default under clause (4) of this Section 6.01, if outstanding Securities of other series are affected by such Default, then at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities so affected) notify the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, of the Default, and the Company or the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, fails to cure the Default within 60 days after receipt of the notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default.”

 

SECTION 6.02 Acceleration.

If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any series at the time outstanding (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 6.01) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of the series affected by such Event of Default (or, in the case of an Event of Default described in clause (4) of Section 6.01, if outstanding Securities of other series are affected by such Event of Default, then at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities so affected) by notice to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, may declare the principal of (or, if any such Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and all accrued and unpaid interest on all then outstanding Securities of such series or of all series, as the case may be, to be due and payable. Upon any such declaration, the amounts due and payable on the Securities shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs, such amounts shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of the series affected by such Event of Default or all series so affected, as the case may be, by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences (other than nonpayment of principal of or premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be) have been cured or waived, except nonpayment of principal, premium, interest or any Additional Amounts that has become due solely because of the acceleration.

 

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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, or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture.

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

 

SECTION 6.04 Waiver of Defaults.

Subject to Section 6.07 and Section 9.02, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series or of all series affected thereby (acting as one class) by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing or past Default or Event of Default with respect to such series or all series so affected, as the case may be, and its consequences (including waivers obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities of such series or all series so affected or a solicitation of consents in respect of Securities of such series or all series so affected), except (1) a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security or (2) a continued Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended or supplemented without the consent of each Holder affected. 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.

With respect to Securities of any series, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such series may direct in writing the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it relating to or arising under an Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), (7) or (8) of Section 6.01, and with respect to all Securities, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all the then outstanding Securities affected may direct in writing the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it not relating to or arising under such an Event of Default. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with applicable law or this Indenture, that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders, or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided , however , that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to security or indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion from Holders directing the Trustee against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

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SECTION 6.06 Limitations on Suits.

Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, a Holder of a Security of any series may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities of such series or the related Guarantees, if any, only if:

(1)    the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to such series;

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

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

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

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

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether such use prejudices the rights of another Holder or obtains a preference or priority over another Holder).

 

SECTION 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.

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

 

SECTION 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default specified in clause (1) or (2) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor for the amount of principal, premium (if any), interest and any Additional Amounts remaining unpaid on the Securities of the series affected by the Event of Default, and interest on overdue principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent lawful, interest on overdue interest, 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.

 

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SECTION 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents and to take such actions, including participating as a member, voting or otherwise, of any committee of creditors, as may be necessary or advisable to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor or their respective creditors or properties 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 Bankruptcy 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 which the Holders of the Securities 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 Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

SECTION 6.10 Priorities.

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

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

Second: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, for principal, premium (if any), interest and any Additional Amounts ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal, premium (if any), interest and any Additional Amounts, respectively; and

Third: to the Company or as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct in writing.

The Trustee, upon prior written notice to the Company, may fix record dates and payment dates for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Article VI.

To the fullest extent allowed under applicable law, if for the purpose of obtaining a judgment against the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or Additional Amounts

 

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with respect to the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used for purposes of rendering the judgment shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the Business Day in The City of New York next preceding that on which final judgment is given. None of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee shall be liable for any shortfall nor shall it benefit from any windfall in payments to Holders of Securities under this Section 6.10 caused by a change in exchange rates between the time the amount of a judgment against it is calculated as above and the time the Trustee converts the Judgment Currency into the Required Currency to make payments under this Section 6.10 to Holders of Securities, but payment of such judgment shall discharge all amounts owed by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors on the claim or claims underlying such judgment.

 

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 and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by a Holder or Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series.

ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

(a)    If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in such exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b)    Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series:

(1)    the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; 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, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether, on their face, they appear to conform to the requirements of this Indenture but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any such opinions and certificates, including mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein.

 

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(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 Section 7.01(b);

(2)    the Trustee shall 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 shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.

(d)    Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to the provisions of this Section 7.01.

(e)    No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f)    The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. All money received by the Trustee shall, until applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities.

 

SECTION 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a)    The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b)    Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require instruction, an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both to be provided. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such instruction, Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult at the Company’s expense with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

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

 

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(d)    The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it reasonably believes to be authorized or within its 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 Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be.

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

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

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

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

(j)    In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.

(k)    The permissive rights of the Trustee to take certain actions under this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty unless so specified herein.

(l)    The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

 

SECTION 7.03 May Hold Securities.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. However, the Trustee is subject to Section 7.10 and Section 7.11.

 

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SECTION 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer.

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities or any money paid to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or upon the Company’s or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s direction under any provision hereof, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.

 

SECTION 7.05 Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series occurs and is continuing and it is known to the Trustee (as provided in Section 6.01 hereof), the Trustee shall transmit to Holders of Securities of such series 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) and interest on and Additional Amounts or any sinking fund installment with respect to the Securities of such series, 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 Holders of Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders.

Within 60 days after May 15 of each year after the execution of this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit to Holders of a series, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Company a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a); provided, however, that if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date with respect to a series, no report need be transmitted to Holders of such series. The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b). The Trustee shall also transmit all reports if and as required by TIA §§ 313(c) and 313(d).

A copy of each report at the time of its transmission to Holders of a series of Securities shall be filed by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor with the SEC and each securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities of such series are listed. The Company shall notify the Trustee if and when any series of Securities is listed or delisted on any securities exchange.

 

SECTION 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.

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

 

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The Company and any Subsidiary Guarantors of outstanding Securities, if any, jointly and severally, hereby agree to indemnify, defend and protect the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee for, and hold the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee harmless against. any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee), incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture (including the reasonable costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company and any such Subsidiary Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder), except as set forth in the next following paragraph. The Trustee shall notify the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors promptly of any claim of which a Responsible Officer has received written notice and for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers shall not relieve the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors of their obligations hereunder except to the extent they are materially prejudiced by such failure. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Guarantor of outstanding Securities, if any, shall be obligated to reimburse any expense or indemnify, defend or protect against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have been caused by the Trustee’s own negligence or willful misconduct.

To secure the payment obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, if any, in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except for money or property held in trust to pay principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of any series. Such lien and the Company’s and any Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(5) or (6) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

SECTION 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.

The Trustee may resign and be discharged at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by so notifying the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series may

 

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remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series by so notifying the Trustee, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such removal. The Company 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 Bankruptcy Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(4)    the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series). Within one year after the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such series then outstanding may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series does not take office within 30 days after the retiring or removed Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring or removed Trustee (at the expense of the Company), the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

If the Trustee with respect to the Securities of a series fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Holder of Securities of such series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, each such successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee, to the Company and to the Subsidiary Guarantors. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall transmit a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, upon payment of its charges hereunder and subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07.

In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series shall

 

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execute and deliver a supplemental indenture in which each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and that (1) shall confer to each successor Trustee all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall confirm that all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee. Nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees as co-trustees of the same trust, and each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee. Upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. On request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall transfer to such successor Trustee all property held by such retiring Trustee as Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Such retiring Trustee shall, however, have the right to deduct its unpaid fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees.

Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or Trustees pursuant to this Section 7.08, the obligations of the Company under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Trustees.

 

SECTION 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

Subject to Section 7.10, if the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

 

SECTION 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation or banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust power, shall be subject to supervision or examination by federal or state (or the District of Columbia) authority and shall have, or be a subsidiary of a bank or bank holding company having, a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

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The Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA §§ 310(a)(1), 310(a)(2) and 310(a)(5). The Trustee is subject to and shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 310(b) during the period of time required by this Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the SEC the application referred to in the penultimate paragraph of TIA § 310(b).

 

SECTION 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor.

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

ARTICLE VIII

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

SECTION 8.01 Termination of the Company s and the Subsidiary Guarantors Obligations.

(a)    This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities of a series and the related Guarantees (except that the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations under Section 2.05, Section 2.07, Section 2.08, Section 2.09, Section 4.02, Section 7.07, Section 7.08 and Section 8.04, the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations under Section 8.03 and the rights, powers, protections and privileges accorded the Trustee under Article VII shall survive until all Securities of such series are no longer outstanding and, thereafter, only the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations under Section 7.07, the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations under Section 8.03 and the rights, powers, protections and privileges accorded the Trustee under Article VII shall survive), and the Trustee and the Subsidiary Guarantors, if any, on demand of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, when:

(1)    either:

(A)    all outstanding Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and issued (other than destroyed, lost or stolen Securities that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B)    all outstanding Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

 

  (i) have become due and payable, or

 

  (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

 

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  (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

and, in the case of clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as funds (immediately available to the Holders in the case of clause (i)) in trust for such purpose (x) money in the currency in which payment of the Securities of such series is to be made in an amount, or (y) Government Obligations with respect to such series, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will ensure the availability of money in the currency in which payment of the Securities of such series is to be made in an amount or (z) a combination thereof, which will be sufficient, in the opinion (in the case of clauses (y) and (z)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Securities of such series for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or for principal, premium, if any, and interest to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be; provided that, with respect to any redemption that requires the payment of a premium based on the yield of a variable reference security, the Redemption Price deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this provision to the extent that (y) the Redemption Price so deposited with the Trustee is calculated using an amount equal to an estimate of such premium computed using the yield of the variable reference security as of the third Business Day preceding the date of such deposit with the Trustee and (z) the Company agrees to provide funds sufficient to cover any shortfall in amounts due upon such redemption (the “Shortfall”) on or prior to the Redemption Date (it being understood that any satisfaction and discharge shall be subject to the condition subsequent that the Shortfall is in fact paid); provided , however , that the Trustee shall have no liability whatsoever in the event that the Shortfall is not made after the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. Any Shortfall will be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Shortfall that confirms that such Shortfall will be applied toward such redemption; or

(C)    the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have properly fulfilled such other means of satisfaction and discharge as is specified, as contemplated by Section 2.01, to be applicable to the Securities of such series;

(2)    the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by them hereunder with respect to the Securities of such series; and

(3)    the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series have been complied with, together with an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect.

 

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(b)    Unless this Section 8.01(b) is specified as not being applicable to Securities of a series as contemplated by Section 2.01, the Company may, at its option, terminate its and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ respective obligations under this Indenture other than the continuing obligations of the Company specified in the next succeeding paragraph of this Section 8.01(b) (“covenant defeasance”) with respect to the Securities of a series if:

(1)    the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series, (i) money in the currency in which payment of the Securities of such series is to be made in an amount, or (ii) Government Obligations with respect to such series, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will ensure the availability of money in the currency in which payment of the Securities of such series is to be made in an amount or (iii) a combination thereof, that is sufficient, in the opinion (in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on all Securities of such series on each date that such principal, premium (if any) or interest is due and payable and (at the Stated Maturity thereof or upon redemption as provided in Section 8.01(f)) to pay all other sums payable by it hereunder; provided that, with respect to any redemption that requires the payment of a premium based on the yield of a variable reference security, the Redemption Price deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this provision to the extent that (x) the Redemption Price so deposited with the Trustee is calculated using an amount equal to an estimate of such premium computed using the yield of the variable reference security as of the third Business Day preceding the date of such deposit with the Trustee and (y) the Company agrees to provide funds sufficient to cover any Shortfall in amounts due upon such redemption on or prior to the Redemption Date (it being understood that any covenant defeasance shall be subject to the condition subsequent that the Shortfall is in fact paid); provided , however , that the Trustee shall have no liability whatsoever in the event that the Shortfall is not made after the covenant defeasance; provided further that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money and/or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to the payment of said principal, premium (if any) and interest with respect to the Securities of such series as the same shall become due. Any Shortfall will be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Shortfall that confirms that such Shortfall will be applied toward such redemption;

(2)    the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to covenant defeasance with respect to the Securities of such series have been complied with, and an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect;

(3)    no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(4)    the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from a nationally recognized counsel acceptable to the Trustee or a private letter ruling issued by the United States Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the Holders will

 

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not recognize income, gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company’s exercise of its option under this Section 8.01(b) and will be subject to United States Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such option had not been exercised;

(5)    the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have complied with any additional conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.01 to be applicable to the covenant defeasance of Securities of such series pursuant to this Section 8.01; and

(6)    such deposit and discharge shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest as defined in TIA § 310(b).

In such event, the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ respective obligations under this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as set forth in this paragraph) and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be discharged from their obligations under their Guarantees, no Default shall occur as a result of a failure to comply with such obligations or Guarantees and the Trustee and the Subsidiary Guarantors, on demand of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging covenant defeasance under this Indenture. However, the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations in Section 2.05, Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 2.08, Section 2.09, Section 4.01, Section 4.02, Section 7.07, Section 7.08 and Section 8.04, the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.03 and the rights, powers, protections and privileges accorded the Trustee under Article VII shall survive until all Securities of such series are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations in Section 7.07 and the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.03 shall survive with respect to Securities of such series.

After such irrevocable deposit made pursuant to this Section 8.01(b) and satisfaction of the other conditions set forth herein, the Trustee upon request shall acknowledge in writing the termination of the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, including the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations with respect to the related Guarantees, except for those surviving obligations of the Company specified above.

(c)    If the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have previously complied or are concurrently complying with Section 8.01(b) (other than any additional conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.01 that are expressly applicable only to covenant defeasance) with respect to Securities of a series, then, unless this Section 8.01(c) is specified as not being applicable to Securities of such series as contemplated by Section 2.01, the Company may elect that its obligations to make payments with respect to Securities of such series be discharged (“legal defeasance”), if:

(1)    no Default or Event of Default under clauses (5) and (6) of Section 6.01 hereof shall have occurred at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit contemplated by Section 8.01(b) (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period);

 

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(2)    unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of such series as contemplated by Section 2.01, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from a nationally recognized counsel to the effect referred to in Section 8.01(b)(4) with respect to such legal defeasance, which opinion is based on (i) a private letter ruling issued by the United States Internal Revenue Service addressed to the Company, (ii) a published ruling of the United States Internal Revenue Service pertaining to a comparable form of transaction or (iii) a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law (including regulations) after the date of this Indenture;

(3)    the Company has complied with any other conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.01 to be applicable to the legal defeasance of Securities of such series pursuant to this Section 8.01(c); and

(4)    the Company has delivered to the Trustee a Company Order requesting such legal defeasance of the Securities of such series and an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such legal defeasance of the Securities of such series have been complied with, together with an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect.

In such event, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will be discharged from all of their respective obligations under this Indenture, the Securities of such series and the related Guarantees, including the Company’s obligations under Section 4.01 to pay principal of, premium (if any) and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, Securities of such series, the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be discharged from their obligations under their Guarantees, and the entire indebtedness of the Company evidenced by such Securities shall be deemed paid and discharged. However, the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations in Section 2.05, Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 2.08, Section 2.09, Section 4.02, Section 7.07, Section 7.08 and Section 8.04, the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.03 and the rights, powers, protections and privileges accorded the Trustee under Article VII shall survive until all Securities of such series are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ obligations in Section 7.07 and the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.03 shall survive with respect to Securities of such series.

(d)    In order to have money available on a payment date to pay principal of or premium (if any) or interest on the Securities, any Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to this Section 8.01 shall be payable as to principal or interest on or before such payment date in such amounts as will provide the necessary money. Government Obligations shall not be callable at the issuer’s option.

(e)    If and to the extent additional or alternative means of satisfaction and discharge or defeasance of Securities of a series are specified to be applicable to such series as contemplated by Section 2.01, each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors may terminate any or all of its obligations under this Indenture with respect to Securities of a series and the related Guarantees and any or all of its obligations under the Securities of such series and the related Guarantees if it fulfills such other means of satisfaction and discharge or defeasance as may be so specified, as contemplated by Section 2.01, to be applicable to the Securities of such series.

 

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(f)    If Securities of any series subject to this Section 8.01 are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption provisions or in accordance with any mandatory or optional sinking fund provisions, the terms of the applicable trust arrangement shall provide for such redemption, and the Company shall make such arrangements as are reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.

 

SECTION 8.02 Application of Trust Money.

The Trustee shall hold in trust money or Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof. Subject to Section 8.03, it shall apply the deposited money and the money from Government Obligations through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series with respect to which the deposit was made.

The Company and any Subsidiary Guarantors of outstanding Securities shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the Securities of the series with respect to which the deposit was made.

 

SECTION 8.03 Repayment to Company or Subsidiary Guarantor.

The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor any excess money or Government Obligations (or proceeds therefrom) held by them at any time upon the written request of the Company.

Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium (if any), interest or any Additional Amounts that remain unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and the Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.

 

SECTION 8.04 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations deposited with respect to Securities of any series in accordance with Section 8.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series and under the Securities of such series shall be revived and

 

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reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.01 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.01; provided , however , that if the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor has made any payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities because of the reinstatement of their obligations, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES AND AMENDMENTS

 

SECTION 9.01 Without Consent of Holders.

The Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities or waive any provision hereof or thereof without the consent of any Holder:

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

(2)    to comply with Section 5.01;

(3)    to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities, provided that such uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that uncertificated notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

(4)    to provide any security for, or to add any guarantees of or additional obligors or guarantors on, any series of Securities or the related Guarantees, if any, or release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its Guarantee in the manner provided herein;

(5)    to comply with any requirement in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

(6)    to add to the covenants of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(7)    to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of the Securities (and, if any such Event of Default is applicable to less than all series of Securities, specifying the series to which such Event of Default is applicable);

(8)    to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there are no outstanding Securities of any series created prior to the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture the Holders of which are adversely affected in any material respect by such change in or elimination of such provision;

 

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(9)    to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01;

(10)    to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 8.01; provided, however, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or

(11)    to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 7.08.

Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a Board Resolution, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06, the Trustee shall, subject to Section 9.06, join with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of any supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained.

 

SECTION 9.02 With Consent of Holders.

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture with the consent (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities of any one or more series or all series or a solicitation of consents in respect of Securities of any one or more series or all series) of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of all series affected by such amendment or supplement (acting as one class).

Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a Board Resolution, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06, the Trustee shall, subject to Section 9.06, join with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture.

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

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of one or more series or of all series (acting as one class) may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor with any provision of this Indenture with respect to Securities of such series (including waivers obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities of such series or a solicitation of consents in respect of Securities of such series).

 

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However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not:

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

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

(3)    reduce the principal of, any premium on or any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to, or change the Stated Maturity of, any Security or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02;

(4)    reduce the premium, if any, payable upon the redemption of any Security or change the time at which any Security may or shall be redeemed;

(5)    change any obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to pay Additional Amounts with respect to any Security;

(6)    change the coin or currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which any Security or any premium, interest or Additional Amounts with respect thereto are payable;

(7)    impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security pursuant to Section 6.07 and Section 6.08, except as limited by Section 6.06;

(8)    make any change in the percentage of principal amount of Securities necessary to waive compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture pursuant to Section 6.04 or Section 6.07 or make any change in this sentence of Section 9.02;

(9)    if applicable, make any change that materially and adversely affects the right to convert any Security; or

(10)    waive a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities.

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

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The right of any Holder to participate in any consent required or sought pursuant to any provision of this Indenture (and the obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to obtain any such consent otherwise required from such Holder) may be subject to the requirement that such Holder shall have been the Holder of record of any Securities with respect to which such consent is required or sought as of a date identified by the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor in a notice furnished to Holders in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall transmit to the Holders of each Security affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to transmit such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

SECTION 9.03 Compliance with the Trust Indenture Act.

Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Securities shall comply in form and substance 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 is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his or her Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before a date and time therefor identified by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in a notice furnished to such Holder in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or, if no such date and time shall be identified, 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 Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date (which need not comply with TIA § 316(c)) for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver or to take any other action under this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date unless consents from Holders of the principal amount of Securities required hereunder for such amendment or waiver to be effective shall have also been given and not revoked within such 90-day period.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder, unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (1) through (10) of Section 9.02 hereof. In such case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind each Holder who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.

 

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SECTION 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Securities.

If an amendment or supplement changes the terms of an outstanding Security, the Company may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security at the request of the Company regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue, each Subsidiary Guarantor, if any, with respect to such series shall execute the Notation of Guarantee relating to, and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Security shall not affect the validity of such amendment or supplement.

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any amendment or supplement may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such amendment or supplement.

 

SECTION 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

The Trustee shall sign any amendment or supplement authorized pursuant to this Article if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may, but need not, sign it. In signing or refusing to sign such amendment or supplement, the Trustee shall be provided with, and, subject to Section 7.01 hereof, shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel provided at the expense of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor to the effect that such amendment or supplement is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

ARTICLE X

GUARANTEE

 

SECTION 10.01 Guarantee.

(a)    Notwithstanding any provision of this Article X to the contrary, the provisions of this Article X relating to a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be applicable only to, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Securities of any series designated, pursuant to Section 2.01, as entitled to the benefits of the related Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor. If no Security is outstanding that is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor, this Article X shall have no force and effect.

(b)    For value received and subject to the provisions of Section 10.01(a), each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby fully, unconditionally and absolutely guarantees to the Holders and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities and all other amounts due and payable under this Indenture and the Securities by the Company, when and as such principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Amounts shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms of the Securities and this Indenture, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10.03.

 

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(c)    Failing payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to the related Guarantee, for whatever reason, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each of the Guarantees hereunder is intended to be a general, unsecured, senior obligation of the related Subsidiary Guarantor. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be full, unconditional and absolute, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Securities, its Guarantee, the Guarantee of any other Subsidiary Guarantor or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of the Subsidiary Guarantors. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or, subject to Section 6.06, by the Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against such Subsidiary Guarantor to enforce such Guarantee without first proceeding against the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor.

(d)    The obligations of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Article X shall be as aforesaid full, unconditional and absolute and shall not be impaired, modified, released or limited by any occurrence or condition whatsoever, including, without limitation, (i) any compromise, settlement, release, waiver, renewal, extension, indulgence or modification of, or any change in, any of the obligations and liabilities of the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors contained in the Securities or this Indenture, (ii) any impairment, modification, release or limitation of the liability of the Company, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors or any of their estates in bankruptcy, or any remedy for the enforcement thereof, resulting from the operation of any present or future provision of any applicable Bankruptcy Law or other statute or from the decision of any court, (iii) the assertion or exercise by the Company, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee of any rights or remedies under the Securities or this Indenture or their delay in or failure to assert or exercise any such rights or remedies, (iv) the assignment or the purported assignment of any property as security for the Securities, including all or any part of the rights of the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Indenture, (v) the extension of the time for payment by the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors of any payments or other sums or any part thereof owing or payable under any of the terms and provisions of the Securities or this Indenture or of the time for performance by the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors of any other obligations under or arising out of any such terms and provisions or the extension or the renewal of any thereof, (vi) the modification or amendment (whether material or otherwise) of any duty, agreement or obligation of the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors set forth in this Indenture, (vii) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, marshaling of assets and liabilities, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of, or other similar proceeding affecting, the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors or

 

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any of their respective assets, or the disaffirmance of the Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture in any such proceeding, (viii) the release or discharge of the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition contained in any of such instruments by operation of law, (ix) the unenforceability of the Securities of such series, the related Guarantees or this Indenture or (x) any other circumstances (other than payment in full or discharge of all amounts guaranteed pursuant to the related Guarantees) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor.

(e)    Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby (i) waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of the merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, and all demands whatsoever, (ii) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document evidencing its Guarantee may be transferred and that the benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing its Guarantee without notice to it and (iii) covenants that its Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of such Guarantee. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors further agrees that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any Person to its Guarantee is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever, including, without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, such Guarantee shall, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and such Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as though such application had not been made.

(f)    Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders and the Trustee against the Company and any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of any amounts paid by such first Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture; provided , however , that such Subsidiary Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all of the Securities of such series and the related Guarantees shall have been paid in full or discharged.

 

SECTION 10.02 Execution and Delivery of Guarantees.

To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01, any Subsidiary Guarantor that is not a party to this Indenture shall execute and deliver a supplemental indenture in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex A . To further evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that a notation relating to such Guarantee (the “Notation of Guarantee”), substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex B , shall be endorsed on each Security of the series entitled to the benefits of such Guarantee authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, which Notation of Guarantee shall be executed by either manual or facsimile signature of an Officer of such Subsidiary Guarantor. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Security the Notation of Guarantee relating to such Guarantee. If any Officer of such Subsidiary Guarantor, whose signature is on this Indenture, any supplemental indenture or the Notation of Guarantee, no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates such Security or at any time

 

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thereafter, the Guarantee of such Security shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Security of a series entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee under this Article X by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of each Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

SECTION 10.03 Limitation on Liability of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder of a Security of a series entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee under this Article X hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders of a Security entitled to the benefits of such Guarantee and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law.

 

SECTION 10.04 Release of Subsidiary Guarantors from Guarantee.

(a)    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.01, the Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor may be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 10.04. Any Guarantee incurred by a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to this Article X shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged (i) in connection with sale or other disposition of the Company’s direct or indirect limited partnership, limited liability company or other equity interests in such Subsidiary Guarantor (including by way of merger or otherwise) to any Person that is not the Company or a Subsidiary such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary; (ii) upon the merger of such Subsidiary Guarantor into the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor or the liquidation or dissolution of such Subsidiary Guarantor; (iii) upon satisfaction and discharge or covenant defeasance or legal defeasance with respect to the Notes as set forth in Section 8.01(a), Section 8.01(b) or Section 8.01(c); or (iv) following delivery of a written notice thereof by the Company to the Trustee and provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing under this Indenture, upon the release of all guarantees by such Subsidiary Guarantor of Debt of the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor under the Credit Agreement and the Existing Senior Notes.

(b)    The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any release of a Subsidiary Guarantor from its Guarantee upon receipt of a written request of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel that the Subsidiary Guarantor is entitled to such release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 10.05 Contribution.

In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Subsidiary Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under its Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor (as applicable) in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to the Securities of a series entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee under this Article X or any other Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations with respect to its Guarantee of such series of Securities.

 

SECTION 10.06 Guarantee for Benefit of Holders.

The Guarantee contained in this Indenture is entered into by each Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Securities of a series entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee under this Article X. Such provisions shall not be deemed to create any right in, or to be in whole or in part for the benefit of, any Person other than the Trustee, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Holders from time to time of such Securities and their permitted successors and assigns.

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 11.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by operation of TIA § 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.

 

SECTION 11.02 Notices.

Any notice or communication by the Company, any Subsidiary 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 overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other’s address:

If to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor:

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

10713 West Sam Houston Pkwy N.

Suite 800

Houston, Texas 77064

Attn: General Counsel

Telephone: (281) 765-7100

Facsimile: (281) 765-7175

 

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If to the Trustee:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

Attn: Corporate, Municipal & Escrow Services

1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 4300

Dallas, Texas 75202

Telephone: (469) 729-7623

Facsimile: (469) 729-7638

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

All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if by facsimile; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

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

Any notice or communication to a Holder of a Global Security shall be transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s applicable procedures, and any notice or communication to any other Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holder’s address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to give a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is given in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except in the case of notice to the Trustee, it is duly given only when received.

If the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor transmits a notice or communication to Holders, it shall transmit a copy to the Company and the other Subsidiary Guarantors, as the case may be, and to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

57


All notices or communications, including, without limitation, notices to the Trustee, the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor by Holders, shall be in writing, except as otherwise set forth herein.

 

SECTION 11.03 Communication by Holders with Other Holders.

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

 

SECTION 11.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, shall, if requested by the Trustee, furnish to the Trustee at the expense of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be:

(1)    an Officers’ Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05) 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 complied with; and

(2)    an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with.

 

SECTION 11.05 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)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:

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

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

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

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

 

58


SECTION 11.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

SECTION 11.07 Legal Holidays.

If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a Place of Payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday with the same force and effect as if made on such scheduled payment date, and no interest shall accrue as a result of such delay.

 

SECTION 11.08 No Recourse Against Others.

Each Holder of a Security by its acceptance thereof, will be deemed to have agreed in this Indenture that no director, manager, member, officer, employee, stockholder, partner, unitholder or other owner of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee or any Affiliate of the foregoing entities shall have any liability in respect of the obligations of the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee under this Indenture, such Securities or any related Guarantees by reason of his, her or its status. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issuance of Securities.

 

SECTION 11.09 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.

THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE COMPANY , THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

SECTION 11.10 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

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

 

SECTION 11.11 Successors.

All agreements of the Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

 

59


SECTION 11.12 Severability.

In case any provision in this Indenture, in the Securities or in any Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

SECTION 11.13 Counterpart Originals.

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes.

 

SECTION 11.14 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 hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

SECTION 11.15 USA PATRIOT Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that in order to help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, pursuant to federal regulations that became effective on October 1, 2003, Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person establishing a relationship or opening an account with the Trustee. The parties hereto agree that they will provide the Trustee with name, address, tax identification number, if applicable, and other information that will allow the Trustee to identify the individual or entity who is establishing the relationship, and will further provide the Trustee with formation documents such as articles of incorporation or other identifying documents.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
PATTERSON PETROLEUM LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
PATTERSON-UTI DRILLING COMPANY LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
PATTERSON-UTI MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
UNIVERSAL PRESSURE PUMPING, INC.
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDENTURE


DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES 1 LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES 2 LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
WARRIOR RIG TECHNOLOGIES US LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
SEVENTY SEVEN ENERGY LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
SEVENTY SEVEN OPERATING LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDENTURE


GREAT PLAINS OILFIELD RENTAL, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
PTL PROP SOLUTIONS, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
SEVENTY SEVEN LAND COMPANY LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
MS DIRECTIONAL, LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDENTURE


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Patrick Giordano

  Name:   Patrick Giordano
  Title:   Vice President

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDENTURE


ANNEX A

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE DELIVERED

BY SUBSEQUENT SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

THIS [                    ] SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of [                    ] (this “Supplemental Indenture”), is among [                    ] (the “New Subsidiary Guarantor”), Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), each other then-existing Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture referred to below (the “Existing Subsidiary Guarantors”) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) under the Indenture.

W I T N E S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Company, the Existing Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of January 19, 2018 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities”), which are to be issued in one or more series.

WHEREAS, Section 10.02 of the Indenture provides that any Subsidiary Guarantor that is not a party to the Indenture shall execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 of the Indenture.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01(4) of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture to amend or supplement the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder, to add any guarantees of or additional obligors on any series of Securities.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Subsidiary Guarantor, the Company, the Existing Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of any series of Securities designated pursuant to the Indenture as entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by the New Subsidiary Guarantor (collectively, the “Guaranteed Securities”) as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, capitalized terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recitals thereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

 

A-1


ARTICLE 2

AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND; GUARANTEE

SECTION 2.01 Agreement to be Bound . The New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby becomes a party to the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the Guaranteed Securities and as such shall have all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations and agreements of such a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture. The New Subsidiary Guarantor agrees to be bound by all of the provisions of the Indenture applicable to such a Subsidiary Guarantor and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of such a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture.

ARTICLE 3

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 3.01 Relation to the Indenture . The provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall become effective immediately upon the execution and delivery hereof. This Supplemental Indenture and all the terms and provisions herein contained shall form a part of the Indenture as fully and with the same effect as if all such terms and provisions had been set forth in the Indenture; provided , however , such terms and provisions shall be so included in this Supplemental Indenture solely for the benefit of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of the Guaranteed Securities. The Indenture is hereby ratified and confirmed and shall remain and continue in full force and effect in accordance with the terms and provisions thereof, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, and the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed together as one instrument.

SECTION 3.02 Effect of Supplemental Indenture . The supplements to the Indenture set forth in this Supplemental Indenture affect only the provisions of the Indenture as such provisions relate to the Guaranteed Securities, the series of Securities comprised of the Guaranteed Securities and the rights, remedies and obligations of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Holders of Guaranteed Securities, the Trustee and other Persons set forth in the Indenture as such rights, remedies and obligations relate to the Guaranteed Securities, and shall not affect any such provisions or otherwise create any such rights, remedies and obligations with respect to any other series of Securities.

SECTION 3.03 Counterparts of Supplemental Indenture . This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

SECTION 3.04 Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 3.05 No Responsibility of Trustee for Recitals, Etc . The recitals and statements contained in this Supplemental Indenture shall be taken as the recitals and statements of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture, except that the Trustee is duly authorized by all necessary corporate actions to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

 

A-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 

[EXISTING GUARANTORS]
By:  

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 

[NEW GUARANTOR],

as a Guarantor

By:  

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 


ANNEX B

FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Securities by the Company.

The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders of Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article X of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.

 

[SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS]
By:  

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 

 

B-1

Exhibit 4.2

Execution Version

 

 

 

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.

as Issuer

and

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO

and

WELLS FARGO BANK,

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee

 

 

First Supplemental Indenture

Dated as of January 19, 2018

 

 

to the Indenture

Dated as of January 19, 2018

3.95% Senior Notes due 2028

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I SUPPLEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL INDENTURE

     1  

SECTION 1.01

 

Supplement to Article I of the Original Indenture

     1  

SECTION 1.02

 

Supplement to Article IV of the Original Indenture

     6  

SECTION 1.03

 

Supplement to Article IX of the Original Indenture

     9  

SECTION 1.04

 

Effect of Article 1

     9  

ARTICLE II THE NOTES

     10  

SECTION 2.01

 

Form and Terms

     10  

SECTION 2.02

 

Designation, Amount, etc.

     10  

SECTION 2.03

 

Payment of Principal and Interest

     11  

SECTION 2.04

 

Subsidiary Guarantors

     11  

SECTION 2.05

 

Legends

     12  

SECTION 2.06

 

Redemption at the Option of the Company

     12  

SECTION 2.07

 

Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control

     12  

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ISSUER

     14  

SECTION 3.01

 

Authority of the Company and Subsidiary Guarantors

     14  

SECTION 3.02

 

Truth of Recitals and Statements

     14  

ARTICLE IV CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

     14  

SECTION 4.01

 

Acceptance of Trusts

     14  

SECTION 4.02

 

No Responsibility of Trustee for Recitals, Etc.

     15  

ARTICLE V MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     15  

SECTION 5.01

 

Relation to the Original Indenture

     15  

SECTION 5.02

 

Meaning of Terms

     15  

SECTION 5.03

 

Counterparts of Supplemental Indenture

     15  

SECTION 5.04

 

Governing Law

     15  

 

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THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of January 19, 2018 (this “First Supplemental Indenture”), is among Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Subsidiary Guarantors party hereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) under the Indenture (as defined below).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities”), which are to be issued in one or more series, and the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have heretofore made, executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture dated as of January 19, 2018 (the “Original Indenture”) pursuant to which the Securities are issuable;

WHEREAS, Sections 2.01, 2.03 and 9.01 of the Original Indenture provide that the form or terms of any series of Securities may be established in a supplemental indenture, and the Company desires to establish in this First Supplemental Indenture both the form and terms of a separate series of Securities designated as its 3.95% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”); and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture, to establish the Notes as provided for in this First Supplemental Indenture, and to make the Original Indenture, as supplemented with respect to the Notes by this First Supplemental Indenture and as it may otherwise be supplemented thereafter with applicability to the Notes (the Original Indenture, as so supplemented, being sometimes referred to herein as the “Indenture”), a valid agreement of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, in accordance with its terms, have been done;

NOW, THEREFORE, that, for and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree, solely for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of Notes, as follows:

ARTICLE I

SUPPLEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL INDENTURE

 

SECTION 1.01 Supplement to Article I of the Original Indenture.

(a) Section 1.01 of the Original Indenture is supplemented or superseded with respect to the Notes, in the case of definitional paragraphs that may be inconsistent, by inserting therein, in alphabetical order, the following definitional paragraphs:

“Additional Interest” means the additional interest that shall accrue on the Notes in accordance with the terms of a Registration Rights Agreement if a Registration Default (as defined in the applicable Registration Rights Agreement) occurs.

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to: (1) the yield, under the heading that represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release

 

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designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication that is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which 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 Optional Redemption Comparable Treasury Issue; provided that, if no maturity is within three months before or after the remaining term of the Notes, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Optional Redemption Comparable Treasury Issue will be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate will 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 semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Optional Redemption Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Optional Redemption Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Optional Redemption Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The Company (or its designee) will (a) determine the Adjusted Treasury Rate and the Make-Whole Redemption Price with respect to any redemption on the third Business Day prior to the Redemption Date, and (b) prior to such Redemption Date file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Adjusted Treasury Rate and the Make-Whole Redemption Price and showing the calculation of such in reasonable detail.

“Attributable Debt” means, with respect to any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction as of any particular time, the present value discounted at the rate of interest implicit in the terms of the lease of the obligations of the lessee under such lease for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease.

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

(a) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions approved by the Board of Directors of the Company as part of a single plan, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than to the Company or one or more of the Subsidiaries or a combination thereof or a Person controlled by the Company or one or more of the Subsidiaries or a combination thereof; or

(b) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger, amalgamation 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 the Company, any Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or other Voting Stock into which the Voting Stock of the Company is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged, converted or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares (excluding a redomestication of the Company).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a “Change of Control” if, as a result of such transaction, (i) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly

 

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owned Subsidiary of a holding company and (ii) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following such transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the ratings of the Notes are lowered by at least two of the three Rating Agencies and, as a result, the Notes cease to be rated Investment Grade by at least two of the three Rating Agencies in any case on any date during the period commencing on the date of the first public announcement by the Company of any Change of Control (or pending Change of Control) and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control Triggering Event will be deemed to have occurred in connection with any particular Change of Control unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the total assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the most recent fiscal quarter end for which a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the Subsidiaries is available, minus all current liabilities (excluding the current portion of any long-term debt) of the Company and the Subsidiaries reflected on such balance sheet and minus total goodwill and other intangible assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries reflected on such balance sheet, all calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (which calculation shall give pro forma effect to any acquisition by or disposition of assets of the Company or any Subsidiaries involving the payment or receipt by the Company or any Subsidiaries, as applicable, of consideration (whether in the form of cash or non-cash consideration) in excess of $25,000,000 that has occurred since the end of such fiscal quarter, as if such acquisition or disposition had occurred on the last day of such fiscal quarter).

“Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2012, by and among the Company, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, an l/c issuer, swing line lender and a lender and the other lender parties thereto, as amended, restated, replaced, or refinanced from time to time, whether with the same or different lenders.

“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Sections 2.08, 2.12 and 2.17 of the Original Indenture and Section 2 of the Rule 144A / Regulation S Appendix hereto (the “Appendix”), in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Form of Note”), except that such Note shall not bear the Global Security legend set forth in the Form of Note and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Securities” attached thereto or other provisions marked therein as applicable only to a Global Security.

“Exchange Notes” means (1) the 3.95% Senior Notes due 2028 issued pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture in exchange for, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to, the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes, in each case, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, and (2) Additional Notes, if any, issued pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act.

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, and its successors.

 

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“Funded Debt” means Debt which by its terms matures at, or is extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor to, a date more than twelve months after the date of the creation of such Debt.

“Indenture” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

“Independent Investment Banker” means Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, or if such firm is unwilling or unable to serve as such, an independent investment and banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company.

“Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Moody’s); a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P); a rating of BBB- or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Fitch); and the equivalent investment grade rating from any replacement Rating Agency or Agencies appointed by the Company.

“Issue Date” means January 19, 2018, the date on which the Notes are first authenticated and delivered under the Indenture.

“Joint Venture” means any partnership, corporation or other entity in which up to and including 50% of the partnership interests, outstanding Voting Stock or other equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries. A Joint Venture is not treated as a Subsidiary.

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

“Mortgage” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest or lien.

“Notes” has the meaning specified in the recitals and shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.

“Optional Redemption Comparable Treasury Issue” means the U.S. Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes or, if, in the reasonable judgment of the Independent Investment Banker, there is no such security, then the Optional Redemption Comparable Treasury Issue will mean the U.S. Treasury security or securities selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity or maturities comparable to the remaining term of the Notes.

“Optional Redemption Comparable Treasury Price” means, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, (1) the average of four Optional Redemption Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the applicable Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Optional Redemption Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such Optional Redemption Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

 

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“Optional Redemption Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of (i) Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (or any affiliate thereof that is a primary U.S. governmental securities dealer (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”)), (ii) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (or any affiliate thereof that is a Primary Treasury Dealer), (iii) Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (or any affiliate thereof that is a Primary Treasury Dealer) and (iv) one other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company, and their respective successors; provided that if any of the foregoing ceases to be, and has no affiliate that is, a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company will substitute for it another Primary Treasury Dealer.

“Optional Redemption Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Optional Redemption Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Optional Redemption Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

“Original Indenture” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

“Par Call Date” means November 1, 2027.

“Rating Agency” means each of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch; provided , that if any of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available, the Company will appoint a replacement for such Rating Agency that is a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the initial purchasers of the Initial Notes and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes issued in a transaction exempt from or not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, if any, and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related purchase agreement, in each case, as amended from time to time.

“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, and its successors.

“Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Company or any Subsidiary of any property from such Person, whereby such property had been sold or transferred by the Company or any Subsidiary to such Person.

 

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(b) Section 1.02 of the Original Indenture is supplemented or superseded with respect to the Notes by inserting therein, in alphabetical order, the following:

 

Term

   Defined
in Section

“Additional Notes”

   2.02(c)

“Change of Control Offer”

   2.07(b)

“Change of Control Payment Date”

   2.07(b)(iii)

“Form of Note”

   2.01

“Global Notes”

   2.01

“Initial Notes”

   2.02(c)

“Make-Whole Redemption Price”

   2.06(a)

“Record Date”

   2.03(b)

 

SECTION 1.02 Supplement to Article IV of the Original Indenture.

Article IV of the Original Indenture is supplemented with respect to the Notes by inserting the following new Section 4.08 and Section 4.09 at the end thereof:

SECTION 4.08       Limitation on Liens .

So long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, issue, assume or guarantee any Debt if such Debt is secured by a Mortgage upon any properties of the Company or any Subsidiary or upon any securities or Debt of any Subsidiary (whether such properties, securities or Debt is owned as of the Issue Date or acquired thereafter) without in any such case effectively providing that the Notes (together with, if the Company so determines, any other Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary) shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Debt so secured by a Mortgage on the same assets of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, for so long as such Debt is so secured, except that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:

(a) Mortgages on any property acquired, constructed, developed, operated, altered, repaired or improved by the Company or any Subsidiary (or Mortgages on the shares or stock of, or other equity interests in, a Subsidiary which holds no material assets other than the property other than the property being acquired, constructed, developed, operated, altered, repaired or improved) after the Issue Date which are created within 360 days after such acquisition (or in the case of property constructed, developed, operated, altered, repaired or improved, after the completion and commencement of commercial operation of such property, whichever is later), to secure or provide for all or any part of the payment of the purchase price or cost thereof (including to secure indebtedness to finance all or any part of such purchase price or cost); provided that in the case of such construction, development, operation, alteration, repair or improvement, the Mortgages shall not apply to any property owned by the Company or any Subsidiary before such construction, development, operation, alteration, repair or improvement other than (1) unimproved real property on which the property so constructed, or the development, operation, alteration, repair or improvement, is located or (2) personal property which is so improved;

 

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(b) (1) Mortgages existing on the Issue Date, (2) existing Mortgages on property acquired (including Mortgages on any property acquired from a person which is consolidated with or merged with or into the Company or a Subsidiary) or (3) Mortgages outstanding at the time any corporation, partnership or other entity becomes a Subsidiary or is consolidated with or merged with or into the Company or a Subsidiary, including Mortgages on the shares of stock of, or other equity interests in, such corporation, partnership or other entity; provided that in the case of clause (3) such Mortgages shall only apply to property owned by, or shares of stock of or other equity interests in, such corporation, partnership or other entity at the time it becomes a Subsidiary or that is acquired thereafter other than from the Company or another Subsidiary;

(c) Mortgages in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary;

(d) Mortgages in favor of domestic or foreign governmental bodies to secure advances or other payments or performance pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure indebtedness incurred to finance the purchase price or cost of constructing, developing, operating, altering, repairing or improving the property subject to such Mortgages, including Mortgages to secure Debt of the pollution control or industrial revenue bond type;

(e) Mortgages consisting of pledges or deposits by the Company or any Subsidiary under worker’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Debt) or leases to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations or regulatory obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary or deposits or cash or United States government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which it 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;

(f) Mortgages imposed by law, including materialmen’s, carriers’, warehousemen’s, repairman’s, builders’, workmen’s, landlords’ and mechanics’ liens, in each case for sums not overdue for a period of more than 45 days or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(g) Mortgages for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges that are not yet delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or which can thereafter be paid without penalty;

(h) Mortgages in favor of issuers of surety or performance and return of money bonds or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business;

(i) Mortgages consisting of encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights of way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines, roads, pipe lines, water mains and other similar purposes, or Mortgages consisting

 

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of zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Mortgages incidental to the conduct of the business of the Company or a Subsidiary or to the ownership of its properties which do not materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of the Company or a Subsidiary;

(j) Mortgages arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to bankers’ liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depository institution;

(k) Mortgages in connection with in rem and other legal proceedings, which are being contested in good faith;

(l) Mortgages on the stock, partnership or other equity interest of the Company or any Subsidiary in any Joint Venture or any Subsidiary that owns an equity interest in such Joint Venture to secure Debt, provided the amount of such Debt is contributed and/or advanced solely to such Joint Venture;

(m) Mortgages over goods (or any documents relating thereto) arising either in favor of a bank issuing a form of documentary credit in connection with the purchase of such goods or by way of retention of title by the supplier of such goods where such goods are supplied on credit, subject to such retention of title, and in both cases where such goods are acquired in the ordinary course of business;

(n) Mortgages granted by the Company or any Subsidiary on its rights under any insurance policy in order to secure the payment of premiums and other amounts owed to the insurers or other insurance finance company with respect to such insurance policy; or

(o) any extension, renewal, substitution, refinancing or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals, substitutions, refinancings or replacements), in whole or in part, of any Mortgage referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (n), inclusive; provided that such extension, renewal, substitution, refinancing or replacement Mortgage shall not extend beyond the property or assets that secured the Mortgage extended, renewed, substituted, refinanced or replaced, plus improvements on such property or assets, unless otherwise permitted by this covenant, and the Debt secured by such Mortgage is not greater in principal amount than the Debt secured by the Mortgage extended, renewed, substituted, refinanced or replaced plus the amount of any premiums, fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith.

In addition to the foregoing exceptions to the limitations set forth in the first paragraph of this Section 4.08, the Company and any Subsidiary may, without securing the Notes, issue, assume or guarantee Debt secured by a Mortgage in an aggregate principal amount that, taken together with the Attributable Debt described in the following sentence, does not in the aggregate exceed the greater of (i) $500,000,000 or (ii) 15.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of incurrence. The Attributable Debt to be aggregated for purpose of this exception is all Attributable Debt in respect of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions of the Company and its Subsidiaries under the exception in Section 4.09(e)(2) existing at such time.

 

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SECTION 4.09       Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions .

So long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, other than any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction:

(a) entered into by the time of or within 360 days of the later of the acquisition, construction, development, operation, alteration, repair, improvement or placing into service of the property subject thereto by the Company or the Subsidiary;

(b) involving a lease of less than five years;

(c) entered into in connection with an industrial revenue bond or pollution control financing;

(d) between or among the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries;

(e) as to which the Company or such Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Debt secured by a Mortgage on the property to be leased in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction without equally and ratably securing the Notes (1) under clauses (a) through (o) of Section 4.08 or (2) under the last paragraph of Section 4.08; or

(f) as to which the Company will apply an amount equal to the net proceeds from the sale of the property so leased to (1) the retirement (other than any mandatory retirement), within 360 days of the effective date of any such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, of Notes or Funded Debt of the Company or a Subsidiary or (2) the acquisition, construction, development, operation, alteration, repair or improvement of other property, provided that such property is owned by the Company or a Subsidiary free and clear of all Mortgages.

 

SECTION 1.03 Supplement to Article IX of the Original Indenture.

With respect to the Notes, in addition to the circumstances described in Section 9.01 of the Original Indenture, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes or waive any provision thereof without the consent of any Holder to conform the text of the Indenture or the Notes to the “Description of the Notes” set forth in the final offering circular of the Company, dated January 10, 2018, relating to the initial offering of the Notes.

 

SECTION 1.04 Effect of Article 1.

The supplements to the Original Indenture set forth in Article 1 of this First Supplemental Indenture affect only the provisions of the Original Indenture as such provisions relate to the Notes, the series of Securities comprised of the Notes and the rights, remedies and obligations of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Holders of Notes, the Trustee and other Persons set forth in the Original Indenture as such rights, remedies and obligations relate to the Notes.

 

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ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

 

SECTION 2.01 Form and Terms.

The Notes shall be issued upon original issuance in whole in the form of one or more Global Securities (the “Global Notes”). The Depository Trust Company and the Trustee are hereby designated as the Depositary and the Security Custodian, respectively, for the Global Notes under the Indenture. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Form of Note”). The terms of the Notes set forth on Exhibit A hereto are incorporated by reference herein as if set forth herein in their entirety. Provisions relating to the Notes are set forth in the Appendix, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein as if set forth herein in its entirety. The Notes shall be transferable only in compliance with the Appendix.

 

SECTION 2.02 Designation, Amount, etc.

(a) The Notes shall be entitled the “3.95% Senior Notes due 2028” of the Company. The Notes shall be separate series of Securities under the Indenture.

(b) The initial limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Section 2.08, 2.09, 2.12, 2.17, 3.07 or 9.05 of the Indenture and except for any Notes which, pursuant to Section 2.04 or 2.17 of the Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered thereunder) is $525,000,000; provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of the Notes may be increased before or after the issuance of any Notes by a Board Resolution (or action pursuant to a Board Resolution) to such effect.

(c) The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver (i) on the Issue Date, $525,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the series of Securities designated the 3.95% Senior Notes due 2028 established hereunder (the “Initial Notes”) and (ii) from time to time after the Issue Date, subject to Section 2.02(b) hereof, additional Securities of such series, including any Exchange Notes (“Additional Notes”), in each case upon a Company Order for the authentication and delivery thereof and satisfaction of the other provisions of Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture. Such Company Order shall specify whether any such Additional Notes shall be Transfer Restricted Notes (as defined in the Appendix).

(d) The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes shall be treated as a single series for all purposes under the Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments and redemptions; provided, however , that in the event that any Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such non-fungible Additional Notes shall be issued with a separate CUSIP number and ISIN so they are distinguishable from the Initial Notes.

 

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(e) Notes that constitute Transfer Restricted Notes shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 4.03(b) of the Original Indenture (and shall constitute Rule 144A Securities).

(f) The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with Section 2.17 of the Original Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture (including the Appendix).

 

SECTION 2.03 Payment of Principal and Interest.

(a) The date on which the principal of the Notes is payable shall be February 1, 2028.

(b) The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 3.95% per annum. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable shall be February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing August 1, 2018. The record dates for the interest payable on the Notes on any Interest Payment Date shall be the January 15 and July 15, as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date (each, a “Record Date”). All references to any amount of “interest” payable on or with respect to any of the Notes in the Indenture and the Form of Note shall be deemed to include any Additional Interest payable pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, if applicable.

(c) No Additional Amounts with respect to the Notes shall be payable.

(d) The place or places where the principal of, premium (if any) on and interest on the Notes shall be payable shall be the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose, initially the office of the Trustee in The City of New York, and any other office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose. Payments in respect of Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder of such Notes. In all other cases, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the register of the Notes maintained by the Registrar. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payments in respect of a Definitive Note shall be made by wire transfer to a Dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if the Holder of such Definitive Note elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

(e) The Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes initially shall be the Trustee.

 

SECTION 2.04 Subsidiary Guarantors.

The Notes shall be entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by each Subsidiary Guarantor, the terms of which are set forth in Article X of the Original Indenture. Subject to Section 10.04 of the Indenture, the “Subsidiary Guarantors” named with respect to the Notes shall be the Subsidiaries of the Company party hereto and each Subsidiary of the Company or

 

11


another Subsidiary Guarantor that provides a guarantee of Debt of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Credit Agreement, the Existing Senior Notes or any other credit facility in excess of $50 million, in which case such Subsidiary (unless a party hereto) shall within 30 Business Days of such guarantee enter into a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 10.02 of the Original Indenture.

 

SECTION 2.05 Legends.

Each Global Note shall bear the legend set forth on the face of the Form of Note. Each Transfer Restricted Note shall bear the applicable Restricted Legend (as defined in the Appendix).

 

SECTION 2.06 Redemption at the Option of the Company.

(a) Prior to the Par Call Date, the Notes will be subject to redemption by the Company, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a Redemption Price (the “Make-Whole Redemption Price”) equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; and (ii) the sum of the present values, as calculated by the Independent Investment Banker, of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon that would be due if the Notes matured on the Par Call Date (exclusive of the interest accrued to the Redemption Date) computed by discounting such payments to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis, assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, at a rate equal to the sum of the Adjusted Treasury Rate for such Notes plus 25 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the 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).

(b) On or after the Par Call Date, the Notes will be subject to redemption by the Company, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the 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).

(c) The Company shall have no obligation to redeem, purchase or repay Notes pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or, except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof, at the option of a Holder thereof.

 

SECTION 2.07 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, each Holder of Notes will have the right to require the Company to purchase all or any part (provided that no partial repurchase of a Note will be required to the extent such repurchase would reduce the principal amount of such Note to less than $2,000) of the Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), except to the extent that the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as set forth under Section 2.06 or as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.07.

 

12


(b) Within 60 days following the date upon which the Change of Control Triggering Event has occurred, or at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control but after the public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control, except to the extent that the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as set forth under Section 2.06 or as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.07, the Company will send a notice (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each holder of Notes with a copy to the Trustee, which notice will govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer, stating:

(i) that a Change of Control Triggering Event with respect to the Notes has occurred and that such holder has the right to require the Company to purchase such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date);

(ii) a brief description of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute such Change of Control Triggering Event;

(iii) the purchase date (which shall be (i) no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent, if sent after consummation of the Change of Control and (ii) no earlier than the date of the Change of Control nor later than 30 days from such date, if sent prior to consummation of the Change of Control, in each case, other than as may be required by law) (such date, the “Change of Control Payment Date”); and

(iv) the instructions that a holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased.

(c) Holders of Notes electing to have Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender their Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice, or transfer their Notes to the Paying Agent by book-entry transfer pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Paying Agent and the Depositary, prior to the close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

(d) The Company may make a Change of Control Offer in advance of a Change of Control, and the Company’s Change of Control Offer may be conditioned upon the consummation of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making the Change of Control Offer.

(e) If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw the Notes in a Change of Control Offer and the Company, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company, as set forth in Section 2.07(f), purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Company shall have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such

 

13


purchase at a Redemption Price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date). Any such redemption pursuant to this Section 2.07(e) shall be made in accordance with Article III of the Original Indenture.

(f) The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for such an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

(g) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the terms set forth in this Section 2.07, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations hereunder by virtue thereof.

(h) The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes and in accordance with Article IX of the Original Indenture, amend or waive the right of the Holders to require the Company to purchase all or any part of each Holder’s Notes as a consequence of a Change of Control Triggering Event.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ISSUER

 

SECTION 3.01 Authority of the Company and Subsidiary Guarantors.

Each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors is duly authorized to execute and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture, and all corporate or limited liability company action on its part required for the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture has been duly and effectively taken.

 

SECTION 3.02 Truth of Recitals and Statements.

The Company warrants that the recitals of fact and statements contained in this First Supplemental Indenture are true and correct, and that the recitals of fact and statements contained in all certificates and other documents furnished hereunder will be true and correct.

ARTICLE IV

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 4.01 Acceptance of Trusts.

The Trustee accepts the trusts hereunder and agrees to perform the same, but only upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Original Indenture and in this First Supplemental Indenture, to all of which the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the respective Holders of the Notes at any time hereafter outstanding agree by their acceptance thereof.

 

14


SECTION 4.02 No Responsibility of Trustee for Recitals, Etc.

The recitals and statements contained in this First Supplemental Indenture shall be taken as the recitals and statements of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture, except that the Trustee is duly authorized by all necessary corporate actions to execute and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

SECTION 5.01 Relation to the Original Indenture.

The provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture shall become effective immediately upon the execution and delivery hereof. This First Supplemental Indenture and all the terms and provisions herein contained shall form a part of the Original Indenture as fully and with the same effect as if all such terms and provisions had been set forth in the Original Indenture; provided, however, such terms and provisions shall be so included in this First Supplemental Indenture solely for the benefit of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes. The Original Indenture is hereby ratified and confirmed and shall remain and continue in full force and effect in accordance with the terms and provisions thereof, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, and the Original Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed together as one instrument.

 

SECTION 5.02 Meaning of Terms.

Any term used in this First Supplemental Indenture which is defined in the Original Indenture shall have the meaning specified in the Original Indenture, unless the context shall otherwise require.

 

SECTION 5.03 Counterparts of Supplemental Indenture.

This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

SECTION 5.04 Governing Law.

THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

15


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
PATTERSON PETROLEUM LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
PATTERSON-UTI DRILLING COMPANY LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
PATTERSON-UTI MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
UNIVERSAL PRESSURE PUMPING, INC.
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE


DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES 1 LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES 2 LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
WARRIOR RIG TECHNOLOGIES US LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
SEVENTY SEVEN ENERGY LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
SEVENTY SEVEN OPERATING LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE


GREAT PLAINS OILFIELD RENTAL, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
PTL PROP SOLUTIONS, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
SEVENTY SEVEN LAND COMPANY LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
MS DIRECTIONAL, LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Andrew Smith

  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Patrick Giordano

  Name:   Patrick Giordano
  Title:   Vice President

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO F IRST S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE


RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

PROVISIONS RELATING TO NOTES

1. Definitions

1.1 Definitions .

For the purposes of this Appendix, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

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

“Registered Exchange Offer” means an offer by the Company, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, to certain Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes to issue and deliver to such Holders in exchange for such Notes a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes registered under the Securities Act.

“Resale Restriction Termination Date” means, in the case of Transfer Restricted Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A, the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to such Notes set forth in Rule 144(d)(i) of the Securities Act and, in the case of Transfer Restricted Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S, 40 days after the later of the original issue date of such Notes and the date on which such Notes (or any predecessor of such Notes) were first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S.

“Shelf Registration Statement” means a shelf registration statement filed by the Company in connection with the offer and resale of Transfer Restricted Notes by the Holders or beneficial owners thereof pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.

“Transfer Restricted Notes” means Notes that bear or are required to bear the applicable Restricted Legend.

“Unrestricted Notes” means any Notes that are not Transfer Restricted Notes.

1.2 Other Definitions .

 

Term    Defined in Section:

“Permanent Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1(b)

“Regulation S”

   2.1(a)

“Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1(b)

“Restricted Global Note”

   2.1(a)

“Restricted Legend”

   2.3(c)(i)

“Restricted Period”

   2.1(b)

“Rule 144A”

   2.1(a)

“Rule 144A Global Note”

   2.1(a)

“Temporary Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1(a)

 

Appendix-1


Each capitalized term used but not defined in this Appendix shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

2. The Notes

2.1 The Notes .

(a) Form and Dating . Initial Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”) (“Rule 144A Global Notes”) shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent Global Notes, and Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”) shall be issued initially in the form of one or more temporary Global Notes (“Temporary Regulation S Global Notes”), in each case with the applicable Restricted Legend (each security, unless and until becoming an Unrestricted Note, a “Restricted Global Note”). Additional Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent Rule 144A Global Notes, and Additional Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more Temporary Regulation S Global Notes or Permanent Regulation S Global Notes, in each case, with the applicable Restricted Legend. Exchange Notes shall be issued (i) in the form of one or more permanent Global Notes or (ii) in the form of Definitive Notes as provided in Section 2.4.

(b) Book-Entry Provisions . This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.

Except as set forth in this Section 2.1(b), beneficial interests in a Temporary Regulation S Global Note will not be exchangeable for interests in a Rule 144A Global Note, a permanent global note (the “Permanent Regulation S Global Note” and, together with the Temporary Regulation S Global Note, the “Regulation S Global Note”) or any other Note prior to the expiration of the period through and including the 40th day after the later of the commencement of the offering of the Initial Notes or Additional Notes represented by such Temporary Regulation S Global Note and the closing of such offering (such period, the “Restricted Period”).

Prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in a Temporary Regulation S Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Rule 144A Global Note only if (i) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of the Notes pursuant to Rule 144A, (ii) the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate to the effect that the beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note is being transferred to a Person who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB and is purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB, in each case in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (iii) the transfer is in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions. After the expiration of the Restricted Period, such certification requirements shall not apply to such transfers of beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Regulation S Global Notes.

Beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note representing Rule 144A Global Notes may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in the

 

Appendix-2


Regulation S Global Note, whether before or after the expiration of the Restricted Period, only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S or Rule 144 (if available).

(c) Definitive Notes . Except as provided in Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive Definitive Notes. Definitive Notes shall be exchangeable for beneficial interests in Global Securities only as provided in Section 2.4.

2.2 Authentication of Exchange Notes . Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to Transfer Restricted Notes and delivery of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Exchange Notes for issue in a Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement for a like principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes. Concurrently with the issuance of such Exchange Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Notes to be reduced accordingly.

2.3 Transfer and Exchange .

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes . The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any).

In the event that a Restricted Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes pursuant to Section 2.4 prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Transfer Restricted Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S or another applicable exemption under the Securities Act, as the case may be).

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes . When Definitive Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request (x) to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes or (y) to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however , that if such Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange are required to bear a Restricted Legend, then they are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 2.3(c) or pursuant to clause (A), (B) or (C) below, and are accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:

(A) if such Definitive Notes are being delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect; or

(B) if such Definitive Notes are being transferred to the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or any Subsidiary thereof, a certification to that effect; or

 

Appendix-3


(C) if such Definitive Notes are being transferred (x) pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act; or (y) in reliance upon another exemption from the requirements of the Securities Act: (I) a certification to that effect and (II) if the Company or the Trustee so requests in connection with a transfer in accordance with Regulation S during the Restricted Period or a transfer pursuant to clause (y), an opinion of counsel or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the applicable Restricted Legend.

(c) Legend .

(i) Except as permitted by the following subclauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), each Note certificate evidencing the Restricted Global Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (the “Restricted Legend”):

For each Rule 144A Global Note and each Regulation S Global Note:

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. 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 U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS ACQUIRED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) [IN THE CASE OF NOTES INITIALLY ISSUED TO QIBS: THAT IS ONE YEAR (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS IS PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS THEN IN EFFECT OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE WITHOUT ANY VOLUME OR MANNER OF SALE RESTRICTIONS OR COMPLIANCE BY THE COMPANY WITH ANY CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES WERE THE OWNER OF SUCH SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THERETO)] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATIONS S] ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A

 

Appendix-4


REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. 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 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, OR (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO PERSONS WHO ARE NOT U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OR LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS 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 COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE OR PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS OR (3) NO ADVICE PROVIDED BY US OR ANY OF OUR AFFILIATES HAS FORMED A PRIMARY BASIS FOR MAKING ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISION FOR OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PLAN IN CONNECTION WITH THE NOTES OR THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE NOTES.

 

Appendix-5


Each Temporary Regulation S Global Note shall also bear the following legend:

THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING (I) THE EXCHANGE OF BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE FOR INTERESTS IN THE PERMANENT REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE AND (II) THE TRANSFER OF INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

(ii) The Company, acting in its discretion, may remove the Restricted Legend from any Transfer Restricted Note at any time on or after the Resale Restriction Termination Date applicable to such Transfer Restricted Note. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Company may effect such removal by issuing and delivering, in exchange for such Transfer Restricted Note, an Unrestricted Note without such Restricted Legend, registered to the same Holder and in an equal principal amount, and upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order stating that the Resale Restriction Termination Date applicable to such Transfer Restricted Note has occurred and requesting the authentication and delivery of an Unrestricted Note in exchange therefor given at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed date of exchange specified therein (which shall be no earlier than such Resale Restriction Termination Date), the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Unrestricted Note to the Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions or hold such Note as Security Custodian and shall request the Depositary to, or, if the Trustee is custodian of such Transfer Restricted Note, shall itself, surrender such Transfer Restricted Note in exchange for such Unrestricted Note without such Restricted Legend and thereupon cancel such Transfer Restricted Note so surrendered, all as directed in such order. For purposes of determining whether the Resale Restriction Termination Date has occurred with respect to any Notes evidenced by a Transfer Restricted Note or delivering any order pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(ii) with respect to such Notes, (i) only those Notes which a Principal Officer of the Company actually knows (after reasonable inquiry) to be or to have been owned by an Affiliate of the Company shall be deemed to be or to have been, respectively, owned by an Affiliate of the Company; and (ii) “Principal Officer” means the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company.

For purposes of this Section 2.3(c)(ii), all provisions relating to the removal of the Restricted Legend shall relate, if the Resale Restriction Termination Date has occurred only with respect to a portion of the Notes evidenced by a Transfer Restricted Note, to such portion of the Notes so evidenced as to which the Resale Restriction Termination Date has occurred.

Each holder of any Notes evidenced by any Restricted Global Note, by its acceptance thereof, (A) authorizes and consents to, (B) appoints the Company as its agent for the sole purpose of delivering such electronic messages, executing and delivering such instruments and taking such other actions, on such holder’s behalf, as the Depositary or the Trustee may require to effect, and (C) upon the request of the Company, agrees to deliver such electronic messages, execute and deliver such instruments and take such other actions as the Depositary or the Trustee may require, or as shall otherwise be necessary to effect, the removal of the Restricted Legend (including by means of the exchange of all or the portion of such Restricted Global Note evidencing such Note for a certificate evidencing such Note that does not bear such legend) at any time after the Resale Restriction Termination Date.

 

Appendix-6


(iii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall permit the transferee thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Note that does not bear the Restricted Legend and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note, if the transferor thereof certifies in writing to the Registrar that, and if the Company or the Trustee so request, delivers an opinion of counsel to the effect that, such sale or transfer was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note).

(iv) After a transfer of any Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to and during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, all requirements pertaining to the Restricted Legend on such Notes will cease to apply, and an Exchange Note in global form, without such legend, will be available to the transferee of the Holder of such Notes upon directions to transfer such Holder’s interest in the Global Security.

(v) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to Transfer Restricted Notes, the Company shall issue Exchange Notes in global form to Holders that exchange such Transfer Restricted Notes in such Registered Exchange Offer.

(d) Restrictions on Transfer of Temporary Regulation S Global Notes . During the Restricted Period, beneficial ownership interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Notes may only be sold, pledged or transferred in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary and only (i) to the Company, (ii) in an offshore transaction in accordance with Regulation S (other than a transaction resulting in an exchange for an interest in a Permanent Regulation S Global Note) or (iii) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States.

(e) No Obligation of the Trustee . The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under the Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of the Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

2.4 Definitive Notes .

(a) A Global Security deposited with the Depositary or with the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security, in exchange for such Global Security, only in the circumstances described in Section 2.17 of the Base Indenture and only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 hereof. Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Security shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3, bear the Restricted Legend.

 

Appendix-7


(b) In no event shall beneficial interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note be transferred or exchanged for Definitive Notes prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) of Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

Appendix-8


Exhibit A

[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

[Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive form, this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York), a New York corporation (“DTC”), shall act as the Depositary until a successor shall be appointed by the Company and the Registrar. Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of DTC to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.]*

 

* To be included only if the Security is a Global Security.

 

A-1


[Rule 144A / Regulation S Restricted Legend]

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. 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 U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS ACQUIRED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) [IN THE CASE OF NOTES INITIALLY ISSUED TO QIBS: THAT IS ONE YEAR (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS IS PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS THEN IN EFFECT OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE WITHOUT ANY VOLUME OR MANNER OF SALE RESTRICTIONS OR COMPLIANCE BY THE COMPANY WITH ANY CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES WERE THE OWNER OF SUCH SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THERETO)] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATIONS S] ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. 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 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, OR (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO PERSONS WHO ARE NOT U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OR LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND

 

A-2


REGULATIONS 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 COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE OR PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS OR (3) NO ADVICE PROVIDED BY US OR ANY OF OUR AFFILIATES HAS FORMED A PRIMARY BASIS FOR MAKING ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISION FOR OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PLAN IN CONNECTION WITH THE NOTES OR THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE NOTES.

Each Temporary Regulation S Global Note shall also bear the following legend:

THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING (I) THE EXCHANGE OF BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE FOR INTERESTS IN THE PERMANENT REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE AND (II) THE TRANSFER OF INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

 

A-3


PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.

3.95% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2028

CUSIP No.                     

No.                    

$                    

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, promises to pay to                  or registered assigns, the principal sum of          Dollars [, or such greater or lesser amount as indicated on the Schedule of Exchanges of Securities hereto,]* on February 1, 2028.

 

Interest Payment Dates:

   February 1 and August 1

Record Dates:

   January 15 and July 15

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

* To be included only if the Security is a Global Security.

 

A-4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Security to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers.

Dated:                    

 

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 

By:  

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 

 

A-5


Certificate of Authentication:

This is one of the Securities of the series

designated therein referred to in the within-

mentioned Indenture.

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
  By:  

                     

  Authorized Signatory

Dated:                    

 

A-6


[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.

3.95% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2028

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of 3.95% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Securities”) of Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

1. Interest . The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at 3.95% per annum. The Company will pay interest semiannually on February 1 and August 1 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from January 19, 2018; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Security is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof (each, a “Record Date”) 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 August 1, 2018. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal and premium (if any) from time to time at a rate equal to the interest rate then in effect; it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

2. Method of Payment . The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Securities at the close of business on the Record Date next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Securities are canceled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date. The Holder must surrender this Security to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay the principal of, premium (if any) on and interest on the Securities in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Such amounts shall be payable at the offices of the Trustee (as defined below). Payments in respect of Global Securities shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder thereof. In all other cases, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the register of the Notes maintained by the Registrar. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payments in respect of a Definitive Note in certificated form shall be made by wire transfer to a Dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if the Holder of such Definitive Note elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect in accordance with the Indenture (as defined below).

3. Paying Agent and Registrar . Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Trustee”), the trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of the Company may act in any such capacity.

 

A-7


4. Indenture . The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture, dated as of January 19, 2018 (the “Base Indenture”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and the Trustee, as amended and supplemented with respect to the Securities by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of January 19, 2018 and as it may otherwise be amended and supplemented thereafter with applicability to the Securities (the Base Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, the “Indenture”). The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), as in effect on the date of execution of the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of such terms and for the definitions of capitalized terms used but not defined herein. The Securities are unsecured general obligations of the Company limited to $525,000,000 in aggregate principal amount; provided, however , that the authorized aggregate principal amount of the Securities may be increased before or after the issuance of any Securities by a Board Resolution (or action pursuant to a Board Resolution) to such effect. The Base Indenture provides for the issuance of other series of debt securities (including the Securities, the “Debt Securities”) thereunder.

5. Guarantees . Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors named pursuant to the Indenture fully, unconditionally and absolutely guarantees to the Holders and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Securities by the Company, when and as such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, subject to the limitations set forth in the Indenture. In the event of a default in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or, subject to the Indenture, by the Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture, directly against any Subsidiary Guarantor to enforce its Guarantee without first proceeding against the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor.

6. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange . The Securities are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Securities may be registered and Securities 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 to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. Neither the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee nor the Registrar shall be required to register the transfer or exchange of (a) any Security selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part, or (b) any Security during the period beginning 15 Business Days before the giving of notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed or a notice of a Change of Control Offer and ending at the close of business on the day of transmission.

7. Persons Deemed Owners . The registered Holder of a Security shall be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

A-8


8. Redemption . The Securities are subject to redemption, in whole at any time and in part from time to time, at the option of the Company, in principal amounts of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above such amount ( provided that the unredeemed portion of any Security redeemed in part may not be less than $2,000), upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice as provided in the Indenture, at a Redemption Price equal to (i) if the Redemption Date is prior to November 1, 2027, the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon that would be due if the Securities matured on November 1, 2027 (exclusive of the interest accrued to the Redemption Date) computed by discounting such payments to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis, assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, at a rate equal to the sum of the Adjusted Treasury Rate for such Securities plus 25 basis points; or (ii) if the Redemption Date is on or after November 1, 2027, 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, plus, in each of clauses (i) and (ii), accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the 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).

9. Amendments and Waivers . Subject to certain exceptions and limitations, the Indenture or the Securities may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of all series affected by such amendment or supplement (acting as one class), and any existing or past Default or Event of Default under, or compliance with any provision of, the Indenture may be waived (other than any continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) on or interest on the Securities) by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of any series or of all series (acting as one class) in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. Without the consent of any Holder, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities or waive any provision of either: (i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; (ii) if required, to provide for the assumption of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture in the case of the merger, consolidation, amalgamation or sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of assets of the Company substantially as an entirety; (iii) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; (iv) to provide any security for, any guarantees of or additional obligors or guarantors on, the Securities or the related Guarantees or release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its Guarantee in the manner provided in the Indenture; (v) to comply with any requirement in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA; (vi) to add to the covenants of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities, or to surrender any right or power conferred by the Indenture upon the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor; (vii) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of the Debt Securities; (viii) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Indenture, provided that the Holders of outstanding Securities are not adversely affected in any material respect; (ix) to supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of the Securities pursuant to the Indenture; or (x) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under the Indenture by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts thereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of the Indenture.

 

A-9


The right of any Holder to participate in any consent required or sought pursuant to any provision of the Indenture (and the obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to obtain any such consent otherwise required from such Holder) may be subject to the requirement that such Holder shall have been the Holder of record of any Securities with respect to which such consent is required or sought as of a date identified by the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor in a notice furnished to Holders in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (i) reduce the amount of Debt Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; (ii) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any Security; (iii) reduce the principal of or premium on, or change the Stated Maturity of, any Security; (iv) reduce the premium, if any, payable upon the redemption of any Security or change the time at which any Security may or shall be redeemed; (v) change the coin or currency in which any Security or any premium or interest with respect thereto is payable; (vi) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of or premium (if any) or interest on any Security, except as provided in the Indenture; (vii) make any change in the percentage of principal amount of Debt Securities necessary to waive compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or make any change in the provision for modification; or (viii) waive a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium (if any) or interest on the Securities.

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the Base Indenture, as supplemented from time to time, which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities under the Base Indenture, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under the Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities of any other series.

10. Defaults and Remedies . Events of Default are defined in the Indenture and generally include: (i) default for 30 days in payment of any interest on the Securities; (ii) default in any payment of principal of or premium, if any, on the Securities as and when due and payable; (iii) default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in compliance with any of its other covenants or agreements in, or provisions of, the Securities or in the Indenture which shall not have been remedied within 60 days after written notice by the Trustee or by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding (or, in the event that other Debt Securities issued under the Base Indenture are also affected by the default, then 25% in principal amount of all outstanding Debt Securities so affected); (iv) certain events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiary Guarantors that, considered in the aggregate as a single Subsidiary, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or (v) any Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiary Guarantors that, considered in the aggregate as a single Subsidiary, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect with respect to Securities (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture). If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities (or, in the case of an Event of Default described in clause (iii) above, if outstanding Debt Securities of other series are affected by such

 

A-10


Default, then at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities so affected), may declare the principal of and interest on all the Securities (or such Debt Securities) to be immediately due and payable, except that in the case of an Event of Default described in clause (iv) above, all outstanding Debt Securities under the Base Indenture become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. The amount due and payable upon the acceleration of any Security is equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the date of payment. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require security or indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Securities. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities (or affected Debt Securities) may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing default (except a default in payment of principal, premium or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interests. The Company must furnish annual compliance certificates to the Trustee.

11. Discharge Prior to Maturity . The Indenture with respect to the Securities shall be discharged and canceled upon the payment of all of the Securities and shall be discharged except for certain obligations upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee of any combination of funds and Government Obligations sufficient for such payment.

12. Trustee Dealings with Company or Subsidiary Guarantors . The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any such Affiliates, as if it were not Trustee.

13. No Recourse Against Others . The Trustee, and each Holder of a Security by its acceptance hereof, will be deemed to have agreed in the Indenture that no director, manager, member, officer, employee, stockholder, partner, unitholder or other owner of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee or any Affiliate of the foregoing entities shall have any liability in respect of the obligations of the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee under the Indenture, the Securities or any related Guarantees by reason of his, her or its status. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issuance of Securities.

14. Authentication . This Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

15. CUSIP Numbers . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities as a convenience to the Holders of the Securities. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Securities and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed thereon.

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

 

A-11


The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Request may be made to:

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

10713 West Sam Houston Pkwy N.

Suite 800

Houston, Texas 77064

Attn: General Counsel

 

A-12


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF SECURITIES*

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Security for other Securities have been made:

 

Date of

Exchange

 

Amount of

Decrease in

Principal Amount

of this Global

Security

 

Amount of

Increase in

Principal

Amount of this

Global Security

 

Principal Amount

of this Global

Security

Following Such

Decrease or

Increase

 

Signature of

Authorized

Officer of Trustee

or Security

Custodian

       
       
       

 

A-13


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer this Security to:

 

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. number)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

and irrevocably appoint                                                                                                                                                                                      

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

 

Date:                                                                                     Your Signature:                                                                                              
   

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

Signature Guarantee:                                                                                                                                                                                     
(Participant in a Recognized Signature
Guarantee Medallion Program)

 

A-14


[Include the following only if the Restricted Legend is included hereon]

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to the Notes set forth in Rule 144(d)(i) of the Securities Act (or, in the case of Regulation S Notes, prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period), the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with their terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)      to the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor or a Subsidiary thereof; or
(2)      pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933; or
(3)      for so long as the Notes are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, to a person who the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or
(4)      pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933 in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or
(5)      pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (other than Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933).

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however , that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Company and the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as each of the Company and the Trustee has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.

 

                                                                                                                                                       

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and

 

A-15


acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantors as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated:  

 

   

 

      Notice:   To be executed by an executive officer

 

A-16


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 2.07 of the First Supplemental Indenture, check the box:

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 2.07 of the First Supplemental Indenture, state the amount in principal amount:

$             

 

  Dated:                                                                               Your Signature:  

 

     

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

Signature Guarantee:

 

                                                                                          

(Signature must be guaranteed)

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

 

A-17


NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Securities by the Company.

The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders of Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article X of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.

 

[SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS]
By:  

                     

  Name:  

                     

  Title:  

                     

 

A-18

Exhibit 4.4

EXECUTION VERSION

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated January 19, 2018 (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into by and among Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), the guarantors listed on Schedule 1 hereto (each a “ Guarantor ”, and together, the “ Guarantors ”) and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the Initial Purchasers (the “ Representatives ”).

The Company, the Guarantors and the Representatives, on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, are parties to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 10, 2018 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $525.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.95% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “ Securities ”) which will be guaranteed on an senior unsecured basis by each of the Guarantors. As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors have agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.     Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Additional Guarantor ” shall mean any subsidiary of the Company that executes a Guarantee under the Indenture after the date of this Agreement.

Additional Interest ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d).

Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Business Day ” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company’s successors.

EDGAR ” means the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System or similar system.

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

Exchange Dates ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof.


Exchange Offer ” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company and the Guarantors of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Offer Registration ” shall mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement ” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

Exchange Securities ” shall mean senior unsecured notes issued by the Company and guaranteed by the Guarantors under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to provisions with respect to Additional Interest for failure to comply with this Agreement) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Free Writing Prospectus ” means each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the sale of the Securities or the Exchange Securities.

Guarantees ” shall mean the guarantees of the Securities and guarantees of the Exchange Securities by the Guarantors under the Indenture.

Guarantors ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall include any Additional Guarantors.

Holders ” shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that, for purposes of Section 4 and Section 5 hereof, the term “Holders” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers.

Indemnified Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.

Indemnifying Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.

Indenture ” shall mean the Indenture, together with the First Supplemental Indenture thereto establishing the terms of the Notes, each dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Initial Purchasers ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Inspector ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(xiv) hereof.

 

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Issuer Information ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

Majority Holders ” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, any Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its “affiliates” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount; and provided , further , that if the Company shall issue any additional Securities under the Indenture prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer or, if applicable, the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement, such additional Securities and the Registrable Securities to which this Agreement relates shall be treated together as one class for purposes of determining whether the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities has been obtained.

Notice and Questionnaire ” shall mean a notice of registration statement and selling security holder questionnaire distributed to a Holder by the Company upon receipt of a Shelf Request from such Holder.

Participating Broker-Dealer ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

Participating Holder ” shall mean any Holder of Registrable Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof.

Person ” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

Prospectus ” shall mean the prospectus included in, or, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Act, deemed a part of, a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein.

Purchase Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Registrable Securities ” shall mean the Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding, (iii) except in the case of Securities that otherwise remain Registrable Securities and that are held by an Initial Purchaser and that are ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, when the Exchange Offer is consummated or (iv) such Security (A) is actually sold by the holder thereof pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act under circumstances in which any legend borne by such Security relating to restrictions on transferability thereof, under the Securities Act or otherwise, is removed by the Company or is removed pursuant to the Indenture and (B) does not bear a restricted CUSIP number.

 

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Registration Default ” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the Exchange Offer is not completed on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required pursuant to Section 2(b)(i) or Section 2(b)(ii) hereof, has not become effective on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (iii) if the Company receives a Shelf Request pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii), the Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed thereby has not become effective by the later of (a) the Target Registration Date and (b) 90 days after delivery of such Shelf Request, (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by this Agreement, has become effective and thereafter ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable, in each case whether or not permitted by this Agreement, at any time during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, and such failure to remain effective or usable exists for more than 30 days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period or (v) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by this Agreement, has become effective and thereafter, on more than two occasions in any 12-month period during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, the Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable, in each case whether or not permitted by this Agreement.

Registration Expenses ” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company and the Guarantors with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses related to the preparation, printing and distribution of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws and the Trust Indenture Act, (vi) the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Participating Holders (which counsel shall be counsel for the Initial Purchasers) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent registered public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.

Registration Statement ” shall mean any registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

 

4


Representatives ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

SEC ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

Shelf Effectiveness Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

Shelf Registration ” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.

Shelf Registration Statement ” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors that covers all or a portion of the Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless approved by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities held by the Participating Holders) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

Shelf Request ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

Staff ” shall mean the staff of the SEC.

Target Registration Date ” shall mean 350 days after January 19, 2018.

Trust Indenture Act ” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.

Trustee ” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.

Underwriter ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(e) hereof.

Underwritten Offering ” shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.

2.     Registration Under the Securities Act .

(a)    To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to (x) cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering an offer to the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and (y) have such Registration Statement become and remain effective until 180 days after the last Exchange Date for use by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers. The Exchange Offer will be registered under the Securities Act on the appropriate form and will comply with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. The Company and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective

 

5


by the SEC and use their commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer not later than 60 days after such effective date. Upon the release of a Guarantor of its obligations under the Indenture with respect to its Guarantee of the Securities, such Guarantor shall be automatically released and discharged from its obligations hereunder without any further action on the part of any party hereto or any Holder.

The Company and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal, if any, and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, substantially the following:

 

(i) that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange;

 

(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is mailed (or longer if required by applicable law)) (the “ Exchange Dates ”);

 

(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement, except as otherwise specified herein;

 

(iv) that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to (A) surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, if any, to the institution and at the address and in the manner specified in the notice, or (B) effect such exchange otherwise in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for such Registrable Security, in each case prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and

 

(v) that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by (A) sending to the institution and at the address specified in the notice, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged or (B) effecting such withdrawal in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for the Registrable Securities.

As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Company and the Guarantors that (1) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (2) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (3) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company or any Guarantor and (4) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a Prospectus to purchasers) in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

 

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As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

 

(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and

 

(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Securities equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities tendered by such Holder.

The Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff.

(b)    In the event that (i) the Company and the Guarantors determine that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) hereof is not available or the Exchange Offer may not be completed as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason completed by the Target Registration Date or (iii) upon receipt of a written request (a “ Shelf Request ”) from any Initial Purchaser representing that it holds Registrable Securities that are or were ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer (and delivers an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company to such effect), the Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination, date or Shelf Request, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and to have such Shelf Registration Statement become effective; provided that no Holder will be entitled to have any Registrable Securities included in any Shelf Registration Statement, or entitled to use the prospectus forming a part of such Shelf Registration Statement, until such Holder shall have delivered a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire and provided such other information regarding such Holder to the Company as is contemplated by Section 3(b) hereof.

In the event that the Company and the Guarantors are required to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to file and have become effective both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Initial Purchasers after completion of the Exchange Offer.

 

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The Company and the Guarantors agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the Securities cease to be Registrable Securities or such shorter period that will terminate when all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto (the “ Shelf Effectiveness Period” ). The Company and the Guarantors further agree to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder or if reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective, if required, and such Shelf Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Company and the Guarantors agree to furnish to any Participating Holders who so request in writing copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.

(c)    The Company and the Guarantors shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

(d)    An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC. A Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC or is automatically effective upon filing with the SEC as provided by Rule 462 under the Securities Act.

If a Registration Default occurs, the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased (“Additional Interest”) by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period beginning on the day immediately following such Registration Default and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case until and including the date such Registration Default ends, up to a maximum increase of 1.00% per annum. A Registration Default ends when the Securities cease to be Registrable Securities or, if earlier, (1) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (i) of the definition thereof, when the Exchange Offer is completed, (2) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective or (3) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (iv) or clause (v) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes effective or the Prospectus again becomes usable. If at any time more than one Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, then, until the next date that there is no Registration Default, the increase in interest rate provided for by this paragraph shall apply as if there occurred a single Registration Default that begins on the date that the earliest such Registration Default occurred and ends on such next date that there is no Registration Default.

 

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(e)    Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Company and the Guarantors acknowledge that any failure by the Company or the Guarantors to comply with their obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.

3.     Registration Procedures .

(a)    In connection with their obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

(i)    use their commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (A) shall be selected by the Company and the Guarantors, (B) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and (C) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof;

(ii)    prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;

(iii)    to the extent any Free Writing Prospectus is used, file with the SEC any Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed by the Company or the Guarantors with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act and to retain any Free Writing Prospectus not required to be filed in accordance with the Securities Act;

(iv)    in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Participating Holder, counsel or Underwriter may reasonably request in writing in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder to the extent such documents are not publicly available on the SEC’s EDGAR system; and, subject to Section 3(c) hereof, the Company and the Guarantors consent to the use of such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the Participating Holders and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;

 

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(v)    use their commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Participating Holder shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement becomes effective; cooperate with such Participating Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Participating Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Participating Holder; provided that neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (2) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject;

(vi)    notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Participating Holder promptly and, if requested by any such Participating Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective, when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, when any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed, (2) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (3) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, including the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (4) if, between the applicable effective date of a Shelf Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company or any Guarantor contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company or any Guarantor receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (5) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (6) of any determination by the Company or any Guarantor that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus would be appropriate;

(vii)    use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, including by filing an amendment to such Registration Statement on the proper form, at the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder or Participating Holder of the withdrawal of any such order or such resolution;

 

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(viii)    in the case of a Shelf Registration, to the extent it is not available on EDGAR, furnish to each Participating Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);

(ix)    in the case of a Shelf Registration, unless the Securities or the Exchange Securities shall be in book-entry only form, cooperate with the Participating Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as such Participating Holders may reasonably request in writing at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;

(x)    upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(a)(vi)(5) hereof, use their commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available) to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Company and the Guarantors shall notify the Participating Holders (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and the Initial Purchasers and any Participating Broker-Dealers known to the Company (in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Participating Holders, such Participating Broker-Dealers and the Initial Purchasers, as applicable, hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, until the Company and the Guarantors have amended or supplemented the Prospectus or the Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to correct such misstatement or omission;

(xi)    a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus (excluding, in each case, any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement, a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement), provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, to the Participating Holders) and make such of the representatives of the Company and the Guarantors as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders) available for discussion of such document; and the Company and the Guarantors shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Registration Statement, use or file any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or a Free Writing

 

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Prospectus (excluding, in each case, any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement, a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus), of which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy;

(xii)    obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the initial effective date of a Registration Statement;

(xiii)    cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be; cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;

(xiv)    in the event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture;

(xv)    in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of such Participating Holders as shall indicate that they have a current intention to sell the Registrable Securities (an “ Inspector ”), any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, any attorneys and accountants designated by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities held by the Participating Holders and any attorneys and accountants designated by such Underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company and the Guarantors to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement; provided that if any such information is identified by the Company or any Guarantor as being confidential or proprietary, each Person receiving such information shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of any Inspector, Holder or Underwriter);

(xvi)    if reasonably requested in writing by any Participating Holder, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Participating Holder as such Participating Holder reasonably requests in writing to be included therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Company has received notification of the matters to be so included in such filing;

(xvii)    in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities

 

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including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (1) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Participating Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (2) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and the Guarantors (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Participating Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each Participating Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (3) obtain “comfort” letters from the independent registered public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other registered public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company or any Guarantor, or of any business acquired by the Company or any Guarantor for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each Participating Holder (to the extent permitted by applicable professional standards) and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, including but not limited to financial information contained in any preliminary prospectus, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus and (4) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors made pursuant to clause (1) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement;

(xviii)    so long as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, cause each Additional Guarantor, promptly following the creation of the Guarantee by such Additional Guarantor under the Indenture, to execute a counterpart to this Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex A and to deliver such counterpart to the Initial Purchasers no later than five Business Days following the execution thereof; and

(xix)    make generally available to the Participating Holders no later than eighteen months after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, an “earning statement” of the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158 thereunder).

(b)    In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company a Notice and Questionnaire and such other information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company and the Guarantors may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

 

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(c)    Each Participating Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company and the Guarantors of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(a)(vi)(3) or Section 3(a)(vi)(5) hereof, such Participating Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until such Participating Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(a)(x) hereof and, if so directed by the Company and the Guarantors, such Participating Holder will deliver to the Company and the Guarantors all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Participating Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such notice.

(d)    The Company and the Guarantors may from time to time give any notice to suspend the disposition of Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement. If any such notice is given, the Company and the Guarantors shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders of such Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The Company and the Guarantors may give any such notice only twice during any 365-day period and any such suspensions shall not exceed 30 days for each suspension and there shall not be more than two suspensions in effect during any 365-day period.

(e)    The Participating Holders who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or managers (each an “ Underwriter ”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such offering.

4.     Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer .

(a)    The Staff has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “ Participating Broker-Dealer ”) may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

The Company and the Guarantors understand that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available to purchasers) to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act.

 

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(b)    In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors agree to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for a period of up to 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof), in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above. The Company and the Guarantors further agree that Participating Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available) during such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4.

(c)    The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Company, any Guarantor or any Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof.

5.     Indemnification and Contribution .

(a)    The Company and each Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser and each Holder, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other reasonable and documented expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (2) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (“ Issuer Information ”) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Initial Purchaser or information relating to any Holder furnished to the Company in writing through the Representatives expressly for use therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their respective affiliates and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information.

(b)    Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, the directors of the Company and the Guarantors, each officer of the Company and the Guarantors who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, the Guarantors,

 

15


any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus.

(c)    If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the “ Indemnified Person ”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “ Indemnifying Person ”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless: (i) the employment of such counsel has been specifically authorized in writing by the Indemnifying Person; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed promptly to assume the defense and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Person and the Indemnifying Person or any affiliate of the Indemnifying Person, and such Indemnified Person shall have concluded on the advice of counsel that either (x) there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Person or such affiliate of the Indemnifying Person or (y) a conflict may exist between such Indemnified Person and the Indemnifying Person or such affiliate of the Indemnifying Person (it being understood, however, that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to a single firm of local counsel) for all such Indemnified Persons, and that all such reasonable fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred). Any such separate firm (x) for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and (y) for any Holder, its directors and officers and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person

 

16


is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(d)    If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors from the offering of the Securities and the Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Guarantors or by the Holders and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(e)    The Company, the Guarantors and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several and not joint.

(f)    The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

 

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(g)    The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company or the Guarantors or the officers or directors of or any Person controlling the Company or the Guarantors, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.

6.     General .

(a)     No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company and the Guarantors represent, warrant and agree that neither the Company nor any Guarantor has entered into, or on or after the date of this Agreement will enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof; provided that, if the Company and the Guarantors issue additional Securities, the Company and the Guarantors shall be permitted to enter into a registration rights agreement in connection with such issuance with terms substantially the same as the terms hereof, and any such additional Securities shall be treated as “Securities” hereunder for purposes of determining the amount of Securities or the holders thereof required to take any action hereunder, including any consent, amendment, waiver, demand or request.

(b)     Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company and the Guarantors have obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto.

(c)     Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, electronic mail, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (ii) if to the Company and the Guarantors, initially at the Company’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if sent by electronic mail or 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.

 

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(d)     Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Company or the Guarantors with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.

(e)     Third Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder.

(f)     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(g)     Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(h)     Governing Law. This Agreement, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

(i)     Entire Agreement; Severability. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions.

 

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

 

COMPANY:

 

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.

By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

GUARANTORS:

 

PATTERSON PETROLEUM LLC

By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
PATTERSON-UTI DRILLING COMPANY LLC
By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
PATTERSON-UTI MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC
By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

S IGNATURE P AGE TO R EGISTRATION R IGHTS A GREEMENT


UNIVERSAL PRESSURE PUMPING, INC.
By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES 1 LLC
By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES 2 LLC
By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
WARRIOR RIG TECHNOLOGIES US LLC
By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
SEVENTY SEVEN ENERGY LLC
By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

S IGNATURE P AGE TO R EGISTRATION R IGHTS A GREEMENT


SEVENTY SEVEN OPERATING LLC
By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
GREAT PLAINS OILFIELD RENTAL, L.L.C.
By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
PTL PROP SOLUTIONS, L.L.C.
By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
SEVENTY SEVEN LAND COMPANY LLC
By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
MS DIRECTIONAL, LLC
By:   /s/ C. Andrew Smith
  Name:   C. Andrew Smith
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

S IGNATURE P AGE TO R EGISTRATION R IGHTS A GREEMENT


REPRESENTATIVES:
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC
By:   /s/ Ryan Gilliam
  Name:   Ryan Gilliam
  Title:   Vice President

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH

                                INCORPORATED

By:   /s/ Shawn Cepeda
  Name:   Shawn Cepeda
  Title:   Managing Director
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
By:   /s/ Matthew Pearman
  Name:   Matthew Pearman
  Title:   Vice President

S IGNATURE P AGE TO R EGISTRATION R IGHTS A GREEMENT


Schedule 1

Guarantors

Patterson Petroleum LLC

Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC

Patterson-UTI Management Services, LLC

Universal Pressure Pumping, Inc.

Drilling Technologies 1 LLC

Drilling Technologies 2 LLC

Warrior Rig Technologies US LLC

Seventy Seven Energy LLC

Seventy Seven Operating LLC

Great Plains Oilfield Rental, L.L.C.

PTL Prop Solutions, L.L.C.

Seventy Seven Land Company LLC

MS Directional, LLC


Annex A

Counterpart to Registration Rights Agreement

The undersigned hereby agrees as a Guarantor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 19, 2018 by and among Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the guarantors party thereto and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the Initial Purchasers) to be bound by the terms and provisions of such Registration Rights Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this counterpart as of [•], 20[•].

 

[GUARANTOR]
By  

             

Name:  
Title:  

Exhibit 99.1

 

  Contact: Mike Drickamer
       Vice President, Investor Relations
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Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. Announces Closing of Senior Notes Offering

HOUSTON – January  19, 2018 – PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC. (NASDAQ: PTEN) (the “Company”) announced today that it has closed its previously announced private offering of $525 million aggregate principal amount of 3.95% senior notes due 2028. The notes initially are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by each of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries that are guarantors under its credit agreement.

Andy Hendricks, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “This debt offering further improved our financial flexibility while maintaining the strength of our balance sheet. We remain well positioned both financially and operationally as a multi-service oilfield services company with a leading position in the U.S. unconventional market for drilling, pressure pumping, and directional drilling.”

Mark S. Siegel, Chairman of the Company, added, “I am pleased that our company was recognized with an investment grade rating. Receiving an investment grade rating is another transformational step for Patterson-UTI.”

The Company intends to use the net proceeds to repay amounts outstanding under its credit agreement and for general corporate purposes.

The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or blue sky laws.

The notes and the guarantees were offered only to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.


About Patterson-UTI

Patterson-UTI is a provider of oilfield services and products to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in North America, including market leading positions in contract drilling, pressure pumping and directional drilling services. For more information, visit www.patenergy.com.    

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are protected as forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are not limited to historical facts, but reflect Patterson-UTI’s current beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding future events. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “budgeted,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “project,” “pursue,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” or “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding Patterson-UTI’s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Patterson-UTI’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: volatility in customer spending and in oil and natural gas prices, which could adversely affect demand for Patterson-UTI’s services and their associated effect on rates, utilization, margins and planned capital expenditures; global economic conditions; excess availability of land drilling rigs and pressure pumping equipment, including as a result of low commodity prices, reactivation or construction; liabilities from operations; weather; decline in, and ability to realize, backlog; equipment specialization and new technologies; shortages, delays in delivery and interruptions of supply of equipment and materials; ability to hire and retain personnel; loss of, or reduction in business with, key customers; difficulty with growth and in integrating acquisitions; governmental regulation; product liability; legal proceedings; political, economic and social instability risk; ability to effectively identify and enter new markets; cybersecurity risk; dependence on our subsidiaries to meet our long-term debt obligations; variable rate indebtedness risk; and anti-takeover measures in our charter documents.

Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in Patterson-UTI’s SEC filings. Patterson-UTI’s filings may be obtained by contacting Patterson-UTI or the SEC or through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval System (EDGAR) at http://www.sec.gov. Patterson-UTI undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.