e8vk
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): October 9, 2009
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
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STATE OF NEVADA
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001-03262
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94-1667468 |
(State or other
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(Commission File Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer |
jurisdiction of incorporation)
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Identification Number) |
5300 Town and Country Boulevard
Suite 500
Frisco, Texas 75034
(Address of principal executive offices)
(972) 668-8800
(Registrants Telephone No.)
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:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On October 9, 2009, Comstock Resources, Inc. (the Company) completed the public offering of
$300 million aggregate principal amount of
83/8% Senior Notes due 2017 (the Notes), which are fully
and unconditionally guaranteed by the Companys principal subsidiaries (Subsidiary Guarantors)
Comstock Oil & Gas, LP, Comstock Oil & Gas-Louisiana, LLC, Comstock Oil & Gas GP, LLC, Comstock Oil
& Gas Investments, LLC and Comstock Oil & Gas Holdings, Inc.
The terms of the Notes are governed by the Indenture dated as of October 9, 2009 (the Base
Indenture), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust
Company, N.A., as trustee (the Trustee), as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental
Indenture, dated as of October 9, 2009 (the Supplemental Indenture; the Base Indenture, as
amended and supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture).
The Notes will mature on October 15, 2017, and interest is payable on the Notes on each April
15 and October 15, commencing on April 15, 2010. The record date is April 1 and October 1. The
Company may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time on or after October 15, 2013 at the
redemption prices specified in the Indenture. The Company may also redeem up to 35% of the Notes
using the net proceeds of certain equity offerings completed before October 15, 2012 at a
redemption price as specified in the Indenture. If the Company sells certain assets or experiences
a change of control, as described in the Indenture, each holder of the Notes will have the right to
require the Company to repurchase the Notes at a purchase price described in the Indenture plus
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of such repurchase.
The Notes are the Companys senior unsecured obligations. The Notes will rank equally in right
of payment with all of the Companys existing and future senior indebtedness and senior in right of
payment to all of the Companys future subordinated indebtedness. The Notes will be effectively
subordinated to all of the Companys existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the
collateral securing such indebtedness, including under the Companys bank credit facility.
The Indenture restricts the Companys ability and the ability of certain of its subsidiaries
to, among other things: (i) incur additional indebtedness; (ii) pay distributions or dividends on
equity or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire equity; (iii) make certain investments; (iv) use
assets as collateral in other transactions; (v) sell certain assets or merge with or into other
companies; and (vi) enter into transactions with affiliates. These covenants are subject to a
number of important exceptions and qualifications.
The Indenture contains customary events of default, including:
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default in any payment of interest on any Note when due, continued for 30 days; |
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default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any Note when due; |
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failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under the Indenture, in
certain cases subject to notice and grace periods; |
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payment defaults and accelerations with respect to other indebtedness of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) in the aggregate amount
of $50.0 million or more; |
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of a Subsidiary Guarantor
or any other Restricted Subsidiary; and |
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failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted
Subsidiary to pay certain final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million within
60 days. |
If an event of default under the Indenture occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the
holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the principal of,
premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes to be due and payable, or,
in the case of certain events of default relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization,
those amounts will automatically become immediately due and payable.
Other material terms of the Notes, the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture are
described in the prospectus supplement, dated October 6, 2009, as filed by the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) on October 7,
2009. The foregoing descriptions of the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the Notes
are qualified in their entirety by reference to such Base Indenture and Supplemental Indenture
(including the form of Notes attached thereto), copies of which are filed herewith as Exhibits 4.1
and 4.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors registered the sale of the Notes and the underlying
guarantees with the Commission pursuant to an automatic shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Registration No. 333-162328) filed on October 5, 2009 (the Registration Statement). The Company
will use the net proceeds from the offering of approximately $289.2 million to repay outstanding
borrowings under its bank credit facility and for general corporate purposes.
As previously reported, on October 6, 2009, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement
with Bank of America Securities LLC, as representative of the underwriters named therein, in
connection with an underwritten public offering of the Notes.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant
The description contained under Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference in its entirety
into this Item 2.03.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
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Exhibit Number |
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Description |
4.1
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Indenture, dated October 9, 2009, among Comstock Resources,
Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto, and The Bank
of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., Trustee for Debt
Securities. |
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4.2
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First Supplemental Indenture, dated October 9, 2009, among
Comstock Resources, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors party
thereto, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company,
N.A., Trustee for the 83/8% Senior Notes due 2017. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized.
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COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
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Dated: October 14, 2009 |
By: |
/s/ M. JAY ALLISON
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M. Jay Allison |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
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Exhibits Index
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Exhibit Number |
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Description |
4.1
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Indenture, dated October 9, 2009, among Comstock Resources,
Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto, and The Bank
of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., Trustee for Debt
Securities. |
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4.2
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First Supplemental Indenture, dated October 9, 2009, among
Comstock Resources, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors party
thereto, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company,
N.A., Trustee for the 83/8% Senior Notes due 2017. |
exv4w1
Exhibit 4.1
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.,
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
NAMED HEREIN
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of October 9, 2009
DEBT SECURITIES
Reconciliation and Tie between Trust Indenture Act
of 1939 and Indenture, dated as of October 9, 2009
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Trust Indenture |
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Indenture |
Act Section |
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Section |
Section 310 (a)(1)
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5.7 |
(a)(2)
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5.7 |
(b)
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5.7 |
Section 311 (a)
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5.7, 5.8, 5.9 |
(b)
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5.12 |
Section 312
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6.1 |
Section 313
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6.2 |
Section 314 (a)
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6.3 |
(a)(4)
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13.1 |
(c)(1)
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13.1 |
(c)(2)
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13.1 |
(e)
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13.1 |
Section 315 (a)
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5.1 |
(b)
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5.13 |
(c)
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5.1 |
(d)
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5.1 |
(e)
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4.15 |
Section 316 (a) (last sentence)
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1.1 (Outstanding) |
(a)(1)(A)
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4.2, 4.12 |
(a)(1)(B)
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4.13 |
(b)
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4.8 |
(c)
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13.3(d) |
Section 317 (a)(1)
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4.3 |
(a)(2)
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4.4 |
(b)
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9.3 |
Section 318 (a)
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13.10(b) |
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the
Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION |
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Section 1.1 Definitions |
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Section 1.2 Other Definitions |
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Section 1.3 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act |
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Section 1.4 Rules of Construction |
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7 |
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ARTICLE II. THE SECURITIES |
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Section 2.1 Amount of Securities; Issuable in Series |
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Section 2.2 Form and Dating |
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Section 2.3 Execution and Authentication |
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Section 2.4 Registrar and Paying Agent |
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Section 2.5 Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust |
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10 |
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Section 2.6 Securityholder Lists |
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Section 2.7 Replacement Securities |
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Section 2.8 Outstanding Securities |
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Section 2.9 Temporary Securities |
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11 |
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Section 2.10 Cancellation |
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Section 2.11 Defaulted Interest |
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Section 2.12 CUSIP Numbers |
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11 |
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ARTICLE III. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE |
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Section 3.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture |
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Section 3.2 Application of Trust Money |
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ARTICLE IV. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES |
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Section 4.1 Events of Default |
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Section 4.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment |
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Section 4.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee |
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Section 4.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim |
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Section 4.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities |
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Section 4.6 Application of Money Collected |
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Section 4.7 Limitation on Suits |
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Section 4.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest |
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Section 4.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies |
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Section 4.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative |
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Section 4.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver |
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Section 4.12 Control by Holders |
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Section 4.13 Waiver of Past Defaults |
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Section 4.14 Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws |
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Section 4.15 Undertaking of Costs |
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ARTICLE V. THE TRUSTEE |
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Section 5.1 Duties of Trustee |
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Section 5.2 Certain Rights of Trustee |
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Section 5.3 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities |
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Section 5.4 May Hold Securities |
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Section 5.5 Money Held in Trust |
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Section 5.6 Compensation and Reimbursement |
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Section 5.7 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility |
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Section 5.8 Conflicting Interests |
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Section 5.9 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor |
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Section 5.10 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor |
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Section 5.11 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business |
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Section 5.12 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company |
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Section 5.13 Notice of Defaults |
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ARTICLE VI. HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY |
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Section 6.1 Holders Lists; Holder Communications; Disclosure Respecting Holders |
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Section 6.2 Reports by Trustee |
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Section 6.3 Reports by Company |
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ARTICLE VII. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE |
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Section 7.1 Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms |
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Section 7.2 Successor Substituted |
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ARTICLE VIII. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES |
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Section 8.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders |
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Section 8.2 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders |
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Section 8.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures |
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Section 8.4 Effects of Supplemental Indentures |
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Section 8.5 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act |
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Section 8.6 References in Securities to Supplemental Indentures |
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Section 8.7 Notice of Supplemental Indentures |
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ARTICLE IX. COVENANTS |
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Section 9.1 Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest |
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Section 9.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency |
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Section 9.3 Money for Security Payments to Be Held in Trust |
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Section 9.4 Corporate Existence |
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Section 9.5 Statement by Officers as to Default |
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Section 9.6 Waiver of Certain Covenants |
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Section 9.7 Additional Amounts |
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ARTICLE X. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES |
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Section 10.1 Notice to Trustee |
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Section 10.2 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed |
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Section 10.3 Notice of Redemption |
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Section 10.4 Deposit of Redemption Price |
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Section 10.5 Securities Payable on Redemption Date |
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Section 10.6 Securities Redeemed in Part |
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ARTICLE XI. DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE |
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Section 11.1 Companys Option to Effect Defeasance of Covenant Defeasance |
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Section 11.2 Defeasance and Discharge |
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Section 11.3 Covenant Defeasance |
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Section 11.4 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance |
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Section 11.5 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous
Provisions |
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Section 11.6 Reinstatement |
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ARTICLE XII. SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES |
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Section 12.1 Unconditional Guarantee |
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Section 12.2 Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms |
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Section 12.3 Release of Subsidiary Guarantors |
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Section 12.4 Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantors Liability |
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36 |
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Section 12.5 Contribution |
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36 |
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Section 12.6 Subordination of Subsidiary Guarantees |
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36 |
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Section 12.7 Severability |
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37 |
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ARTICLE XIII. MISCELLANEOUS |
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Section 13.1 Compliance Certificates and Opinions |
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Section 13.2 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee |
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37 |
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Section 13.3 Acts of Holders |
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Section 13.4 Notices, etc. to Trustee, Company and Subsidiary Guarantors |
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Section 13.5 Notice to Holders; Waiver |
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39 |
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Section 13.6 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents |
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Section 13.7 Successors and Assigns |
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Section 13.8 Severability |
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Section 13.9 Benefits of Indenture |
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Section 13.10 Governing Law; Trust Indenture Act Controls |
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Section 13.11 Legal Holidays |
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40 |
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Section 13.12 No Recourse Against Others |
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40 |
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Section 13.13 Duplicate Originals |
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40 |
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Section 13.14 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements |
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40 |
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Section 13.15 Force Majeure |
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Section 13.16 Waiver of Jury Trial |
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41 |
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ARTICLE XIV. SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES |
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Section 14.1 Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness |
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Section 14.2 Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities |
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Section 14.3 Payments of Securities Permitted |
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43 |
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Section 14.4 Authorization of Holders of Securities to Trustee to Effect Subordination |
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43 |
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Section 14.5 Notices to Trustee |
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Section 14.6 Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness |
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44 |
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Section 14.7 Modification of Terms of Senior Indebtedness |
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44 |
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Appendix A Form of Security |
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iii
THIS INDENTURE, dated as of October 9, 2009, is between COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC., a Nevada
corporation (hereinafter called the Company), the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS (as defined hereinafter)
and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee (hereinafter called the Trustee).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable
benefit of the Holders of the Companys unsecured senior or subordinated debentures, notes or other
evidences of indebtedness, to be issued, from time to time, in one or more series as in this
Indenture provided (the Securities):
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 1.1 Definitions.
Act, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 13.3.
Adjusted Net Assets of a Subsidiary Guarantor at any date shall mean the amount by which the
fair value of the Properties of such Subsidiary Guarantor exceeds the total amount of liabilities,
including, without limitation, contingent liabilities (after giving effect to all other fixed and
contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date), but excluding liabilities under its
Subsidiary Guarantee, of such Subsidiary Guarantor at such date.
Affiliate means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such
specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, control, when used with respect to any
Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or
indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the
terms controlling and controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing. For purposes of
this definition, beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the voting common equity (on a fully
diluted basis) or options or warrants to purchase such equity (but only if exercisable at the date
of determination or within 60 days thereof) of a Person shall be deemed to constitute control of
such Person.
Board of Directors means, with respect to the Company, either the board of directors of the
Company or any duly authorized committee of such board of directors, and, with respect to any
Subsidiary, either the board of directors of such Subsidiary or any duly authorized committee of
that board or, in the case of a Subsidiary not having a board of directors, the manager or other
person performing a function comparable to a board of directors of a corporation.
Board Resolution means, with respect to the Company, a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by its Board of
Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to
the Trustee, and with respect to a Subsidiary, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary of such Subsidiary to have been duly adopted by its Board of Directors and
to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
Business Day means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day
on which banking institutions in the cities of New York, New York or Dallas, Texas are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
Capitalized Lease Obligation means any obligation to pay rent or other amounts under a lease
of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any Property that is required to be classified
and accounted for as a capital lease obligation under GAAP, and, for the purpose of this Indenture,
the amount of such obligation at any date shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such date,
determined in accordance with GAAP.
Capital Stock means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests,
participations, rights or other equivalents in the equity interests (however designated) in such
Person, and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into an equity interest), warrants
or options exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into such an equity interest in such
Person.
Cash Equivalents means (i) any evidence of Indebtedness with a maturity of 90 days or less
issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or
instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is
pledged in support thereof); (ii) demand and time deposits and certificates of deposit or
acceptances with a maturity of 90 days or less of any financial institution that is a member of the
Federal Reserve System having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than
$500,000,000; (iii) commercial paper with a maturity of 180 days or less issued by a corporation
that is not an Affiliate of the Company and is organized under the laws of any state of the United
States or the District of Columbia and rated at least A-l by S&P or at least P-l by Moodys; (iv)
repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the
types described in clause (i) above entered into with any commercial bank meeting the
specifications of clause (ii) above; (v) overnight bank deposits and bankers acceptances at any
commercial bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (ii) above; (vi) demand and time
deposits and certificates of deposit with any commercial bank organized in the United States not
meeting the qualifications specified in clause (ii) above, provided that such deposits and
certificates support bond, letter of credit and other similar types of obligations incurred in the
ordinary course of business; and (vii) investments in money market or other mutual funds
substantially all of whose assets comprise securities of the types described in clauses (i) through
(v) above.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as now or hereafter in
effect, together with all regulations thereunder issued by the Internal Revenue Service.
Commission or SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time
constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this
Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the
Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
Common Stock of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person that does not rank prior, as
to the payment of dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of such Person, to shares of Capital Stock of any other
class of such Person.
Company means the Person named as the Company in the first paragraph of this Indenture,
until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this
Indenture, and thereafter Company shall mean such successor Person.
Company Request or Company Order means a written request or order signed in the name of
the Company by its Chairman, its President, any Vice President, its Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer, and delivered to the Trustee.
Corporate Trust Office means, for purposes of presenting Securities, The Bank of New York
Mellon located at 101 Barclay Street, 7 East, New York, New York 10286 and, for all other purposes
the office of the Trustee at which any time its corporate trust business shall be administered,
which at the date hereof is located at 601 Travis Street, 16th floor, Houston, Texas 77002,
Attention: Corporate Trust Services, re: Comstock Resources, Inc., or such other address as the
Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal
corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee
may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).
Default means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or passage of time or
both would become, an Event of Default.
Event of Default has the meaning specified in Section 4.1 hereof.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and
any successor act thereto.
Fair Market Value means the fair market value of a Property (including shares of Capital
Stock) as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company and evidenced by a
Board Resolution, which determination shall be conclusive for purposes of this Indenture; provided,
however, that unless otherwise specified herein, the
2
Board of Directors shall be under no obligation to obtain any valuation or assessment from any
investment banker, appraiser or other third party.
Federal Bankruptcy Code means the United States Bankruptcy Code of Title 11 of the United
States Code, as amended from time to time.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, that are 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 of America, which are
applicable as of the date of this Indenture.
The term guarantee means, as applied to any obligation, (i) a guarantee (other than by
endorsement of negotiable instruments or documents for collection in the ordinary course of
business), direct or indirect, in any manner, of any part or all of such obligation and (ii) an
agreement, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, the practical effect of which is to assure
in any way the payment or performance (or payment of damages in the event of non-performance) of
all or any part of such obligation, including, without limiting the foregoing, the payment of
amounts drawn down under letters of credit. When used as a verb, guarantee has a corresponding
meaning.
Guarantor Senior Debt means, unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of a
series as contemplated by Section 2.1, (1) all Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor, whether
currently outstanding or hereafter issued, unless, by the terms of the instrument creating or
evidencing such Indebtedness, it is provided that such Indebtedness is not superior in right of
payment to the Subsidiary Guarantee or to other Indebtedness which is pari passu with or
subordinated to the Subsidiary Guarantee, and (2) any modifications, refunding, deferrals, renewals
or extensions of any such Indebtedness or securities, notes or other evidence of Indebtedness
issued in exchange for such Indebtedness; provided that in no event shall Guarantor Senior Debt
include (a) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor owed or owing to any Subsidiary of such
Subsidiary Guarantor or any officer, director or employee of such Subsidiary Guarantor or any
Subsidiary of such Subsidiary Guarantor, (b) Indebtedness to trade creditors or (c) any liability
for taxes owed or owing by a Subsidiary Guarantor.
Holder means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in a Security Register.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all liabilities of
such Person, contingent or otherwise, for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of
Property or services (excluding any trade accounts payable and other accrued current liabilities
incurred and reserves established in the ordinary course of business) and all liabilities of such
Person incurred in connection with any agreement to purchase, redeem, exchange, convert or
otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of such Person, or any warrants, rights or options to
acquire such Capital Stock outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter, if, and to the
extent, any of the foregoing would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person
prepared in accordance with GAAP, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, notes,
debentures or other similar instruments, if, and to the extent, any of the foregoing would appear
as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, (c) all
obligations of such Person with respect to letters of credit, (d) all indebtedness of such Person
created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to
Property acquired by such Person (even if the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under
such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such Property), but
excluding trade accounts payable and reserves established arising in the ordinary course of
business, (e) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person, and (f) all guarantees by such
Person of Indebtedness referred to in this definition.
Indenture means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be
supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the
applicable provisions hereof. The term Indenture shall also include the terms of a particular
series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.1.
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding means, with respect to any Person, (a) an insolvency or
bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or similar case or
proceeding in connection therewith, relative to such Person or its creditors, as such, or its
assets or (b) any liquidation, dissolution or other winding-up
3
proceeding of such Person, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving
insolvency or bankruptcy or (c) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshaling
of assets and liabilities of such Person.
Interest Payment Date means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on the
Securities.
Issue Date means the date on which the Securities were first issued under this Indenture.
Maturity means, with respect to any Security, the date on which any principal of such
Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity with
respect to such principal or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or purchase or
otherwise.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.
Obligations means all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, payments with respect to any letters of credit, reimbursements, damages and other
liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
Officers means, with respect to any Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any
Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer of such Person.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President
or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company
(or any Subsidiary Guarantor), including an employee of the Company (or any Subsidiary Guarantor),
and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Outstanding, when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination,
all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation;
(ii) Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption money in the
necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than
the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall
act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities, provided that, if such
Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this
Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;
(iii) Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections 11.2 and 11.3 hereof, with
respect to which the Company has effected legal defeasance or covenant defeasance as provided in
Article XI hereof; and
(iv) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof or in exchange for or
in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this
Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to
the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in
whose hands the Securities are valid obligations of the Company;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of
Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, notice or
waiver hereunder, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA Section 313,
Securities owned by the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities
or any Affiliate of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or such other obligor shall be
disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall
be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization,
direction, consent, notice or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall
be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as
Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgees right so to
act with respect to such Securities and that the
4
pledgee is not the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or
any Affiliate of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or such other obligor.
Person means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint
venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof.
Property means, with respect to any Person, any interest of such Person in any kind of
property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including, without
limitation, Capital Stock in any other Person.
Redemption Date, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part,
means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
Redemption Price, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at
which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date with respect to
the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section
2.1.
Responsible Officer, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer in the
Corporate Trust Office, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any
other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.
Restricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Company, whether existing on or after the
date of this Indenture, unless such Subsidiary of the Company is an Unrestricted Subsidiary or is
designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
S&P means Standard and Poors Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies,
Inc., and its successors.
Securities has the meaning stated in the first recital 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 from time to time, and any
successor act thereto.
Senior Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Company (whether outstanding on the date
hereof or hereinafter incurred), unless such Indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness.
Stated Maturity, when used with respect to any Indebtedness or any installment of interest
thereon, means the date specified in the instrument evidencing or governing such Indebtedness as
the fixed date on which the principal of such Indebtedness or such installment of interest is due
and payable.
Subordinated Indebtedness means Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor which
is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as
the case may be.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, (i) a corporation a majority of whose Voting
Stock is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of
such Person or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries thereof or (ii) any other Person (other
than a corporation), including, without limitation, a joint venture, in which such Person, one or
more Subsidiaries thereof or such Person and one or more Subsidiaries thereof, directly or
indirectly, at the date of determination thereof, have at least majority ownership interest
entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or other Persons
performing similar functions).
Subsidiary Guarantee has the meaning specified in Section 12.1 hereof.
5
Subsidiary Guarantor means (i) those Subsidiaries designated as such pursuant to Section
2.1(20), and (ii) any Person that becomes a successor guarantor of the Securities in compliance
with the provisions of Section 12.2 hereof.
Trust Indenture Act or TIA means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and in force
at the date as of which this Indenture was executed, except as provided in Section 8.5 hereof.
Trustee means the Person named as the Trustee in the first paragraph of this Indenture
until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this
Indenture, and thereafter Trustee shall mean such successor Trustee.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means (i) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of
determination will be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the
Company as provided below and (ii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of
Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary
so long as (a) neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary is directly or indirectly liable
pursuant to the terms of any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary; and (b) no default with respect to
any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or otherwise) any
holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default
on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its
Stated Maturity. Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced
to the Trustee by filing a Board Resolution with the Trustee giving effect to such designation.
Vice President, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice
president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title
vice president.
Voting Stock means any class or classes of Capital Stock pursuant to which the holders
thereof have the general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of
the board of directors, managers or trustees of any Person (irrespective of whether or not, at the
time, stock of any other class or classes shall have, or might have, voting power by reason of the
happening of any contingency).
Section 1.2 Other Definitions.
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Defined |
Term |
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in |
Funding Guarantor |
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12.5 |
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Global Security |
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Appendix A |
OID |
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2.1 |
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Paying Agent |
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2.4 |
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Registrar |
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2.4 |
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Representative |
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13.2 |
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Security Register |
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2.4 |
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Surviving Entity |
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7.1 |
(a) |
U.S. Government Obligations |
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11.4 |
(a) |
Section 1.3 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by
reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have
the following meanings:
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, and
6
obligor on the indenture securities means the Company or any other obligor on the
Securities.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA
reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule and not otherwise defined herein have
the meanings assigned to them therein.
Section 1.4 Rules of Construction.
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the
context otherwise requires:
(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article, and
include the plural as well as the singular;
(b) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in
accordance with GAAP and all accounting calculations will be determined in accordance with GAAP;
(c) the words herein, hereof and hereunder and other words of similar import refer to
this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;
(d) the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter;
(e) a day means a calendar day;
(f) the term merger includes a statutory share exchange and the term merged has a
correlative meaning;
(g) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(h) references to agreements and other instruments include subsequent amendments and waivers
but only to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture.
ARTICLE II.
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Amount of Securities; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities Outstanding at any one time is unlimited. All
Securities of each series shall be identical in all respects other than issue price and issuance
dates. The Securities may be issued in one or more series; provided, however, that any Securities
issued with original issue discount (OID) for Federal income tax purposes shall not be issued as
part of the same series as any Securities that are issued with a different amount of OID or are not
issued with OID.
There shall be established in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and,
subject to Section 2.3, set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officers Certificate,
or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of such
Securities:
(1) whether such Securities shall be issued as part of a new or existing series of
Securities and the title of such Securities (which shall distinguish the Securities of the
series from Securities of any other series);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of such Securities which may be
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture;
(3) the issue price and issuance date of such Securities, including the date from which
interest on such Securities shall accrue;
7
(4) if applicable, that such Securities shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form
of one or more Global Securities, and, in such case, the respective depositories for such Global
Securities, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in
the name or names of Persons other than the depository for such Global Security or a nominee
thereof;
(5) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable or
the method of determination thereof;
(6) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or
the formula, method or provision pursuant to which such rate or rates are determined, the date
or dates from which such interest shall accrue or the method of determination thereof, the
Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the record date for the
interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;
(7) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 9.2, the principal of
and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, Securities of the
series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series may be
surrendered for exchange, and notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the
Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;
(8) the period or periods within which, the price or prices 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;
(9) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the
denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(10) whether payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the
Securities of the series shall be without deduction for taxes, assessments or governmental
charges paid by Holders of the series;
(11) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of
Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity
thereof pursuant to Section 4.2;
(12) if the amount of payments of principal of and any premium or interest on the
Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such
amounts shall be determined;
(13) if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or
in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the depositary or
depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities and any circumstances in which any
such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for Securities
registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a
nominee thereof and in which any such transfer may be registered;
(14) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth
in Section 4.1 or the covenants of the Company set forth in Article IX with respect to the
Securities of such series;
(15) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay additional amounts on the
Securities of the series held by a Person who is not a U.S. person in respect of any tax,
assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have
the option to redeem the Securities of the series rather than pay such additional amounts;
(16) if the Securities of the series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon
original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of
certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and terms
of such certificates, documents or conditions;
(17) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any
other security or property of the Company, including, without limitation, securities of another
Person held by the Company or its Affiliates and, if so, the terms thereof;
8
(18) if other than as provided in Sections 11.2 and 11.3, the means of defeasance or
covenant defeasance as may be specified for the Securities of the Series;
(19) if other than the Trustee, the identity of the initial Registrar and any initial
Paying Agent;
(20) whether the Securities of the series will be guaranteed pursuant to the Subsidiary
Guarantees, the names of the Subsidiaries that will initially be Subsidiary Guarantors and
Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if there are Subsidiary Guarantees), any modifications to the terms
of Article XII applicable to the Securities of such series and the applicability of any other
guarantees; and
(21) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the
provisions of this Indenture).
All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise
provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for increases in the
aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities and issuances of additional Securities of
such series or for the establishment of additional terms with respect to the Securities of such
series.
If any of the terms of any series are established by action taken pursuant to a resolution of
the Board of Directors, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the
delivery of the Officers Certificate or the trust indenture supplementary thereto setting forth
the terms of the series.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section or otherwise in this Indenture, any
additional issuance of Securities after the Issue Date, whether such Securities are of the same or
a different series than the Securities first issued under this Indenture, shall be in a principal
amount greater than or equal to $25,000,000.
Section 2.2 Form and Dating.
Provisions relating to the Securities of each series are set forth in Appendix A,
which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Securities of each
series and the Trustees certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of
Appendix A which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The
Securities of each series may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock
exchange rule, agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage, provided that any such
notation, legend or endorsement is in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company. Each Security
shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Securities of each series set forth
in Appendix A are part of the terms of this Indenture.
Section 2.3 Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers of the Company shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile
signature. The Companys seal may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or reproduced on the Securities
and may be in facsimile form.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the
Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall be valid nevertheless.
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 to the Trustee for
authentication, together with a written order of the Company signed by two Officers of the Company
for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with such
written order of the Company shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.
A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the
certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the
Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
9
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to
authenticate the 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 any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.
Section 2.4 Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for
registration of transfer or for exchange (the Registrar) and an office or agency where Securities
may be presented for payment (the Paying Agent). The Registrar shall keep a register (the
Security Register) of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may have one
or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term Paying Agent includes
any additional paying agent.
The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar, Paying Agent
or co-registrar not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The
agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company
shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Company fails to
maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to
appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 5.6. The Company may act as Paying Agent,
Registrar, co-registrar or transfer agent.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with
the Securities.
Section 2.5 Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust.
Not later than 10:00 a.m., Eastern standard time, on each due date of the principal and
interest on any Security, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay
such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent
(other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the
benefit of Securityholders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of
principal of or interest on the Securities and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the
Company in making any such payment. If the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the
money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may
require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds
disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no
further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.
Section 2.6 Securityholder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent
list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders. If the Trustee is not the
Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before
each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in
such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of
Securityholders.
Section 2.7 Replacement Securities.
If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security claims
that such Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the
Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the
Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the
Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Company, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond
sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee, the
Paying Agent, the Registrar and any co-registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a
Security is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in
replacing a Security.
Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the Company.
10
Section 2.8 Outstanding Securities.
Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for
those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as
not outstanding. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of
the Company holds the Security.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.7, it ceases to be outstanding unless the
Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Security is held by a
bona fide purchaser.
If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a
redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that
date with respect to the Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case
may be, and the Paying Agent is not prohibited from paying such money to the Securityholders on
that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Securities (or
portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
Section 2.9 Temporary Securities.
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee
shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of
definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary
Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall
authenticate definitive Securities and deliver them in exchange for temporary Securities.
Section 2.10 Cancellation.
The Company 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 or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and destroy
(subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) all Securities surrendered for
registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall, upon written request,
deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities
to replace Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.11 Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities, it shall pay the defaulted
interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted
interest, to the persons who are Securityholders on a subsequent special record date, in each case
at the rate provided in the Securities and in Section 9.1 hereof. The Company shall fix or cause to
be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the
Trustee and shall promptly mail to each Securityholder a notice that states the special record
date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.
Section 2.12 CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities 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;
provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the
correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities 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, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such
numbers.
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ARTICLE III.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 3.1 Satisfaction
and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to
surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, as expressly provided for
in this Indenture) as to all Outstanding Securities, and the Trustee, at the expense of the
Company, shall, upon payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 5.6 hereof, execute
proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture when
(a) either
(1) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities
which have been replaced as provided in Section 2.7 hereof and (ii) Securities for whose
payment money or United States governmental obligations of the type described in clause (i)
of the definition of Cash Equivalents have theretofore been deposited in trust with the
Trustee or any Paying Agent or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter
repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 9.3 hereof) have
been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or
(2) all such Securities 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
(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 the Company, in the case of clause (2)(i), (2)(ii) or (2)(iii) above, has irrevocably
deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and
discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit
(in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or
Redemption Date, as the case may be, together with instructions from the Company irrevocably
directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as
the case may be;
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums then due and payable hereunder by
the Company; and
(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel, which, taken together, state that all conditions precedent herein relating to the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the
Company to the Trustee under Section 5.6 hereof and, if money shall have been deposited with the
Trustee pursuant to this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 3.2 hereof and the
last paragraph of Section 9.3 hereof shall survive.
Section 3.2 Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.3 hereof, all money deposited
with the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in
accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either
directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the
Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and
interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.
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ARTICLE IV.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 4.1 Events of Default.
Event of Default, wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the
reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by
operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or
regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(a) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any of the Securities
when the same becomes due and payable, whether such payment is due at Stated Maturity, upon
redemption, upon acceleration or otherwise; or
(b) default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities, when it
becomes due and payable, and the continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or
(c) default in the performance or breach of the provisions of Article VII hereof; or
(d) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) shall fail to perform or observe
any other term, covenant or agreement contained in the Securities, any Subsidiary Guarantee (if
there shall be any) or this Indenture (other than a default specified in subparagraph (a), (b) or
(c) above) for a period of 60 days after written notice of such failure stating that it is a
notice of default hereunder and requiring the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case
may be, to remedy the same shall have been given (x) to the Company by the Trustee or (y) to the
Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities then Outstanding; or
(e) any Subsidiary Guarantee (if there shall be any) shall for any reason cease to be, or be
asserted by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, not to be, in full force and
effect (except pursuant to the release of any such Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with this
Indenture); or
(f) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises (A) for
relief in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) or any other
Restricted Subsidiary (if applicable) in an involuntary case or proceeding under the Federal
Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other similar law or (B) adjudging the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) or any
other Restricted Subsidiary (if applicable) bankrupt or insolvent, or approving a petition seeking
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor
(if applicable) or any other Restricted Subsidiary (if applicable) under the Federal Bankruptcy
Code or any applicable federal or state law, or appointing under any such law a custodian,
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or
any Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) or any other Restricted Subsidiary (if applicable) or of a
substantial part of its consolidated assets, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its
affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or
order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or
(g) the commencement by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) or any other
Restricted Subsidiary (if applicable) of a voluntary case or proceeding under the Federal
Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other similar law or any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or the
consent by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) or any other Restricted
Subsidiary (if applicable) to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect thereof in an
involuntary case or proceeding under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal or
state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any
bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by the Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) or any other Restricted Subsidiary (if applicable) of a
petition or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law, or
the consent by it under any such law to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of or
taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or sequestrator (or other
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similar official) of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) or any other
Restricted Subsidiary (if applicable) or of any substantial part of its consolidated assets, or the
making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors under any such law, or the admission by
it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or taking of corporate
action by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) or any other Restricted
Subsidiary (if applicable) in furtherance of any such action.
Section 4.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 4.1(f) or (g)
hereof) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding, by written notice to the Company (and to the
Trustee if such notice is given by the Holders), may, and the Trustee upon the request of the
Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities shall, by
a notice in writing to the Company, declare all unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued
and unpaid interest on all the Securities to be due and payable immediately, upon which declaration
all amounts payable in respect of the Securities shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event
of Default specified in Section 4.1(f) or (g) hereof occurs and is continuing, the amounts
described above shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration, notice or
other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
Promptly after the occurrence of a declaration of acceleration, the Company shall notify each
holder of Senior Indebtedness thereof, but failure to give any such notice shall not affect such
declaration or its consequences.
At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made and before a judgment or decree
for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article
provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities Outstanding, by
written notice to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee, may
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if
(a) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) has paid or deposited with the
Trustee a sum sufficient to pay,
(1) all overdue interest on all Outstanding Securities,
(2) all unpaid principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Outstanding Securities which
have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, and interest on such
unpaid principal at the rate borne by the Securities,
(3) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue interest
and overdue principal at the rate borne by the Securities (without duplication of any amount
paid or deposited pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) above), and
(4) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel;
(b) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction as certified to the Trustee by the Company; and
(c) all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of amounts of principal of (or premium,
if any, on) or interest on Securities which have become due solely by such declaration of
acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 4.13 hereof.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
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Section 4.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if
(a) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security when such
interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or
(b) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security
at the Maturity thereof, then the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee for
the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such
Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, and interest on any overdue principal
(and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally
enforceable, upon any overdue installment of interest, at the rate borne by the Securities, and, in
addition thereto, 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.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own
name as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the
sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce
the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities and collect the money
adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the Property of the Company
or any other obligor upon the Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to
protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders by such appropriate judicial
proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights,
whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of
the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 4.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the
Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) or any other obligor upon the Securities, their
creditors or the Property of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) or of such other
obligor, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and
payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee
shall have made any demand on the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors (if applicable) or such other
obligor for the payment of overdue principal, premium, if any, or interest) shall be entitled and
empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and
interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents
and take any other actions including participation as a full member of any creditor or other
committee as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including
any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its
agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(b) to collect and receive any money or other Property payable or deliverable on any such
claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official 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 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 5.6 hereof.
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 Subsidiary Guarantees (if there should be any) 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.
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Section 4.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities or the Subsidiary
Guarantees may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the
Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding
instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, and
any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable
benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 4.6 Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following
order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in the case of the distribution of such money
on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and
the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully
paid:
FIRST: to the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 5.6 hereof;
SECOND: to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if
any, on) and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such
money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the
amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest,
respectively; and
THIRD: the balance, if any, to the Company, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to
receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.
Section 4.7 Limitation on Suits.
No Holder of any Securities shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or
otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for
any other remedy hereunder, unless:
(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of
Default;
(b) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of
such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may
require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity
has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during
such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority or more in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities;
it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner
whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or
prejudice the rights of any other Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference
over any other Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein
provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all the Holders.
Section 4.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have
the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment, as provided herein (including,
if applicable, Article XI hereof) and
16
in such Security of the principal of (and premium if any, on) and (subject to Section 2.11
hereof) interest on, such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security
(or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement
of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 4.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy
under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has
been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to
any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and the
Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and
thereunder and all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no
such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 4.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 2.7 hereof, no right or
remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be
exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted
by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or
hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or
remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any
other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 4.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or
remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a
waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by
this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as
often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 4.12 Control by Holders.
Subject to Section 5.2(e) and the last paragraph of Section 5.2, the Holders of not less than
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities shall have the right to
direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, provided that
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,
(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not
inconsistent with such direction, and
(c) the Trustee need not take any action which might involve it in personal liability or
expense for which the Trustee has not received a satisfactory indemnity therefor or be unduly
prejudicial to the Holders not joining therein.
Section 4.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities waive any existing Default or Event
of Default hereunder and its consequences, except a Default or Event of Default
(a) in respect of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest on any
Security, or
17
(b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article VIII hereof cannot be
modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected
thereby.
Upon any such waiver, such Default or Event of Default shall cease to exist for every purpose
under this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other fault or Event of
Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 4.14 Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.
Each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors covenants (to the extent that each may
lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead or in any manner whatsoever claim
or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension, or usury law or other law wherever
enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which would prohibit or forgive the Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor from paying all or any portion of the principal of (premium, if any, on) or
interest on the Securities as contemplated herein, 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
covenant that they 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 4.15 Undertaking of 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, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require
any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may
assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the TIA;
provided that neither this Section nor the TIA shall be deemed to authorize any court to require
such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company.
ARTICLE V.
THE TRUSTEE
Section 5.1 Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the
rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their
exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his
own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be
read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, and
shall be fully protected in so relying, 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; provided, however, that,
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 the
certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of
this Indenture, but the Trustee has no obligation to determine the accuracy or completeness
(other than as to conformity with the requirements of this Indenture) of the statements made
therein.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own
negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) this paragraph shall not limit the effect of Section 5.1(b);
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(ii) 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
(iii) 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 4.12.
Section 5.2 Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 5.1 hereof:
(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from
acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper
(whether in its original or facsimile form), or document believed by it to be genuine and to have
been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced
by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be
sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that
a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the
Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith
on its part, rely upon an Officers Certificate;
(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of
Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken,
suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in
it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture,
unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the
costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or
direction;
(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated
in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document,
but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts
or matters as it may reasonably see fit;
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties
hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with
due care by it hereunder;
(h) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good
faith and believed by it in good faith to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; and
(i) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any matter unless a
Responsible Officer has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice thereof is received by
the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office and such notice references the Securities generally, the
Company or this Indenture.
The Trustee shall not be required to advance, expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of
any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of
such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
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Section 5.3 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except for the Trustees certificates of
authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, as
the case may be, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes
no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantees
(if there shall be any) or the Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or
application by the Company of any Securities or the proceeds thereof.
Section 5.4 May Hold Securities.
The Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Registrar or any other agent of the Company, the Subsidiary
Guarantors or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or
pledgee of Securities and, subject to TIA Sections 310(b) and 311 in the case of the Trustee, may
otherwise deal with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors (if applicable) with the same rights
it would have if it were not the Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar or such other agent.
Section 5.5 Money Held in Trust.
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to
the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money
received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company or, if applicable, any
Subsidiary Guarantor.
Section 5.6 Compensation and Reimbursement.
The Company agrees:
(a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as the Company and the Trustee
may agree in writing for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be
limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request
for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in
accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may
be attributable to the Trustees willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith; and
(c) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, claim,
damage or expense incurred without willful misconduct or negligence on its part, (i) arising out of
or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and
expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or
performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder or (ii) in connection with enforcing this
indemnification provision.
The obligations of the Company under this Section 5.6 to compensate the Trustee, to pay or
reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances and to indemnify and hold harmless
the Trustee shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction
and discharge of this Indenture or any other termination under any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding. As security for the performance of such obligations of the Company, the Trustee shall
have a claim and lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the
Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for payment of principal of (and premium, if any, on)
or interest on particular Securities. Such lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture or any other termination under any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after the occurrence of an Event of
Default specified in paragraph (f) or (g) of Section 4.1 of this Indenture, such expenses and the
compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.
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Section 5.7 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as Trustee
under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.
If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia supervising or examining
authority, then for the purposes of this Section 5.7, the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent
report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with
the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
Section 5.8 Conflicting Interests.
The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act;
provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(1) any
indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation
in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth
in TIA Section 310(b)(1) are met.
Section 5.9 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee
pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the
successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 5.10 hereof.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the
instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 5.10 hereof shall not have been
delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the
resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Trustee.
(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holders of not less than a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, delivered to the Trustee and to the
Company.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b) after
written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a
Security for at least six months, or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 5.7 hereof and shall fail to
resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona
fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or
insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public
officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the
purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (i) the Company, by a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee, or (ii)
subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at
least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy
shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall
promptly appoint a successor Trustee. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or
incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee shall be appointed by Act of
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
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Securities delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so
appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee
and supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee shall have
been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter
provided, the retiring Trustee or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at
least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee. The evidence of such
successorship may, but need not be, evidenced by a supplemental indenture.
(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee and each
appointment of a successor Trustee to the Holders of Securities in the manner provided for in
Section 13.5 hereof. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of
its Corporate Trust Office.
(g) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 5.9, the Companys
obligations under Section 5.6 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
Section 5.10 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
Every successor Trustee appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the
Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers,
trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on request of the Company or the successor Trustee,
such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of all amounts due it under Section 5.6 hereof, execute
and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts
of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all
money and other Property held by such retiring Trustee hereunder. Upon request of any such
successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly
vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts.
No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such
successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.
Section 5.11 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any corporation or banking association into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or
with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or banking association resulting from any
merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation or
banking association succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the
Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation or banking
association shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or
filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any
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 with the same effect as if such
successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities; and in case at that time any of the
Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor Trustee may authenticate such
Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor 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; provided, however, that the right to adopt the
certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or to authenticate Securities in the name
of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or
consolidation.
Section 5.12 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor
under the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).
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Section 5.13 Notice of Defaults.
Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder, the Trustee shall transmit in
the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), notice of such Default hereunder known
to the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that,
except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or
interest on any Security, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long
as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or
Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is
in the interest of the Holders. The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default,
other than a Default under 4.1(a) or (b), unless the Trustee shall have been advised in writing
that a Default has occurred. No duty imposed upon the Trustee in this Indenture shall be applicable
with respect to any Default of which the Trustee is not deemed to have notice.
ARTICLE VI.
HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
Section 6.1 Holders Lists; Holder Communications; Disclosure Respecting Holders.
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 the Holders. Neither the Company, any Subsidiary
Guarantor (if applicable) nor the Trustee shall be under any responsibility with regard to the
accuracy of such list. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee semi-annually before each Regular Record Date, and at such other times as the Trustee may
reasonably request in writing, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably request, as of
such date of the names and addresses of the Holders then known to the Company. The Company and the
Trustee shall also satisfy any other requirements imposed upon each of them by TIA Section 312(a).
Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect
to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. Every Holder of Securities, by receiving
and holding the same, agrees with the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors (if applicable), the
Registrar and the Trustee that none of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors (if applicable), the
Registrar or the Trustee, or any agent of any of them, shall be held accountable by reason of the
disclosure of any information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with TIA
Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, that each of such
Persons shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c) and that the Trustee shall not be held
accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).
Section 6.2 Reports by Trustee.
Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with May 15, 2010, the Trustee shall
transmit by mail to the Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, a
brief report dated as of such May 15 in accordance with and to the extent required under TIA
Section 313(a). The Trustee shall also comply with TIA Sections 313(b) and 313(c).
The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing if the Securities become listed on
any stock exchange or automatic quotation system.
A copy of each Trustees report, at the time of its mailing to Holders of Securities, shall be
mailed to the Company and filed with the Commission and each stock exchange, if any, on which the
Securities are listed.
Section 6.3 Reports by Company.
The Company shall:
(a) file with the Trustee, within 30 days after the Company is required to file the same with
the Commission, 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 Commission may from time to time by
rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
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(b) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations
prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports
with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as
may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and
(c) transmit by mail to all Holders, in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section
313(c), such summaries of any information, documents and reports (without exhibits except to the
extent required by TIA Section 313(c)) required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraph
(a) or (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time
by the Commission.
ARTICLE VII.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
Section 7.1 Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms.
The Company shall not, in any single transaction or a series of related transactions, merge or
consolidate with or into any other Person, or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise
dispose of all or substantially all the Properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
on a consolidated basis to any Person or group of Affiliated Persons, and the Company shall not
permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to enter into any such transaction or series of related
transactions if such transaction or series of transactions, in the aggregate, would result in a
sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the Properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis to any other
Person or group of Affiliated Persons, unless at the time and after giving affect thereto:
(a) either (i) if the transaction is a merger or consolidation, the Company shall be the
surviving Person of such merger or consolidation, or (ii) the Person (if other than the Company)
formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which the Properties of the
Company or, if applicable, its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, are sold, assigned,
conveyed, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of (any such surviving Person or transferee
Person being called the Surviving Entity) shall be a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall, in
either case, expressly assume by a supplemental indenture to this Indenture executed and delivered
to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the
Securities and this Indenture, and, in each case, this Indenture shall remain in full force and
effect;
(b) immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of
related transactions on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness not previously an
obligation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which becomes the obligation of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with or as a result of such transaction
or transactions as having been incurred at the time of such transaction or transactions), no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(c) if the Company is not the continuing obligor under this Indenture, then each Subsidiary
Guarantor (if there shall be any), unless it is the Surviving Entity, shall have by supplemental
indenture confirmed that its Subsidiary Guarantee of the Securities shall apply to the Surviving
Entitys obligations under this Indenture and the Securities; and
(d) the Company (or the Surviving Entity if the Company is not the continuing obligor under
this Indenture) shall have delivered to the Trustee, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Trustee, (i) an Officers Certificate stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance,
transfer, lease or other disposition and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection
with such transaction, such supplemental indenture, comply with this Indenture and (ii) an Opinion
of Counsel stating that the requirements of Section 7.1(a) have been satisfied. The Trustee may
conclusively rely upon such Officers Certificate and shall have no duty to investigate the basis
for the conclusions reached therein.
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Section 7.2 Successor Substituted.
Upon any consolidation of the Company with or merger of the Company into any other corporation
or any sale, assignment, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the Properties of the Company and, if applicable, its Restricted Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis in accordance with Section 7.1 hereof, the Surviving Entity shall succeed to,
and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture
with the same effect as if such Surviving Entity had been named as the Company herein, and in the
event of any such sale, assignment, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the Company
(which term shall for this purpose mean the Person named as the Company in the first paragraph of
this Indenture or any successor Person which shall theretofore become such in the manner described
in Section 7.1 hereof), except in the case of a lease, shall be discharged of all obligations and
covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
ARTICLE VIII.
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 8.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, each
of the Subsidiary Guarantors (if there shall be any), when authorized by a Board Resolution, and
the Trustee upon Company Request, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more
indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following
purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such
successor of the covenants of the Company contained herein and in the Securities; or
(b) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or
provisions as the Company shall consider to be appropriate for the benefit of the Holders of all or
any series of Securities (and if such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions 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 and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a
certain default action in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an
Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this
Indenture as herein set forth; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant,
restriction, condition or provision such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period
of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of
other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such an Event of Default or may
limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such an Event of Default or may limit the right of
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series to waive
such an Event of Default; or
(c) to add any additional Events of Default in respect of all or any series of Securities; or
(d) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such
change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any
series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the
benefit of such provision; or
(e) to secure the Securities of any series; or
(f) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.1,
including to reopen any series of any Securities as permitted under Section 2.1; or
(g) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying this Indenture
under the TIA or maintaining such qualification thereafter; or
(h) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee
pursuant to the requirements of Sections 5.9 and 5.10 hereof; or
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(i) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with
respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such action shall not
adversely affect the interests of any Holder; or
(j) to make or add any Subsidiary as Subsidiary Guarantor or to evidence the succession of
another Person to any Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 12.2(b) hereof and the assumption by
any such successor of the covenants and agreements of such Subsidiary Guarantor contained herein,
in the Securities and in the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor; or
(k) to release a Subsidiary Guarantor (if there shall be one) from its Subsidiary Guarantee
pursuant to Section 12.3 hereof; or
(l) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated
Securities.
Section 8.2 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the
Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors, when authorized
by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee upon Company Request may enter into an indenture or
indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any
manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the
rights of the Holders under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture
shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:
(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any
Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium
thereon, or change the coin or currency in which principal of any Security or any premium or the
interest on any Security is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of
any such payment after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
Redemption Date); or
(b) reduce the percentage of aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, the
consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose
Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or
certain defaults hereunder or the consequences of a default provided for in this Indenture; or
(c) modify any of the provisions of this Section or Sections 4.13 and 9.6 hereof, except to
increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot
be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected
thereby.
A supplemental indenture which 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.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of the Holders under this Section to approve the
particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act
shall approve the substance thereof.
Section 8.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture
permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the
Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of
Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by
this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental
indenture which affects the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or
otherwise.
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Section 8.4 Effects of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be
modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this
Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated
and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.
Section 8.5 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
Section 8.6 References in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture
pursuant to this Article 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 supplemental indenture. If the
Company shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee
and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company,
and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities.
Section 8.7 Notice of Supplemental Indentures.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture
pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.2 hereof, the Company shall give notice thereof to the
Holders of each Outstanding Security affected, in the manner provided for in Section 13.5 hereof,
setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture.
ARTICLE IX.
COVENANTS
Section 9.1 Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders that it will duly and
punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest on the Securities in
accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.
Section 9.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented or
surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or
exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities, the
Subsidiary Guarantees and this Indenture may be served. The New York office of the Trustee shall be
such office or agency of the Company, unless the Company shall designate and maintain some other
office or agency for one or more of such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to
the Trustee of any change in the location of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company
shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with
the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at
the aforementioned office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent
to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where
the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to
time rescind any such designation. Further, if at any time there shall be no such office or agency
in The City of New York where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, the
Company shall forthwith designate and maintain such an office or agency in The City of New York, in
order that the Securities shall at all times be payable in The City of
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New York. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation
or rescission and any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
Section 9.3 Money for Security Payments to Be Held in Trust.
If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent, it shall, on or before 10:00
a.m., Eastern time, on each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) or interest on
any of the Securities, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto
a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such
sum shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly
notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for the Securities, it will, on or
before 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any, on), or
interest on, any Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent immediately available funds in a sum
sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such funds to be
held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and
(unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of such
action or any failure so to act.
The Company shall cause each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to execute and deliver to
the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the
provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:
(a) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) or
interest on Securities in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums
shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
(b) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the
Securities) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest; and
(c) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the
Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay,
to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by
the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such
Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be
released from all further liability with respect to such sums. The Trustee and each Paying Agent
shall promptly pay to the Company, upon Company Request, any money held by them (other than
pursuant to Article XI) at any time in excess of amounts required to pay principal, premium, if
any, or interest on the Securities.
Subject to applicable escheat and abandoned property laws, any money deposited with the
Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal
of (and premium, if any, on) or interest on any Security and remaining unclaimed for two years
after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to
the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such
trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look
only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with
respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon
cease.
Section 9.4 Corporate Existence.
Except as expressly permitted by Article VII hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done
all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate existence, rights
(charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company and each Restricted Subsidiary; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such existence of its Restricted
Subsidiaries, rights or franchises, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine that
the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of
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the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is
not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.
Section 9.5 Statement by Officers as to Default.
(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 100 days after the end of each fiscal
year of the Company and within 45 days of the end of each of the first, second and third quarters
of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers Certificate stating that a review of the
activities of the Company and, if applicable, its Restricted Subsidiaries, during the preceding
fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as applicable, has been made under the supervision of the signing
Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled
its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such
certificate, that to the best of such Officers knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed
and fulfilled each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture and no Default or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred to either such Officers knowledge, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of
which such Officer may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take
with respect thereto). Such Officers Certificate shall comply with TIA Section 314(a)(4). For
purposes of this Section 9.5(a), such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period
of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.
(b) The Company shall, so long as any of the Securities is outstanding, deliver to the
Trustee, upon any of its Officers becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers
Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company proposes to
take with respect thereto, within 10 days of its occurrence.
Section 9.6 Waiver of Certain Covenants.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.2 hereof, Company may omit in any particular instance
to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in this Indenture with respect to the
Securities of any series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all affected series (voting as one
class) shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally
waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or
affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such
waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in
respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
A waiver which changes or eliminates any term, provision or condition 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 term,
provision or condition, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the
Holders of Securities of any other series.
Section 9.7 Additional Amounts.
If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of additional amounts (as provided in
Section 2.1), at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series
of Securities and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal of, premium, if any,
or interest on the Securities of that series if there has been a change with respect to the matters
set forth in the below-mentioned Officers Certificate, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee
and the principal Paying Agent, if other than the Trustee, an Officers Certificate instructing the
Trustee and such Paying Agent whether such payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on
the Securities of that series shall be made to holders of the Securities of that series without
withholding or deduction for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge
described in the Securities of that series. If any such withholding or deduction shall be required,
then such Officers Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be
withheld or deducted on such payments to such holders and shall certify the fact that additional
amounts will be payable and the amounts so payable to each holder, and the Company shall pay to the
Trustee or such Paying Agent the additional amounts required to be paid by this Section. The
Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless
against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably
29
incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with
actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers Certificate furnished pursuant
to this Section 9.7.
Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of
or any premium, interest or any other amounts on, or in respect of, any Securities of any series,
such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of additional amounts provided by
the terms of such series established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent that, in such context,
additional amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and
express mention of the payment of additional amounts (if applicable) in any provision hereof shall
not be construed as excluding the payment of additional amounts in those provisions hereof where
such express mention is not made.
ARTICLE X.
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 10.1 Notice to Trustee.
Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable
in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.1
for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article X.
The Company shall give each notice to the Trustee provided for in this Section at least 60
days before the Redemption Date unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period. Such notice shall
be accompanied by an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Company to the effect
that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein. Any election to redeem Securities
shall be revocable until the Company gives a notice of redemption pursuant to Section 10.2 to the
Holders of Securities to be redeemed.
Section 10.2 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.
If less than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed
shall be selected not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the
Trustee, pro-rata from the Outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption, by lot, at
random or by any other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide
for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal of Securities; provided, however,
that any such partial redemption shall be in integral multiples of $1,000.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company 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 all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions
relating to redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be
redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is
to be redeemed.
Section 10.3 Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided for in Section 13.5 hereof not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be
redeemed.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(a) the Redemption Date;
(b) the Redemption Price;
(c) if less than all Outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in
the case of a partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be
redeemed;
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(d) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price (together with accrued interest, if any,
to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 10.5 hereof) will become due and payable upon
each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed, and that, unless the Company shall
default in the payment of the Redemption Price and any applicable accrued interest, interest
thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date; and
(e) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the
Redemption Price.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be
given by the Company or, at the Companys request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of
the Company. Failure to give such notice by mailing to any Holder of Securities or any defect
therein shall not affect the validity of any proceedings for the redemption of other Securities.
Section 10.4 Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or before 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with
the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate
and hold in trust as provided in Section 9.3 hereof) an amount of money sufficient to pay the
Redemption Price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Securities which are to be
redeemed on such Redemption Date.
Section 10.5 Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall,
on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified (together
with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date
(unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued and unpaid
interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for
redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the
Redemption Price, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for
redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the
Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Securities.
Section 10.6 Securities Redeemed in Part.
Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the office or agency
of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 9.2 hereof (with, if the Company or
the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holders
attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or
Securities, 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 amount of the Security
so surrendered.
ARTICLE XI.
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 11.1 Companys Option to Effect Defeasance of Covenant Defeasance.
The provisions of this Article XI shall be applicable for each series of Securities except as
otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 for Securities of such series. The Company may,
at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to the Securities, elect to have
either Section 11.2 or Section 11.3 hereof be applied to all Outstanding Securities upon compliance
with the conditions set forth below in this Article XI.
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Section 11.2 Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Companys exercise under Section 11.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section
11.2, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from their
respective obligations with respect to all Outstanding Securities on the date the conditions set
forth in Section 11.4 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, legal defeasance). For this purpose,
such legal defeasance means that the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed (i) to
have paid and discharged their respective obligations under the Outstanding Securities; provided,
however, that the Securities shall continue to be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of
Section 11.5 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (A) and (B)
below, and (ii) to have satisfied all their other obligations with respect to such Securities and
this Indenture (and the Trustee, at the expense and direction of the Company, shall execute proper
instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise
terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities to receive,
solely from the trust fund described in Section 11.4 hereof and as more fully set forth in such
Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium if any, on) and interest on such
Securities when such payments are due (or at such time as the Securities would be subject to
redemption at the option of the Company in accordance with this Indenture), (B) the respective
obligations of the Company, if applicable, and the Subsidiary Guarantors under Sections 2.3, 2.4,
2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 4.8, 4.14, 5.6, 5.9, 5.10, 9.2, 9.3, 12.1 (to the extent it relates to the
foregoing Sections and this Article XI), 12.4 and 12.5 hereof, (C) the rights, powers, trusts,
duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, and (D) the obligations of the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors under this Article XI. Subject to compliance with this Article XI, the
Company may exercise its option under this Section 11.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its
option under Section 11.3 hereof with respect to the Securities.
Section 11.3 Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Companys exercise under Section 11.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section
11.3, the Company and, if applicable, each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released from their
respective obligations under any covenant contained in Article VII, in Sections 9.5 through 9.7 and
in Section 12.2 hereof with respect to the Outstanding Securities on and after the date the
conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, covenant defeasance), and the Securities
shall thereafter be deemed not to be Outstanding for the purposes of any direction, waiver,
consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with
such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed Outstanding for all other purposes hereunder. For
this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities, the
Company and, if applicable, each Subsidiary Guarantor may omit to comply with and shall have no
liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether
directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by
reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document
and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section
4.1(c) or 4.1(d) hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such
Securities shall be unaffected thereby.
Section 11.4 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 11.2 or Section 11.3
hereof to the Outstanding Securities:
(a) The Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be
deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 5.7 hereof
who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article XI applicable to it) 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 such Securities, (A) cash in United States
dollars in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of
principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later
than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof,
sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants
expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and
which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the
principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest on the Outstanding Securities on the Stated
Maturity thereof (or Redemption Date, if applicable), provided that the Trustee shall have been
irrevocably
32
instructed in writing by the Company to apply such money or the proceeds of such U.S.
Government Obligations to said payments with respect to the Securities. Before such a deposit, the
Company may give to the Trustee, in accordance with Section 10.1 hereof, a notice of its election
to redeem all of the Outstanding Securities at a future date in accordance with Article X hereof,
which notice shall be irrevocable. Such irrevocable redemption notice, if given, shall be given
effect in applying the foregoing. For this purpose, U.S. Government Obligations means securities
that are (x) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its
full faith and credit is pledged or (y) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and
acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which
is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of
America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof,
and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the
Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific
payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian
for the account of the holder of such depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law)
such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of
such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government
Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligation
evidenced by such depository receipt.
(b) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities shall have occurred and be
continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as Sections 4.1(f) and 4.1(g) are concerned, at
any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit.
(c) Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a
conflicting interest under this Indenture or the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities
of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.
(d) Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of,
or constitute a default under, any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or,
if applicable, any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party or by which it is bound, as evidenced to the
Trustee in an Officers Certificate delivered to the Trustee concurrently with such deposit.
(e) In the case of an election under Section 11.2 hereof, the Company shall have delivered to
the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been
published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of this Indenture there
has been a change in the applicable federal income tax laws, in either case providing that the
Holders of the Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income
tax purposes as a result of such legal defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the
same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such legal
defeasance had not occurred (it being understood that (x) such Opinion of Counsel shall also state
that such ruling or applicable law is consistent with the conclusions reached in such Opinion of
Counsel and (y) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to investigate the basis or correctness of
such ruling).
(f) In the case of an election under Section 11.3 hereof, the Company shall have delivered to
the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities will
not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant
defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at
the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.
(g) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel, which, taken together, state that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either
the legal defeasance under Section 11.2 hereof or the covenant defeasance under Section 11.3 (as
the case may be) have been complied with.
Section 11.5 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other
Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.3 hereof, all money and U.S.
Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other
qualifying trusteecollectively for purposes of this Section 11.5, the Trustee) pursuant to
Section 11.4 hereof in respect of the Outstanding Securities shall be
33
held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities
and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the
Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such
Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any)
and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required
by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against all taxes, fees or other charges
imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Governmental Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 11.4
hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or
other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities.
Anything in this Article XI to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay
to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held
by it as provided in Section 11.4 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the
Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect
an equivalent legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this
Article.
Section 11.6 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section
11.5 hereof by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining,
restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Companys and the Subsidiary
Guarantors obligations under this Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as
though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.2 or 11.3 hereof, as the case may be, until
such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with
Section 11.5 hereof; provided, however, that if the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor makes any
payment of principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest on any Security following the
reinstatement of its obligations, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be subrogated to
the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the
Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE XII.
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES
Section 12.1 Unconditional Guarantee.
Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby unconditionally, jointly and severally, guarantees (each such
guarantee being referred to herein as this Subsidiary Guarantee, with all such guarantees being
referred to herein as the Subsidiary Guarantees) to each Holder of Securities authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee of each series to which this Article XII has been made applicable as
provided in Section 2.1(20), and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, the full and prompt
performance of the Companys obligations under this Indenture and the Securities and that:
(a) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest on the Securities will be promptly
paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest
on the overdue principal of and interest on the Securities, if any, to the extent lawful, and all
other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be
promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and
(b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Securities or of any such
other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with
the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise;
subject, however, in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, to the limitations set forth in Section
12.4 hereof.
Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for
whatever reason, the Subsidiary Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same
immediately. Each Subsidiary
34
Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall, to the extent permitted by law,
be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Securities 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, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Subsidiary Guarantor
hereby waives, to the extent permitted by law, diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of
claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a
proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that
its Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations
contained in the Securities, this Indenture and in this Subsidiary Guarantee. If any Holder or the
Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor,
or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company
or any Subsidiary Guarantor, any amount paid by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the
Trustee or such Holder, this Subsidiary Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be
reinstated in full force and effect. Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees it shall not be entitled to
enforce any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations
guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Subsidiary
Guarantor further agrees that, as between each Subsidiary Guarantor, on the one hand, and the
Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby
may be accelerated as provided in Article IV hereof for the purposes of this Subsidiary Guarantee,
notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect
of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any acceleration of such obligations
as provided in Article IV hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith
become due and payable by each Subsidiary Guarantor for the purpose of this Subsidiary Guarantee.
Section 12.2 Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
(a) Except as set forth in Article VII hereof, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any
of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Subsidiary Guarantor with or into
the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor or shall prevent any sale, conveyance or other
disposition of all or substantially all the Properties of a Subsidiary Guarantor to the Company or
another Subsidiary Guarantor.
(b) Except as set forth in Article VII hereof, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any
of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Subsidiary Guarantor with or into
a Person other than the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor (whether or not Affiliated with the
Subsidiary Guarantor), or successive consolidations or mergers in which a Subsidiary Guarantor or
its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance or
other disposition of all or substantially all the Properties of a Subsidiary Guarantor to a Person
other than the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor (whether or not Affiliated with the
Subsidiary Guarantor) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, that (i)
immediately after such transaction, and giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred as a result of such transaction and be continuing, (ii) such transaction shall not
violate any of the covenants of Sections 9.1 through 9.7 hereof, and (iii) each Subsidiary
Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance
or other disposition, such Subsidiary Guarantors Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in this Article
XII, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of
this Indenture to be performed by such Subsidiary Guarantor, shall be expressly assumed (in the
event that the Subsidiary Guarantor is not the surviving corporation in a merger), by supplemental
indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee, by such
Person formed by such consolidation, or into which the Subsidiary Guarantor shall have merged, or
by the Person that shall have acquired such Property (except to the extent the following Section
12.3 would result in the release of such Subsidiary Guarantee, in which case such surviving Person
or transferee of such Property shall not have to execute any such supplemental indenture and shall
not have to assume such Subsidiary Guarantors Subsidiary Guarantee). In the case of any such
consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or other disposition and upon the assumption by the
successor Person, by supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory
in form to the Trustee of the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions
of this Indenture to be performed by the Subsidiary Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed
to and be substituted for the Subsidiary Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named
herein as the initial Subsidiary Guarantor.
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Section 12.3 Release of Subsidiary Guarantors.
Upon the sale or disposition (by merger or otherwise) of a Subsidiary Guarantor (or all or
substantially all of its Properties) to a Person other than the Company or another Subsidiary
Guarantor and pursuant to a transaction that is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this
Indenture, including but not limited to the provisions of Section 12.2 hereof or pursuant to
Article VII hereof, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed released from its Subsidiary
Guarantee and all related obligations under this Indenture; provided, however, that any such
release shall occur only to the extent that all obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under all
of its guarantees of, and under all of its pledges of assets or other security interests which
secure, other Indebtedness of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary shall also be released
upon such sale or other disposition. The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing
such release upon receipt of a Company Request accompanied by an Officers Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel certifying that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in
accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. Each Subsidiary Guarantor that is designated as
an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture shall be released
from its Subsidiary Guarantee and all related obligations under this Indenture for so long as it
remains an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing
such release upon its receipt of the Board Resolution designating such Unrestricted Subsidiary. Any
Subsidiary Guarantor not released in accordance with this Section 12.3 shall remain liable for the
full amount of principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest on the Securities as provided in
this Article XII.
Section 12.4 Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantors Liability.
Each Subsidiary Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder, hereby confirm that it is
the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to its
Subsidiary Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Federal
Bankruptcy Code, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any
similar federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and each
Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor
under its Subsidiary 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 after giving effect
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 Subsidiary Guarantee or
pursuant to Section 12.5 hereof, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its
Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting such a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer. This
Section 12.4 is for the benefit of the creditors of each Subsidiary Guarantor.
Section 12.5 Contribution.
In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Subsidiary Guarantors, the
Subsidiary Guarantors agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any
Subsidiary Guarantor (a Funding Guarantor) under its Subsidiary Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor
shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor (if any) in a pro rata
amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor (including the Funding
Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging
the Companys obligations with respect to the Securities or any other Subsidiary Guarantors
obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee.
Section 12.6 Subordination of Subsidiary Guarantees.
The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guarantees pursuant to this
Article XII shall be junior and subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Guarantor
Senior Debt (including interest after the commencement of any proceeding of the type described in
Section 12.1 with respect to such Subsidiary Guarantor at the rate specified in the applicable
Guarantor Senior Debt, whether or not such interest would be an allowed claim in such proceeding)
of such Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case on the same basis as the Securities are junior and
subordinated to Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as set forth in Article XIV mutatis mutandis.
For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Trustee and the Holders shall have the right to
receive and/or retain payments by a Subsidiary Guarantor only at such times as they receive and/or
retain payments and distributions in respect of the Securities pursuant to this Indenture,
including Article XIV hereof.
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Section 12.7 Severability.
In case any provision of this Subsidiary Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable,
that portion of such provision that is not invalid, illegal or unenforceable shall remain in
effect, and the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any
way be affected or impaired thereby.
ARTICLE XIII.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.1 Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
Upon any application or request by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee to
take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as
the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required
under the Trust Indenture Act or this Indenture. Each such certificate and each such legal opinion
shall be in the form of an Officers Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel, as applicable, and shall
comply with the requirements of this Indenture.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided
for in this Indenture shall include:
(1) a statement that each Person signing such certificate or opinion has read such
covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;
(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 each such Person, such Person has made such
examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as
to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such Person, such condition or
covenant has been complied with.
The certificates and opinions provided pursuant to this Section 13.1 and the statements
required by this Section 13.1 shall be satisfactory to the Trustee and comply in all respects with
TIA Sections 314(c) and (e).
Section 13.2 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion
of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by
the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document,
but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more
other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to
such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters,
upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in
the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations
with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such
Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon an officers
certificate, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the
certificate with respect to such matters is erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests,
consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may,
but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
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Section 13.3 Acts of Holders.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action
provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one
or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents
duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall
become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is
hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied
therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the Act of the Holders signing
such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing
appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in
favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be
proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or
other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual
signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution
is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or
affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of authority. The fact and date of the execution
of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be
proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.
(c) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and
the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.
(d) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Securities any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, by
or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders
entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding TIA Section 316(c), such
record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall
be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in
connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record
date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act
may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of
business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether
Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or
consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act,
and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date, provided
that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed
effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later
than eleven months after the record date.
(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the
Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every
Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu
thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company
in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.
Section 13.4 Notices, etc. to Trustee, Company and Subsidiary Guarantors.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or
other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to or
filed with,
(1) the Trustee by any Holder, the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any holder of
Senior Indebtedness shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished
or filed in writing (in the English language) and delivered in person or mailed by certified
or registered mail (return receipt requested) to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office;
or
(2) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be
sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in
writing (in the English language)
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and delivered in person or mailed by certified or registered mail (return receipt
requested) to the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, addressed to it at the
Companys offices located at 5300 Town and Country Blvd., Suite 500, Frisco, Texas, 75034,
Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or at any other address otherwise furnished in writing to
the Trustee by the Company.
Section 13.5 Notice to Holders; Waiver.
Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders by the Company or the
Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in
writing (in the English language) and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected
by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest
date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case
where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect
in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with
respect to other Holders. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be
conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually
receives such notice. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be
waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event,
and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed
with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action
taken in reliance upon such waiver.
In case by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason
of any other cause, it shall be impracticable to mail notice of any event to Holders when such
notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of
giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient
giving of such notice for every purpose hereunder.
Section 13.6 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and
shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 13.7 Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors
shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All agreements of
the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
Section 13.8 Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantees
shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and a Holder shall have
no claim therefor against any party hereto.
Section 13.9 Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person
(other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Registrar and their successors hereunder, the
Holders and, to the extent set forth in Section 12.4 hereof, creditors of Subsidiary Guarantors and
the holders of Senior Indebtedness) any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under this Indenture.
Section 13.10 Governing Law; Trust Indenture Act Controls.
(a) THIS INDENTURE, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING
EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS
OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY. THE COMPANY AND EACH SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR
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IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR NEW YORK
STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES, AND THE
COMPANY AND EACH SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION
OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED BY ANY SUCH COURT.
(b) This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required
to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the
duties imposed by operation of Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, or conflicts with any
provision (an incorporated provision) required by or deemed to be included in this Indenture by
operation of such Trust Indenture Act section, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall
control.
Section 13.11 Legal Holidays.
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, or Stated Maturity or Maturity
of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this
Indenture or of the Securities or the Subsidiary Guarantee) payment of interest or principal (and
premium, if any) need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day
with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or at the
Stated Maturity or Maturity; provided, however, that no interest shall accrue for the period from
and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may
be.
Section 13.12 No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee, stockholder, incorporator or Affiliate, as such, past, present
or future, of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not have any personal liability under
the Securities or this Indenture by reason of his or its status as a director, officer, employee,
stockholder, incorporator or Affiliate or any liability for any obligations of the Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor under the Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect
of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder, by accepting any of the
Securities, waives and releases all such liability to the extent permitted by applicable law.
Section 13.13 Duplicate Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies or counterparts of this Indenture. Each signed copy
shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
Section 13.14 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to
interpret this Indenture.
Section 13.15 Force Majeure.
In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the
performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly,
forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts
of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of
God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and
hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are
consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as
practicable under the circumstances.
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Section 13.16 Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLE 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.
ARTICLE XIV.
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
Section 14.1 Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness.
(1) The Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder
of Securities, by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest on each and all of the Securities is hereby
expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment
to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company.
(2) If (A) the Company shall default in the payment of any principal of, premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company when the same becomes due and payable,
whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration of acceleration or
otherwise, or (B) any other default shall occur with respect to Senior Indebtedness of the Company
and the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated in accordance with its terms,
then, upon written notice of such default to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of Senior
Indebtedness of the Company or any trustee therefore, unless and until, in either case, the default
has been cured or waived or has ceased to exists, or, any such acceleration has been rescinded or
such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property,
securities, by set-off or otherwise) shall be made or agreed to be made on account of the principal
of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the Securities, or in respect of any
redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Securities other than those
made in Capital Stock of the Company (or cash in lieu of fractional shares thereof).
(3) If any default occurs (other than a default descried in paragraph (2) of this Section
14.1) under the Senior Indebtedness of the Company, pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be
accelerated immediately without further notice (except such notice as may be required to effect
such acceleration) or at the expiration of any applicable grace periods (a Senior Nonmonetary
Default), then, upon the receipt by the Company and the Trustee of written notice thereof (a
Payment Blockage Notice) from or on behalf of holders of such Senior Indebtedness of the Company
specifying an election to prohibit such payment and other action by the Company in accordance with
the following provisions of this paragraph (3), the Company may not make any payment or take any
other action that would be prohibited by paragraph (2) of this Section 14.1 during the period (the
Payment Blockage Period) commencing on the date of receipt of such Payment Blockage Notice and
ending on the earlier of (A) the date, if any, on which the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or
their representative notifies the Trustee that such Senior Nonmonetary Default is cured or waived
or ceases to exist or the Senior Indebtedness to which such Senior Nonmonetary Default relates is
discharged or (B) the 179th day after the date of receipt of such Payment Blockage Notice.
Notwithstanding the provisions described in the immediately preceding sentence, the Company may
resume payments on the Securities following such Payment Blockage Period.
Section 14.2 Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of
Securities.
Upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation
or reorganization of the Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership
proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the
assets and liabilities of the Company or otherwise (subject to the power of a court of competent
jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred in this Indenture
upon the Senior Indebtedness of the Company and holders thereof with respect to the Securities and
the Holders thereof by a lawful plan or reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law),
(1) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall be entitled to receive
payment in full of the principal thereof, premium, if any, interest, and any interest thereon,
due thereon before the Holders of the
41
Securities are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal, premium, interest of or
on the Securities or interest on overdue amounts thereof;
(2) any payment or distribution of assets of the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor (if
applicable) or any other obligor upon the Securities of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee (on behalf of the
Holders) would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XIV shall be paid by the
liquidating trustee or agent or other person making such payment or distribution, whether a
trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders
of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or their representative or representatives or to the
trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such
Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining
unpaid on account of the principal of, premium, if any, interest, and any interest thereon, on
the Senior Indebtedness of the Company held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to
make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company remaining unpaid, after giving
effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness; and
(3) in any event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets
of the Company, a Subsidiary Guarantor (if applicable) or any other obligor upon the Securities
of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by the
Trustee (on behalf of the Holders) or the Holders of the Securities before all Senior
Indebtedness of the Company is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be paid over the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee
or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior
Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably as aforesaid, for application to the payment of all
Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in
full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness.
Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the Holders of the
Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive
payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to Senior
Indebtedness of the Company until the principal, premium, interest, and interest thereon, of or on
the Securities shall be paid in full and no such payments or distributions to the Holders of the
Securities of cash, property or securities otherwise distributable to the Senior Indebtedness of
the Company shall, as between the Company, it creditors other than the holders of Senior
Indebtedness of the Company, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the
Company to or on account of the Securities. It is understood that the provisions of this Article
XIV are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of
the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, on the
other hand. Nothing contained in this Article XIV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the
Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the
holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of
the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the
principal, premium, interest, and any interest thereon, of or on the Securities as and when the
same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights
of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior
Indebtedness of the Company, nor shall anything herein or in the Securities prevent the Trustee or
the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon
default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XIV of the holders
of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon
the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred
to in this Article XIV, the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon a certificate of
the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any distribution to the Trustee for the
purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of
Senior Indebtedness of the Company and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or
payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon, and all other facts pertinent
thereto or to this Article XIV.
The Trustee, however, shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness of the Company. The Trustee shall not be liable to any such holder if it shall pay
over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders of Securities or the Company moneys or assets to
which any holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall be entitled by virtue of this Article
XIV. The rights and claims of the Trustee shall not be subject to the provisions of this Article
XIV.
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If the Trustee or any Holder of Securities does not file a proper claim or proof of debt in
the form required in any proceeding referred to above prior to 30 days before the expiration of the
time to file such claim in such proceeding, then the holder of any Senior Indebtedness of the
Company is hereby authorized, and has the right, to file an appropriate claim or claims for or on
behalf of such Holder of Securities.
Section 14.3 Payments of Securities Permitted.
Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall (1) affect the
obligation of the Company to make, or prevent the Company from making, at any time except as
provided in Sections 14.1 and 14.2, payments of principal, premium, interest, and any interest
thereon, of or on the Securities or (2) prevent the application by the Trustee of any moneys
deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal, premium, interest or
other amounts, and any interest thereon, of or on the Securities unless the Trustee shall have
received at its Corporate Trust Office written notice of any event prohibiting the making of such
payment five Business Days (A) prior to the date fixed for such payment, (B) prior to the execution
of an instrument to satisfy and discharge this Indenture or (C) prior to the execution of an
instrument acknowledging the defeasance of such Securities.
Section 14.4 Authorization of Holders of Securities to Trustee to Effect Subordination.
Each Holder of Securities by his acceptance thereof, whether upon original issue or upon
transfer or assignment, authorizes and directs the Trustee on this behalf to take such action as
may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article XIV and
appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
Section 14.5 Notices to Trustee.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee located
at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company which would prevent
the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Article XIV or any other provisions of this Indenture, neither the Trustee nor
any Paying Agent (other than the Company) shall be charged with knowledge of the existence of any
Senior Indebtedness of the Company or of any event which would prohibit the making of any payment
of moneys to or by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, unless and until the Trustee or such Paying
Agent shall have received (in the case of the Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office) written
notice thereof from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company or
from the trustee for or representative of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company together with
proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of such Senior Indebtedness or of the authority
of such trustee or representative; provided, however, that if at least five Business Days prior to
the date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys may become payable for any purpose
(including, without limitation, the payment of the principal, premium, interest, of or on any
Security, or any interest thereon) or the date on which the Trustee shall execute an instrument
acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the defeasance of Securities pursuant
to Section 11.2 or the date on which a deposit pursuant to clause (1) of Section 11.3 is made, a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall not have received at its Corporate Trust Office with
respect to such moneys or the moneys deposited with it as a condition to such satisfaction and
discharge or defeasance the notice provided for in this Section 14.5, then, anything herein
contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to
receive such moneys and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall
not be affected by any notice to the contrary, which may be received by it on or after such two
Business Days prior to such date. The Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the
delivery to it of a written notice by a person representing himself to be a holder of Senior
Indebtedness of the Company (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder) to establish
that such a notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or a trustee or
representative on behalf of any such holder. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith
that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior
Indebtedness of the Company to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article
XIV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the
Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness of the Company held by such Person, the extent to
which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts
pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XIV and, if such evidence is not
furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to
the right of such Person to receive such payment.
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Section 14.6 Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XIV in respect of
any Senior Indebtedness of the Company at any time held by it to the same extent as any other
holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company and nothing in this Indenture shall be construed to
deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
Section 14.7 Modification of Terms of Senior Indebtedness.
Any renewal or extension of the time of payment of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company or
the exercise by the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company of any of their rights under any
instrument creating or evidencing such Senior Indebtedness, including without limitation the waiver
of default thereunder, may be made or done all without notice to or assent from Holders of the
Securities or the Trustee.
No compromise, alteration, amendment, modification, extension, renewal or other change of, or
waiver, consent or other action in respect of, any liability or obligation under or in respect of,
or of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any indenture or other instrument under which
any Senior Indebtedness of the Company is outstanding or of such Senior Indebtedness, whether or
not such release is in accordance with the provisions of any applicable document, shall in any way
alter or affect any of the provisions of this Article XIV or of the Securities relating to the
subordination thereof.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall
be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
44
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as
of the day and year first above written.
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ISSUER: |
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COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. |
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By: |
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/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS |
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Name: |
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SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS: |
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COMSTOCK OIL & GAS, LP |
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By: |
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Comstock Oil & Gas GP, LLC, its general partner |
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By:
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/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS |
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Name: |
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COMSTOCK OIL & GAS-LOUISIANA, LLC |
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By: |
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/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS |
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Name: |
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COMSTOCK OIL & GAS GP, LLC |
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By: |
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/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS |
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Name: |
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COMSTOCK OIL & GAS INVESTMENTS, LLC |
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/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS |
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Name: |
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COMSTOCK OIL & GAS HOLDINGS, INC. |
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By: |
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/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS |
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Name: |
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TRUSTEE: |
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST |
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COMPANY, N.A. |
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/s/ RAFAEL MARTINEZ |
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Name:
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Rafael Martinez |
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Title:
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Senior Associate |
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Appendix A
PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE SECURITIES
1. Definitions.
1.1 Definitions.
For the purposes of this Appendix A the following terms shall have the meanings indicated
below:
Depository means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.
Securities means Securities in the aggregate principal amount of $ issued
.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Securities Custodian means the custodian with respect to a Global Security (as appointed by
the Depository), or any successor person thereto who shall initially be the Trustee.
1.2 Other Definitions.
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Term |
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Defined in Section: |
Agent Members |
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2.1 |
(b) |
Global Security |
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2.1 |
(a) |
2. The Securities.
2.1 Form and Dating.
(a) Global Securities. Securities shall be issued initially in the form of one or more
permanent global Securities in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons with the
global securities legend and restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto (each, a
Global Security), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Securities
represented thereby with the Securities Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depository or
a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as
provided in this Indenture. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Securities may from time
to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the
Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided.
(b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Security
deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.
The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b) and
pursuant to an order of the Company, authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global
Securities that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such Global Security or
Global Securities or the nominee of such Depository and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to
such Depository or pursuant to such Depositorys instructions or held by the Trustee as Securities
Custodian.
Members of, or participants in, the Depository (Agent Members) shall have no rights under
this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depository or by the
Trustee as Securities Custodian or under such Global Security, and the Depository may be treated by
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such
Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall
prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to
any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as
between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such
Depository governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global
Security.
Appendix A-1
(c) Certificated Securities. Except as provided in Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of
beneficial interests in Global Securities will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of
certificated Securities.
2.2 Authentication.
The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1) Securities for original issue in an aggregate
principal amount of $___, and (2) additional in an unlimited amount (except as otherwise
provided in the Indenture), upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers of the
Company. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated and the date on
which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated. The aggregate principal amount of
Securities outstanding at any time is unlimited, except as provided otherwise in the Indenture.
2.3 Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Certificated Securities. When certificated Securities are
presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request:
(x) to register the transfer of such certificated Securities; or
(y) to exchange such certificated Securities for an equal principal amount of certificated
Securities of other authorized denominations,
the Registrar or co-registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its
reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the certificated
Securities surrendered for transfer or exchange:
(i) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar or co-registrar, duly executed by the
Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing; and
(ii) are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 2.3(b) or pursuant to clause (A) or (B) below, and
are accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:
(A) if such certificated Securities 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 certificated Securities are being transferred to the Company, a
certification to that effect.
(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Certificated Security for a Beneficial Interest in a
Global Security. A certificated Security may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a
Global Security except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the
Trustee of a certificated Security, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar or co-registrar, together
with written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Securities Custodian to
make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Global Security to reflect an
increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Securities represented by the Global Security,
such instructions to contain information regarding the Depositary account to be credited with such
increase, then the Trustee shall cancel such certificated Security and cause, or direct the
Securities Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing
between the Depository and the Securities Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Securities
represented by the Global Security to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the
certificated Security to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of
the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Security equal to the
principal amount of the certificated Security so canceled. If no Global Securities are then
outstanding and the Global Security has not been previously exchanged pursuant to Section 2.4, the
Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon written order of the Company in the
form of an Officers Certificate, a new Global Security in the appropriate principal amount.
Appendix A-2
(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Securities.
(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Securities or beneficial interests therein shall be
effected through the Depository, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable
restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depository
therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall deliver a written
order given in accordance with the Depositorys procedures containing information regarding the
participant account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global
Security and such account shall be credited in accordance with such instructions with a
beneficial interest in the Global Security and the account of the Person making the transfer
shall be debited by an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the Global Security being
transferred.
(ii) If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Security
to a beneficial interest in another Global Security, the Registrar shall reflect on its books
and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Security to which
such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to
be so transferred, and the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a
corresponding decrease in the principal amount of Global Security from which such interest is
being transferred.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix A (other than the provisions
set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Security may not be transferred as a whole except by the
Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or
another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor
Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.
(d) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Security. At such time as all beneficial
interests in a Global Security have either been exchanged for certificated or certificated
Securities, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Security shall be returned by the
Depository to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time
prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for
certificated Securities, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Securities
represented by such Global Security shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books
and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Securities Custodian for such Global Security) with
respect to such Global Security, by the Trustee or the Securities Custodian, to reflect such
reduction.
(e) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Securities.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the
Trustee shall authenticate certificated Securities, Definitive Securities and Global Securities
at the Registrars or co-registrars request.
(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or
similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes,
assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Section
8.6).
(iii) The Registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or
exchange of any Security for a period beginning 15 days before the mailing of a notice of
redemption or an offer to repurchase Securities or 15 days before an interest payment date.
(iv) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the
Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar may deem and treat the
person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the
purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Security and for all other
purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the
Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.
Appendix A-3
(v) All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this
Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this
Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
(f) No Obligation of the Trustee.
(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a
Global Security, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or any other Person with
respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or
member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the
delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the
Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment (or
any delay in payment) of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and
communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the
Securities shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository
or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global
Security shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and
procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon
information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any
beneficial owners.
(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to
compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable
law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers
between or among Depository 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 this
Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the
express requirements hereof.
2.4 Certificated Securities.
(a) A Global Security deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee as Securities
Custodian pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form
of certificated Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such
Global Security, in exchange for such Global Security, only if such transfer complies with Section
2.3 and (i) the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a
Depository for such Global Security and a successor depositary for such Global Note is not
appointed by the Company within 90 days after delivery of such notice, or (ii) the Depository has
ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, or (iii) the Company delivers
to the Trustee an Officers certificate notifying the Trustee that it elects to cause the issuance
of certificated Securities in exchange for all outstanding Global Securities issued under this
Indenture, or (iv) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to
the Securities.
(b) Any Global Security that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this
Section 2.4 shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee, to be so transferred, in whole
or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon
such transfer of each portion of such Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of
certificated Securities of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Security transferred
pursuant to this Section shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of
$1,000 and any integral multiple thereof and registered in such names as the Depository shall
direct.
(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b), the registered Holder of a Global Security
may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may
hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under
this Indenture or the Securities.
(d) In the event of the occurrence of either of the events specified in Section 2.4(a)(i),
(ii), (iii) or (iv), the Company will promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of
certificated Securities in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons.
Appendix A-4
[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]
[Global Securities Legend]
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Notes in definitive form, this Note
may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a
nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the
Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust
Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) (DTC) to the issuer or its agent for registration
of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede &
Co. or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment
is made to Cede & Co. or such other entity as may be requested by an authorized representative of
DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS
WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
Appendix A-5
Exhibit 4.1
[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
[Title of Security]
No.
$
CUSIP No.
Comstock Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation, promises to pay to , or registered
assigns, the principal sum of ____________ Dollars on .
Interest Payment Dates:
and , beginning on .
Record Dates: and .
Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.
Date: , ___
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COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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[CORPORATE SEAL] |
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TRUSTEES CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION |
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., |
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as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities referred to in the Indenture. |
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By: |
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Authorized Signatory |
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[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF SECURITY]
[Title of Security]
1. Interest.
Comstock Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation (such corporation, and its successors and
assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the Company), promises
to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above. The
Company will pay interest semiannually on and of each year. Interest on the
Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest
has been paid, from . Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
of twelve 30-day months. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by
the Securities.
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 or next
preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or
before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect
principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States of
America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal,
premium and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts
specified by The Depository Trust Company. The Company will make all payments in respect of a
certificated Security (including principal, premium and interest), by mailing a check to the
registered address of each Holder thereof; provided, however, that payments on the Securities may
also be made, in the case of a Holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
Securities, by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the
United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the
Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days
immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may
accept in its discretion).
3. Paying Agent and Registrar.
Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the Trustee) will act as Paying
Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar
without notice. The Company may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.
4. Indenture.
The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of October 9, 2009 (the
Indenture), between the Company, the initial Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee. 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 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in
effect on the date of the Indenture (the TIA). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined
herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such
terms, and Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of those
terms.
The Securities are general unsecured obligations of the Company limited to $
aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding (subject to Sections 2.1 and 2.8 of the
Indenture). The Indenture also imposes limitations on the ability of the Company or any Subsidiary
Guarantor to consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or
substantially all of the Property of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.
[If applicable, insert To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal and
interest on the Securities and all other amounts payable by the Company under the Indenture and the
Securities when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise, according to the terms of the Securities and the
Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantors will unconditionally guarantee the Obligations on a joint
and several basis pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.]
5. [If applicable, insert Optional Redemption.
The Securities are subject to redemption, at the option of the Company, in whole or in part,
at any time on or after at the following Redemption Prices (expressed
as percentages of principal amount) set forth below if redeemed during the 12-month period
beginning of the years indicated below:
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together in the case of any such redemption with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the
Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive
interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Redemption Date), all as
provided in the Indenture.
6. [If applicable, insert Sinking Fund.
The Securities are not subject to any sinking fund.]
7. [If applicable, insert Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption will be sent at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the
redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at his or her registered address.
Securities in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples
of $1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all
Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying
Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after
such date interest ceases to accrue on such Securities (or such portions thereof) called for
redemption.]
8. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.
The Securities are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and whole
multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture.
Upon any transfer or exchange, the Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other
things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes required by
law or permitted by the Indenture.
9. Persons Deemed Owners.
The registered Holder of this Security may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
10. Unclaimed Money.
If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee
or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its written request unless an abandoned
property law designates another Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must
look only to the Company and not to the Trustee for payment.
11. Discharge and Defeasance.
Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time may terminate some of or all its
obligations under the Securities and the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee money
or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Securities to
redemption or maturity, as the case may be.
12. Amendment, Waiver.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and
the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors and the
rights of the Holders under the Indenture at any time by the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and
the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities at the time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders
of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding,
on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities, to waive compliance by the Company with certain
provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.
Any such consent or waiver by or on behalf of the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and
binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued
upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security. Without the consent of any Holder,
the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the
Securities to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to qualify or maintain the qualification
of the Indenture under the TIA, to add or release any Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the
Indenture and to make certain other specified changes and other changes that do not materially
adversely affect the interests of any Holder in any material respect.
13. Defaults and Remedies.
As set forth in the Indenture, an Event of Default is generally (i) failure to pay principal
upon maturity, redemption or otherwise; (ii) default for 30 days in payment of interest on any of
the Securities; (iii) default in the performance of agreements relating to mergers, consolidations
and sales of all or substantially all assets; (iv) failure for 60 days after notice to comply with
any other covenants in the Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee (if there shall be any) or the
Securities; (v) the failure of any Subsidiary Guarantee (if there shall be any) to be in full force
and effect (except as permitted by the Indenture); and (vi) certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary. If any Event of Default
occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities may declare the principal amount of all the Securities to be due and
payable immediately, except that (i) in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events
of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, the
principal amount of the Securities will become due and payable immediately without further action
or notice, and (ii) in the case of an Event of Default which relates to certain payment defaults or
the acceleration with respect to certain Indebtedness, any such Event of Default and any
consequential acceleration of the Securities will be automatically rescinded if any such
Indebtedness is repaid or if the default relating to such Indebtedness is cured or waived and if
the holders thereof have accelerated such Indebtedness then such holders have rescinded their
declaration of acceleration. No Holder may pursue any remedy under the Indenture unless the Trustee
shall have failed to act after notice from such Holder of an Event of Default and written request
by Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, and the
offer to the Trustee of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it; however, such provision does not
affect the right to sue for enforcement of any overdue payment on a Security by the Holder thereof.
Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding 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 default in payment of principal,
premium or interest) if it determines in good faith that withholding the notice is in the interest
of the Holders. The Company is required to file annual and quarterly reports with the Trustee as to
the absence or existence of defaults.
14. Trustee Dealings with the Company.
Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its
individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise
deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise
deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.
15. No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or Affiliate of the Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor, as such, past, present or future shall not have any personal liability under
this Security or any other
Security or the Indenture by reason of his or its status as such director, officer, employee,
incorporator, stockholder or Affiliate, or any liability for any obligations of the Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect
of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder, by accepting this Security,
waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the consideration for
the issuance of this Security.
16. Authentication.
This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an
authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this
Security.
17. Abbreviations.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Securityholder or an assignee, such as
TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with
rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift
to Minors Act).
18. Governing Law.
THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT
THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
19. 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 and has directed
the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders. No
representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as
contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification
numbers placed thereon.
THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH TO ANY HOLDER OF SECURITIES UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE
TO THE HOLDER A COPY OF THE INDENTURE WHICH HAS IN IT THE TEXT OF THIS SECURITY.
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Security, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer this Security to
(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code)
(Insert assignees soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)
and irrevocably appoint agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may
substitute another to act for him.
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Date: |
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Your Name: |
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(Print exactly as your name appears on the face of this Security) |
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Your Signature: |
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(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Security) |
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Signature Guarantee: |
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Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized
signature guaranty medallion program or other signature acceptable
to Trustee |
In connection with any transfer of any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate occurring
prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act after the
later of the date of original issuance of such Securities and the last date, if any, on which such
Securities were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that
such Securities are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
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to the Company or any subsidiary thereof; or |
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(2) |
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pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or |
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(3) |
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inside the United States to a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule
144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases 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 |
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(4) |
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outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of
Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the
Securities Act of 1933; or |
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(5) |
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inside the United States to an institutional accredited investor (as defined in
Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933) that has
furnished to the trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and
agreements (the form of which letter can be obtained from the Trustee) and, if such
transfer is in respect an aggregate principal amount of Securities less than
$100,000, an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company to the effect that such
transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act; or |
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(6) |
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pursuant to another available exemption from registration provided by Rule 144
under the Securities Act of 1933. |
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Securities
evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof;
provided, however, that if box (6) is checked, the Trustee may require, prior to registering any
such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the
Company 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.
Your Signature
TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Security 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
acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company 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 undersigneds foregoing representations in order to
claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.
Dated:
NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer
[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY
The initial principal mount of this Global Security is $ [ ]. The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:
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Principal amount of |
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Signature of authorized |
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Amount of decrease in Principal |
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in Principal Amount |
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signatory of Trustee |
Date of Exchange |
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Amount of this Global Security |
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of this Global Security |
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or Securities Custodian |
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exv4w2
Exhibit 4.2
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.,
THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Trustee
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
dated as of October 9, 2009
to
INDENTURE
dated as of October 9, 2009
83/8% Senior Notes due 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I. Relation to Original Indenture; Definitions |
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1 |
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Section 1.1 Relation to Indenture |
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Section 1.2 Definitions |
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Section 1.3 General References |
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ARTICLE II. The Series of Securities |
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2 |
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Section 2.1 Amount of Securities; Multiple Issuances |
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Section 2.2 Form and Dating |
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ARTICLE III. Amendment of Certain Definitional Provisions of
the Original Indenture |
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3 |
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Section 3.1 Amendment of Section 1.1 of the Original Indenture |
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Section 3.2 Amendment of Section 1.2 of the Original Indenture |
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Section 3.3 References to Appendix A |
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ARTICLE IV. Amendment and Restatement of Article III of the Original Indenture |
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27 |
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ARTICLE V. Amendment and Restatement of Article IV of
the Original Indenture |
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29 |
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ARTICLE VI. Amendment of Certain Provisions of Article V of
the Original Indenture |
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38 |
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ARTICLE VII. Amendment and Restatement of Article VII of
the Original Indenture |
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38 |
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ARTICLE VIII. Amendment and Restatement of Article VIII of
the Original Indenture |
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40 |
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ARTICLE IX. Amendment of Certain Provisions of Article IX of
the Original Indenture |
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43 |
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Section 9.1 Amendment and Restatement of Section 9.4 of the Original Indenture |
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43 |
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Section 9.2 Amendment and Restatement of Section 9.5 of the Original Indenture |
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Section 9.3 Additional Covenants |
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44 |
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ARTICLE X. Amendment and Restatement of Article X of
the Original Indenture |
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58 |
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ARTICLE XI. Amendment and Restatement of Article XI of
the Original Indenture |
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61 |
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ARTICLE XII. Amendment and Restatement of Article XII of
the Original Indenture |
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65 |
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ARTICLE XIII. Amendment of Certain Provisions of Article XIII of
the Original Indenture |
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68 |
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Section 13.1 Amendment and Restatement of Section 13.4 of the Original Indenture |
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68 |
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Section 13.2 Amendment and Restatement of Section 13.9 of the Original Indenture |
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69 |
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ARTICLE XIV. Miscellaneous |
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69 |
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Section 14.1 Governing Law; Trust Indenture Act Controls |
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Section 14.2 Duplicate Originals |
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70 |
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Section 14.3 Article XIV of the Original Indenture |
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70 |
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Appendix A Provisions Relating to Notes |
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Exhibit 1 to Appendix A Form of Note |
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ii
THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of October 9, 2009 (this First Supplemental
Indenture), is among COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC., a Nevada corporation (hereinafter called the
Company), the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS (as defined hereinafter) and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee (hereinafter called the Trustee).
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
WHEREAS, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein and the Trustee have heretofore
entered into an Indenture dated as of October 9, 2009 (the Original Indenture);
WHEREAS, under the Original Indenture, a new series of Securities (as defined in the Original
Indenture) may at any time be established by the Board of Directors of the Company, in accordance
with the provisions of the Original Indenture, and the terms of such series may be established in
an indenture supplemental to the Original Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to establish in this First Supplemental Indenture both the form
and terms of a series of Securities designated as its 83/8% Senior Notes due 2017 (the Notes); and
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental
Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Notes, and the Subsidiary Guarantors named herein have
duly authorized the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture to provide for the
guarantee of the Notes by the Subsidiary Guarantors as provided in this First Supplemental
Indenture;
WHEREAS, all things necessary have been done to make the Notes, when executed by the Company
and authenticated and delivered hereunder, the valid obligations of the Company and to make the
Original Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture (the Original Indenture,
as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture and as it may from time to time be further
supplemented or amended with applicability to the Notes, being referred to herein as the
Indenture), when executed by the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor named herein, a valid
agreement of the Company and each such Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case in accordance with their
respective terms.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and
ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes:
ARTICLE I.
Relation to Original Indenture; Definitions
Section 1.1 Relation to Indenture. With respect to the Notes, this First Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the
Original Indenture.
For all purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture:
Appendix A means Appendix A attached hereto.
Company has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Indenture has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
Trustee has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Section 1.2 Definitions. For all purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture, capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Original Indenture, as
supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture.
Section 1.3 General References. Unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, (i) all references in this
First Supplemental Indenture to Articles and Sections refer to the corresponding Articles and
Sections of this First Supplemental Indenture and (ii) the terms herein, hereof, hereunder,
hereto and any other word of similar import refers to this First Supplemental Indenture.
ARTICLE II.
The Series of Securities
Section 2.1 Amount of Securities; Multiple Issuances.
Subject to Section 2.3 of the Original Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate Notes for
original issue on the Issue Date in the aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000. Subject to
compliance with Section 9.12 of the Indenture, the Company may issue an unlimited amount of
Additional Notes from time to time after the Issue Date which shall have identical terms as the
Notes issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the issue price and the date of
issuance. The Notes issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes shall be part of the same
series of Securities for all purposes of the Indenture.
With respect to any Additional Notes, there shall be established in or pursuant to a
resolution of the Board of Directors and, subject to Section 2.3 of the Indenture, set forth or
determined in the manner provided in an Officers Certificate, or established in one or more
indentures supplemental to the Indenture, prior to the issuance of such Additional Notes:
(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered;
(2) the issue price and issuance date of such Additional Notes, including the date from which
interest on such Additional Notes shall accrue; and
(3) if applicable, that such Additional Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the
form of one or more Global Notes and, in such case, the respective depositories for such Global
Notes, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Note in addition
to or in lieu of that set forth in Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and any circumstances in addition to or
in lieu of those set forth in Section 2.3 of Appendix A in which any such Global Note may be
exchanged in whole or in part for Notes registered, and any transfer of such Global
2
Note in whole
or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the depository for such
Global Note or a nominee thereof.
If any of the terms of any Additional Notes are established by action taken pursuant to a
resolution of the Board of Directors, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be
certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee
at or prior to the delivery of the Officers Certificate or the indenture supplemental hereto
setting forth the terms of such issuance.
Section 2.2 Form and Dating.
Provisions relating to the Notes are set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in
and expressly made a part of this First Supplemental Indenture. The Notes and the Trustees
certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to Appendix A which
is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this First Supplemental Indenture. The
Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements
to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage, provided that any such notation, legend or
endorsement is in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company. Each Note shall be dated the date
of its authentication. The terms of the Notes set forth in Exhibit 1 to Appendix A are part of the
terms of this First Supplemental Indenture.
ARTICLE III.
Amendment of Certain Definitional Provisions of
the Original Indenture
Section 3.1 Amendment of Section 1.1 of the Original Indenture. Solely as it applies to the Notes, Section 1.1 of the Original Indenture is hereby supplemented
or superseded, in the case of definitional paragraphs that may be inconsistent, by inserting
therein, in alphabetical order, the following definitional paragraphs:
Acquired Indebtedness means Indebtedness of a Person (i) existing at the time such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) assumed in connection with acquisitions of
Properties from such Person (other than any Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in
contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such acquisition).
Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to be incurred on the date the acquired Person becomes
a Restricted Subsidiary or the date of the related acquisition of Properties from such
Person.
Additional Assets means (i) any Property (other than cash, Cash Equivalents or
securities) used in the Oil and Gas Business or any business ancillary thereto,
(ii) Investments in any other Person engaged in the Oil and Gas Business or any business
ancillary thereto (including the acquisition from third parties of Capital Stock of such
Person) as a result of which such other Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) the
acquisition from third parties of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary or
(iv) Investments pursuant to clause (v) of the definition of Permitted Investments.
3
Additional Notes means Notes issued from time to time after the Issue Date (other
than Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for,
or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.9, 9.16, 9.17 or 10.6 or Appendix A).
Adjusted Consolidated Net Tangible Assets means (without duplication), as of the date
of determination, the remainder of:
(i) the sum of:
(a) discounted future net revenues from proved oil and gas reserves of
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with
Commission guidelines before any state, Federal or foreign income taxes, as
estimated by the Company and confirmed by a nationally recognized firm of
independent petroleum engineers in a reserve report prepared as of the end
of the Companys most recently completed fiscal year for which audited
financial statements are available, as increased by, as of the date of
determination, the estimated discounted future net revenues from:
(1) estimated proved oil and gas reserves acquired since such
year-end, which reserves were not reflected in such year-end reserve
report, and
(2) estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to upward
revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves since such
year-end due to exploration, development or exploitation activities,
in each case calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines
(utilizing the prices utilized in such year-end reserve report),
and decreased by, as of the date of determination, the estimated discounted
future net revenues from:
(3) estimated proved oil and gas reserves produced or disposed
of since such year-end, and
(4) estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to downward
revisions of estimates of proved oil and gas reserves since such
year-end due to changes in geological conditions or
other factors which would, in accordance with standard industry
practice, cause such revisions, in each case calculated in accordance
with Commission guidelines (utilizing the prices utilized in such
year-end reserve report);
provided that, in the case of each of the determinations made pursuant to
clauses (1) through (4), such increases and decreases shall be as estimated
by the Companys petroleum engineers, unless there is a Material Change
4
as a
result of such acquisitions, dispositions or revisions, in which event the
discounted future net revenues utilized for purposes of this clause
(i)(a) shall be confirmed in writing by a nationally recognized firm of
independent petroleum engineers;
(b) the capitalized costs that are attributable to oil and gas
properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to which no proved
oil and gas reserves are attributable, based on the Companys books and
records as of a date no earlier than the date of the Companys latest annual
or quarterly financial statements;
(c) the Net Working Capital on a date no earlier than the date of the
Companys latest annual or quarterly financial statements; and
(d) the greater of (1) the net book value on a date no earlier than the
date of the Companys latest annual or quarterly financial statements and
(2) the appraised value, as estimated by independent appraisers, of other
tangible assets (including, without duplication, Investments in
unconsolidated Restricted Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, as of a date no earlier than the date of the Companys latest
audited financial statements; minus
(ii) the sum of:
(a) minority interests;
(b) any net gas balancing liabilities of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries reflected in the Companys latest audited financial statements;
(c) to the extent included in (i)(a) above, the discounted future net
revenues, calculated in accordance with Commission guidelines (utilizing the
prices utilized in the Companys year-end reserve report), attributable to
reserves which are required to be delivered to third parties to fully
satisfy the obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with
respect to Volumetric Production Payments (determined, if applicable, using
the schedules specified with respect thereto); and
(d) the discounted future net revenues, calculated in accordance with
Commission guidelines, attributable to reserves subject to
Dollar-Denominated Production Payments which, based on the estimates of
production and price assumptions included in determining the discounted
future net revenues specified in (i)(a) above, would be necessary to fully
satisfy the payment obligations of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries with respect to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments
(determined, if applicable, using the schedules specified with respect
thereto).
5
Asset Sale means any sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition
to any Person other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including,
without limitation, by means of a merger or consolidation) (collectively, for purposes of
this definition, a transfer), directly or indirectly, in one or a series of related
transactions, of (i) any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) all or
substantially all of the Properties of any division or line of business of the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) any other Properties of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries other than (a) a transfer of cash, Cash Equivalents,
hydrocarbons or other mineral products in the ordinary course of business or (b) any lease,
abandonment, disposition, relinquishment or farm-out of any oil and gas Properties in the
ordinary course of business. For the purposes of this definition, the term Asset Sale
also shall not include (a) any transfer of Properties (including Capital Stock) that is
governed by, and made in accordance with, the provisions of Article VII hereof; (b) any
transfer of Properties to an Unrestricted Subsidiary, if permitted under Section 9.10
hereof; or (c) any transfer (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of
Properties (including Capital Stock) having a Fair Market Value of less than $25,000,000.
Attributable Indebtedness means, with respect to any particular lease under which any
Person is at the time liable and at any date as of which the amount thereof is to be
determined, the present value of the total net amount of rent required to be paid by such
Person under the lease during the primary term thereof, without giving effect to any
renewals at the option of the lessee, discounted from the respective due dates thereof to
such date at the rate of interest per annum implicit in the terms of the lease. As used in
the preceding sentence, the net amount of rent under any lease for any such period shall
mean the sum of rental and other payments required to be paid with respect to such period by
the lessee thereunder excluding any amounts required to be paid by such lessee on account of
maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges. In
the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon payment of a penalty, such net
amount of rent shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be
considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which
it may be so terminated.
Average Life means, with respect to any Indebtedness, as at any date of
determination, the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the products of (a) the
number of years (and any portion thereof) from the date of determination to the date or
dates of each successive scheduled principal payment (including, without limitation, any
sinking fund or mandatory redemption payment requirements) of such Indebtedness
multiplied by (b) the amount of each such principal payment by (ii) the sum of all such
principal payments.
Bank Credit Facility means that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of December 15, 2006 among the Company, as Borrower, the lenders party thereto from
time to time, Bank of Montreal, as Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank, Bank of America,
N.A., as Syndication Agent, and Comerica Bank, Fortis Capital Corp. and Union Bank of
California, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents, and together with all related documents
executed or delivered pursuant thereto at any time (including,
6
without limitation, all
mortgages, deeds of trust, guarantees, security agreements and all other collateral and
security documents), in each case as such agreements may be amended (including any amendment
and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including
any agreement or agreements extending the maturity of, refinancing, replacing or otherwise
restructuring (including into two or more separate credit facilities, and including
increasing the amount of available borrowings thereunder provided that such increase in
borrowings is within the definition of Permitted Indebtedness or is otherwise permitted
under Section 9.12) or adding Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder
and all or any portion of the Indebtedness and other Obligations under such agreement or
agreements or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements, and whether by the same
or any other agent(s), lender(s) or group(s) of lenders.
Borrowing Base means, as of any date, the aggregate amount of borrowing availability
as of such date under the Bank Credit Facility that determines availability on the basis of
a borrowing base or other asset-based calculation.
Capitalized Lease Obligation means any obligation to pay rent or other amounts under
a lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any Property that is required to
be classified and accounted for as a capital lease obligation under GAAP, and, for the
purpose of the Indenture, the amount of such obligation at any date shall be the capitalized
amount thereof at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP.
Cash Equivalents means:
(i) any evidence of Indebtedness with a maturity of 180 days or less issued or
directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any
agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the
United States of America is pledged in support thereof);
(ii) demand and time deposits and certificates of deposit or acceptances with a
maturity of 180 days or less of any financial institution that is a member of the
Federal Reserve System having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of
not less than $500,000,000;
(iii) commercial paper with a maturity of 180 days or less issued by a
corporation that is not an Affiliate of the Company and is organized under the laws
of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and rated at least A-l
by S&P or at least P-l by Moodys;
(iv) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for
underlying securities of the types described in clause (i) above entered into with
any commercial bank meeting the specifications of clause (ii) above;
(v) overnight bank deposits and bankers acceptances at any commercial bank
meeting the qualifications specified in clause (ii) above;
7
(vi) deposits available for withdrawal on demand with any commercial bank not
meeting the qualifications specified in clause (ii) above but which is a lending
bank under the Bank Credit Facility, provided all such deposits do not exceed
$5,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time;
(vii) demand and time deposits and certificates of deposit with any commercial
bank organized in the United States not meeting the qualifications specified in
clause (ii) above, provided that such deposits and certificates support bond, letter
of credit and other similar types of obligations incurred in the ordinary course of
business; and
(viii) investments in money market or other mutual funds substantially all of
whose assets comprise securities of the types described in clauses (i) through
(v) above.
Change of Control means the occurrence of any event or series of events by which:
(i) any person or group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Exchange Act), is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total
Voting Stock of the Company;
(ii) the Company consolidates with or merges into another Person or any Person
consolidates with, or merges into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a
transaction in which the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is changed into or
exchanged for cash, securities or other Property, other than any such transaction
where (a) the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is changed into or exchanged
for Voting Stock of the surviving or resulting Person that is Qualified Capital
Stock and (b) the holders of the Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to
such transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of the Voting
Stock of the surviving or resulting Person immediately after such transaction;
(iii) the Company, either individually or in conjunction with one or more
Restricted Subsidiaries, sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise
disposes of, or the Restricted Subsidiaries sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or
otherwise dispose of, all or substantially all of the Properties of the Company and
such Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (either in one transaction or a
series of related transactions), including Capital Stock of the Restricted
Subsidiaries, to any Person (other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary);
(iv) during any consecutive two-year period, individuals who at the beginning
of such period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (together with any
new directors whose election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for
election by the stockholders of the Company was approved by a vote of 66 2/3% of the
directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such
period or whose election or nomination for election was
8
previously so approved)
cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Company then in office; or
(v) Comstock is liquidated or dissolved.
Consolidated Exploration Expenses means, for any period, exploration expenses of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period as determined on a consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means, for any period, the ratio on a pro
forma basis of (i) the sum of Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated Interest Expense,
Consolidated Income Tax Expense and Consolidated Non-cash Charges each to the extent
deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, in each case, for such period, of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, all determined in accordance with
GAAP, decreased (to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income) by the sum
of (x) the amount of deferred revenues that are amortized during such period and are
attributable to reserves that are subject to Volumetric Production Payments and (y) amounts
recorded in accordance with GAAP as repayments of principal and interest pursuant to
Dollar-Denominated Production Payments, to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for such
period; provided, however, that (a) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be
calculated on a pro forma basis on the assumptions that (a) the Indebtedness to be incurred
(and all other Indebtedness incurred after the first day of such period of four full fiscal
quarters referred to in Section 9.12(a) hereof through and including the date of
determination), and (if applicable) the application of the net proceeds therefrom (and from
any other such Indebtedness), including to refinance other Indebtedness, had been incurred
on the first day of such four-quarter period and, in the case of Acquired Indebtedness, on
the assumption that the related transaction (whether by means of purchase, merger or
otherwise) also had occurred on such date with the appropriate adjustments with respect to
such acquisition being included in such pro forma calculation and (b) any acquisition or
disposition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Properties outside the
ordinary course of business, or any repayment of any principal amount of any Indebtedness of
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to the Stated Maturity thereof, in either
case since the first day of such period of four full fiscal quarters through and including
the date of determination, had been consummated on such first day of such four-quarter
period, (b) in making such computation, the Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to
interest on any Indebtedness required to be computed on a pro forma basis in accordance with
Section 9.12(a) hereof and (a) bearing a floating interest rate shall be computed as if the
rate in effect on the date of computation had been the applicable rate for the entire period
and (b) which was not outstanding during the period for which the computation is being made
but which bears, at the option of the Company, a fixed or floating rate of interest, shall
be
computed by applying, at the option of the Company, either the fixed or floating rate,
(c) in making such computation, the Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to interest
on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility required to be computed on a pro forma
basis in accordance with Section 9.12(a) hereof shall be computed based upon the average
daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period, provided that such average
daily balance shall be reduced by the amount of any repayment of
9
Indebtedness under a
revolving credit facility during the applicable period, which repayment permanently reduced
the commitments or amounts available to be reborrowed under such facility,
(d) notwithstanding clauses (b) and (c) of this provision, interest on Indebtedness
determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent such interest is covered by agreements
relating to Interest Rate Protection Obligations, shall be deemed to have accrued at the
rate per annum resulting after giving effect to the operation of such agreements, (e) in
making such calculation, Consolidated Interest Expense shall exclude interest attributable
to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments, and (f) if after the first day of the period
referred to in clause (i) of this definition the Company has permanently retired any
Indebtedness out of the Net Cash Proceeds of the issuance and sale of shares of Qualified
Capital Stock of the Company within 30 days of such issuance and sale, Consolidated Interest
Expense shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as if such Indebtedness had been retired on
the first day of such period.
Consolidated Income Tax Expense means, for any period, the provision for federal,
state, local and foreign income taxes (including state franchise taxes accounted for as
income taxes in accordance with GAAP) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for
such period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Interest Expense means, for any period, without duplication, the sum of
(i) the interest expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period as
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, including, without limitation,
(a) any amortization of debt discount, (b) the net cost under Interest Rate Protection
Obligations (including any amortization of discounts), (c) the interest portion of any
deferred payment obligation constituting Indebtedness, (d) all commissions, discounts and
other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptance
financing and (e) all accrued interest, in each case to the extent attributable to such
period, (ii) to the extent any Indebtedness of any Person (other than the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary) is guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, the
aggregate amount of interest paid (to the extent not accrued in a prior period) or accrued
by such other Person during such period attributable to any such Indebtedness, in each case
to the extent attributable to that period, (iii) the aggregate amount of the interest
component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid (to the extent not accrued in a prior
period), accrued or scheduled to be paid or accrued by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries during such period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP and (iv) the aggregate amount of dividends paid (to the extent such dividends are not
accrued in a prior period and excluding dividends paid in Qualified Capital Stock) or
accrued on Disqualified Capital Stock of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, to the
extent such Disqualified Capital Stock is owned by Persons other than the Company or its
Restricted Subsidiaries, less, to the extent included
in any of clauses (i) through (iv), amortization of capitalized debt issuance costs of
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period.
Consolidated Net Income means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss)
of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period as determined in accordance
with GAAP, adjusted by excluding:
10
(i) net after-tax extraordinary gains or losses (less all fees and expenses
relating thereto);
(ii) net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating
thereto) attributable to Asset Sales;
(iii) the net income (or net loss) of any Person (other than the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries), in which the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent of the amount of
dividends or other distributions actually paid to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries in cash by such other Person during such period (regardless
of whether such cash dividends or distributions are attributable to net income (or
net loss) of such Person during such period or during any prior period);
(iv) the net income (or net loss) of any Person combined with the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on a pooling of interests basis attributable to
any period prior to the date of combination;
(v) the net income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the
declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted
Subsidiary is not at the date of determination permitted, directly or indirectly, by
operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment,
decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that
Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders;
(vi) dividends paid in Qualified Capital Stock;
(vii) income resulting from transfers of assets received by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary from an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(viii) Consolidated Exploration Expenses and any write-downs or impairments of
non-current assets; and
(ix) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles.
Consolidated Net Worth means, at any date, the consolidated stockholders equity of
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries less the amount of such stockholders equity
attributable to Disqualified Capital Stock or treasury stock of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries, as determined in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Non-cash Charges means, for any period, the aggregate depreciation,
depletion, amortization and exploration expense and other non-cash expenses of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period, determined
on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (excluding any such non-cash charge for
which an accrual of or reserve for cash charges for any future period is required).
11
Consolidated Total Indebtedness means, with respect to the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries as of any date of determination, the aggregate of all Indebtedness of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination, on a consolidated
basis, determined in accordance with GAAP.
Disinterested Director means, with respect to any transaction or series of
transactions in respect of which the Board of Directors of the Company is required to
deliver a Board Resolution hereunder, a member of the Board of Directors of the Company who
does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest (other than an interest
arising solely from the beneficial ownership of Capital Stock of the Company) in or with
respect to such transaction or series of transactions.
Disqualified Capital Stock means any Capital Stock that, either by its terms, by the
terms of any security into which it is convertible or exchangeable or by contract or
otherwise, is, or upon the happening of an event or passage of time would be, required to be
redeemed or repurchased prior to the final Stated Maturity of the Notes or is redeemable at
the option of the holder thereof at any time prior to such final Stated Maturity, or is
convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities at any time prior to such final Stated
Maturity. For purposes of Section 9.12(a) hereof, Disqualified Capital Stock shall be
valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary maximum fixed redemption or repurchase
price plus accrued and unpaid dividends. For such purposes, the maximum fixed redemption
or repurchase price of any Disqualified Capital Stock which does not have a fixed
redemption or repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such
Disqualified Capital Stock as if such Disqualified Capital Stock were redeemed or
repurchased on the date of determination, and if such price is based upon, or measured by,
the fair market value of such Disqualified Capital Stock, such fair market value shall be
determined in good faith by the board of directors of the issuer of such Disqualified
Capital Stock; provided, however, that if such Disqualified Capital Stock is not at the date
of determination permitted or required to be redeemed or repurchased, the maximum fixed
redemption or repurchase price shall be the book value of such Disqualified Capital Stock.
Dollar-Denominated Production Payments means production payment obligations of the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary recorded as liabilities in accordance with GAAP, together
with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.
Exchanged Properties means properties or assets used or useful in the Oil and Gas
Business received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in trade or as a portion of the
total consideration for other such properties or assets.
Existing Notes Issue Date means February 25, 2004.
First Supplemental Indenture means the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of the
Issue Date, between the Company and the Trustee, supplementing and amending the Original
Indenture as set forth therein.
12
The uncapitalized term guarantee means, as applied to any obligation, (i) a guarantee
(other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments or documents for collection in the
ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner, of any part or all of such
obligation and (ii) an agreement, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, the practical
effect of which is to assure in any way the payment or performance (or payment of damages in
the event of non-performance) of all or any part of such obligation, including, without
limiting the foregoing, the payment of amounts drawn down under letters of credit. When
used as a verb, guarantee has a corresponding meaning.
Holder means a Person in whose name a Note is registered in the Note Register.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:
(i) all liabilities of such Person, contingent or otherwise, for borrowed money
or for the deferred purchase price of Property or services (excluding any trade
accounts payable and other accrued current liabilities incurred and reserves
established in the ordinary course of business) and all liabilities of such Person
incurred in connection with any agreement to purchase, redeem, exchange, convert or
otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of such Person, or any warrants,
rights or options to acquire such Capital Stock outstanding on the date of this
Indenture or thereafter, if, and to the extent, any of the foregoing would appear as
a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;
(ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or
other similar instruments, if, and to the extent, any of the foregoing would appear
as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;
(iii) all obligations of such Person with respect to letters of credit;
(iv) all indebtedness of such Person created or arising under any conditional
sale or other title retention agreement with respect to Property acquired by such
Person (even if the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement
in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such Property), but
excluding trade accounts payable arising and reserves established in the ordinary
course of business;
(v) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;
(vi) the Attributable Indebtedness (in excess of any related Capitalized Lease
Obligations) related to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction of such Person;
(vii) all Indebtedness referred to in the preceding clauses of other Persons
and all dividends of other Persons, the payment of which is secured by (or for which
the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to
be secured by) any Lien upon Property (including, without
13
limitation, accounts and
contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or
become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness (the amount of such obligation
being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such Property or the amount of the
obligation so secured);
(viii) all guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness referred to in this
definition (including, with respect to any Production Payment, any warranties or
guaranties of production or payment by such Person with respect to such Production
Payment but excluding other contractual obligations of such Person with respect to
such Production Payment); and
(ix) all obligations of such Person under or in respect of currency exchange
contracts, oil and natural gas price hedging arrangements and Interest Rate
Protection Obligations.
Subject to clause (viii) of the first sentence of this definition, neither
Dollar-Denominated Production Payments nor Volumetric Production Payments shall be deemed to
be Indebtedness. In addition, Disqualified Capital Stock shall not be deemed to be
Indebtedness.
Indenture has the meaning specified in the recitals to the First Supplemental
Indenture.
Interest Payment Date means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on the
Notes.
Interest Rate Protection Obligations means the obligations of any Person pursuant to
any arrangement with any other Person whereby, directly or indirectly, such Person is
entitled to receive from time to time periodic payments calculated by applying either a
floating or a fixed rate of interest on a stated notional amount in exchange for periodic
payments made by such Person calculated by applying a fixed or a floating rate of interest
on the same notional amount and shall include, without limitation, interest rate swaps,
caps, floors, collars and similar agreements or arrangements designed to protect against or
manage such Persons and any of its Subsidiaries exposure to fluctuations in interest
rates.
Investment means, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect advance, loan,
guarantee of Indebtedness or other extension of credit or capital contribution by such
Person to (by means of any transfer of cash or other Property to others or any payment for
Property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition by
such Person of any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other
securities (including derivatives) or evidences of Indebtedness issued by, any other
Person. In addition, the Fair Market Value of the net assets of any Restricted Subsidiary
at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall
be deemed to be an Investment made by the Company in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at such
time. Investments shall exclude (i) extensions of trade credit or other advances to
customers on commercially reasonable terms in accordance with normal trade practices or
otherwise in the ordinary course of business, (ii) Interest Rate Protection
14
Obligations
entered into in the ordinary course of business or as required by any Permitted Indebtedness
or any Indebtedness incurred in compliance with Section 9.12 hereof, but only to the extent
that the stated aggregate notional amounts of such Interest Rate Protection Obligations do
not exceed 105% of the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness to which such
Interest Rate Protection Obligations relate and (iii) endorsements of negotiable instruments
and documents in the ordinary course of business. If the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Capital Stock of any direct or indirect
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to such sale or
disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company
will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal
to the Fair Market Value of the Companys Investments in such Restricted Subsidiary that
were not sold or disposed of.
Issue Date means October 9, 2009, the date on which the Notes were first
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
Leverage Ratio means with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for
any period, the ratio of (i) the Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of such period to (ii) the sum of Consolidated
Net Income, Consolidated Interest Expense, Consolidated Income Tax Expense and Consolidated
Non-cash Charges each to the extent deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, in each
case, for such period, of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis, all determined in accordance with GAAP, decreased (to the extent included in
determining Consolidated Net Income) by the sum of (a) the amount of deferred revenues that
are amortized during such period and are attributable to reserves that are subject to
Volumetric Production Payments and (b) amounts recorded in accordance with GAAP as
repayments of principal and interest pursuant to Dollar-Denominated Production Payments.
Calculation of the Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis shall be made in the manner specified
in the definition of Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio with respect to pro forma
calculations of the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
Lien means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien (statutory or other), security
interest, hypothecation, assignment for security, claim or similar type of encumbrance
(including, without limitation, any agreement to give or grant any lease, conditional sale
or other title retention agreement having substantially the same economic effect as any of
the foregoing) upon or with respect to any Property of any kind. A Person shall be deemed
to own subject to a Lien any Property which such Person has acquired or holds subject to the
interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other
title retention agreement.
Liquid Securities means securities (i) of an issuer that is not an Affiliate of the
Company, (ii) that are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock
Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market and (iii) as to which the Company is not subject to
any restrictions on sale or transfer (including any volume restrictions under Rule 144 under
the Securities Act or any other restrictions imposed by the Securities Act) or as to which a
registration statement under the Securities Act covering the resale thereof is in effect for
as long as the securities are held; provided that securities meeting the
15
requirements of
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above shall be treated as Liquid Securities from the date of
receipt thereof until and only until the earlier of (a) the date on which such securities
are sold or exchanged for cash or Cash Equivalents and (b) 150 days following the date of
receipt of such securities. If such securities are not sold or exchanged for cash or Cash
Equivalents within 120 days of receipt thereof, for purposes of determining whether the
transaction pursuant to which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary received the securities
was in compliance with Section 9.17 hereof, such securities shall be deemed not to have been
Liquid Securities at any time.
Material Change means an increase or decrease (except to the extent resulting from
changes in prices) of more than 30% during a fiscal quarter in the estimated discounted
future net revenues from proved oil and gas reserves of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, calculated in accordance with clause (i)(a) of the definition of Adjusted
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; provided, however, that the following will be excluded
from the calculation of Material Change: (i) any acquisitions during the quarter of oil and
gas reserves with respect to which the Companys estimate of the discounted future net
revenues from proved oil and gas reserves has been confirmed by independent petroleum
engineers and (ii) any dispositions of Properties during such quarter that were disposed of
in compliance with Section 9.17.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency
business thereof.
Net Available Cash from an Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction means cash
proceeds received therefrom (including (i) any cash proceeds received by way of deferred
payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as
and when received, and (ii) the Fair Market Value of Liquid Securities and Cash Equivalents,
and excluding (a) any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the
acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the Property that is the
subject of such Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction and (b) except to the extent
subsequently converted to cash, Cash Equivalents or Liquid Securities within 240 days after
such Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction, consideration constituting Exchanged
Properties or consideration other than as identified in the immediately preceding clauses
(i) and (ii)), in each case net of (a) all legal, title and recording expenses, commissions
and other fees and expenses incurred, and all federal, state, foreign and local taxes
required to be paid or accrued as a liability under GAAP as a consequence of such Asset Sale
or Sale/Leaseback Transaction, (b) all payments made on any Indebtedness (but specifically
excluding Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries assumed in connection
with or in anticipation of such Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction) which is secured
by any assets subject to such Asset Sale
or Sale/Leaseback Transaction, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such
assets, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset
Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from
such Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction, provided that such payments are made in a
manner that results in the permanent reduction in the balance of such Indebtedness and, if
applicable, a permanent reduction in any outstanding commitment for future incurrences of
Indebtedness thereunder, (c) all distributions and other payments
16
required to be made to
minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Sale
or Sale/Leaseback Transaction and (d) the deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by
the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with
the assets disposed of in such Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction and retained by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction;
provided, however, that if any consideration for an Asset Sale or Sale/Leaseback Transaction
(which would otherwise constitute Net Available Cash) is required to be held in escrow
pending determination of whether a purchase price adjustment will be made, such
consideration (or any portion thereof) shall become Net Available Cash only at such time as
it is released to such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries from escrow.
Net Cash Proceeds with respect to any issuance or sale of Qualified Capital Stock or
other securities, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of attorneys fees,
accountants fees, underwriters or placement agents fees, discounts or commissions and
brokerage, consultant and other fees and expenses actually incurred in connection with such
issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result thereof.
Net Working Capital means (i) all current assets of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, less (ii) all current liabilities of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, except current liabilities included in Indebtedness, in each case as set forth
in consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Non-Recourse Indebtedness means Indebtedness or that portion of Indebtedness of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred in connection with the acquisition by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of any Property and as to which (i) the holders of
such Indebtedness agree that they will look solely to the Property so acquired and securing
such Indebtedness for payment on or in respect of such Indebtedness, and neither the Company
nor any Subsidiary (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) (a) provides credit support,
including any undertaking, agreement or instrument which would constitute Indebtedness, or
(b) is directly or indirectly liable for such Indebtedness, and (ii) no default with respect
to such Indebtedness would permit (after notice or passage of time or both), according to
the terms thereof, any holder of any Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
to declare a default on such Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or
payable prior to its Stated Maturity.
Notes has the meaning specified in the recitals to the First Supplemental Indenture,
and includes Additional Notes.
Oil and Gas Business means (i) the acquisition, exploration, development, operation
and disposition of interests in oil, gas and other hydrocarbon Properties, (ii) the
gathering, marketing, treating, processing, storage, refining, selling and transporting
of any production from such interests or Properties, (iii) any business relating to or
arising from exploration for or development, production, treatment, processing, storage,
refining, transportation or marketing of oil, gas and other minerals and products produced
in association therewith and (iv) any activity necessary, appropriate or incidental to the
activities described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) of this definition.
17
Original Indenture has the meaning specified in the recitals to the First
Supplemental Indenture.
Outstanding, when used with respect to Notes, means, as of the date of determination,
all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) Notes theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation;
(ii) Notes, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption money in the
necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent
(other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the
Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such
Notes, provided that, if such Notes are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption
has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to
the Trustee has been made;
(iii) Notes, except to the extent provided in Sections 11.2 and 11.3 hereof,
with respect to which the Company has effected legal defeasance or covenant
defeasance as provided in Article XI hereof; and
(iv) Notes which have been replaced pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof or in
exchange for or in lieu of which other Notes have been authenticated and delivered
pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Notes in respect of which there
shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Notes
are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands the Notes are valid obligations of
the Company;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount
of Outstanding Notes have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, consent,
notice or waiver hereunder, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA
Section 313, Notes owned by the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor upon
the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or such other obligor
shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether
the Trustee shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such
request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, notice or waiver, only Notes which the
Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been
pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the
satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgees right so to act with respect to such Notes and
that the pledgee is not the Company, any
Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company,
any Subsidiary Guarantor or such other obligor.
Permitted Indebtedness means any of the following:
(i) Priority Credit Facility Debt in an aggregate amount at any one time
outstanding not to exceed the greater of (a) the Borrowing Base under the
18
Bank
Credit Facility at such time less the sum of all repayments of principal of Priority
Credit Facility Debt made pursuant to Section 9.17 hereof and (b) 25% of Adjusted
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; provided, however, that Indebtedness and
Disqualified Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary
Guarantors shall not at any time constitute more than 50% of all Priority Credit
Facility Debt otherwise permitted under this clause (i);
(ii) Indebtedness under the Notes (excluding any Additional Notes);
(iii) Indebtedness outstanding or in effect on the Issue Date (and not repaid
or defeased with the proceeds of the offering of the Notes);
(iv) obligations pursuant to Interest Rate Protection Obligations, but only to
the extent such obligations do not exceed 105% of the aggregate principal amount of
the Indebtedness covered by such Interest Rate Protection Obligations; obligations
under currency exchange contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
hedging arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business for the purpose
of protecting production, purchases and resales against fluctuations in oil or
natural gas prices; and any guarantee of any of the foregoing;
(v) the Subsidiary Guarantees (and any assumption of the obligations guaranteed
thereby);
(vi) Indebtedness of the Company owing to and held by a Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary, and Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary owing to and held by the
Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary;
(vii) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and any guarantee thereof;
(viii) Non-Recourse Indebtedness;
(ix) in kind obligations relating to net oil or gas balancing positions arising
in the ordinary course of business;
(x) Indebtedness in respect of bid, performance or surety bonds issued for the
account of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of
business, including guaranties and letters of credit supporting such bid,
performance or surety obligations (in each case other than for an obligation for
money borrowed); and
(xi) any additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not in excess
of $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding and any guarantee thereof.
Permitted Investments means any of the following:
(i) Investments in Cash Equivalents;
(ii) Investments in property, plant and equipment used in the ordinary course
of business;
19
(iii) Investments in the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(iv) Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in
another Person, if (a) as a result of such Investment (x) such other Person becomes
a Restricted Subsidiary or (y) such other Person is merged or consolidated with or
into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its Properties to, the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) such other Person is primarily engaged in
the Oil and Gas Business;
(v) entry into operating agreements, joint ventures, partnership agreements,
working interests, royalty interests, mineral leases, processing agreements,
farm-out agreements, contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil and
natural gas, unitization agreements, pooling arrangements, area of mutual interest
agreements or other similar or customary agreements, transactions, Properties,
interests or arrangements, and Investments and expenditures in connection therewith
or pursuant thereto, in each case made or entered into in the ordinary course of the
Oil and Gas Business;
(vi) entry into any hedging arrangements in the ordinary course of business for
the purpose of protecting the Companys or any Restricted Subsidiarys production,
purchases and resales against fluctuations in oil or natural gas prices;
(vii) entry into any currency exchange contract in the ordinary course of
business;
(viii) Investments in stock, obligations or securities received in settlement
of debts owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of bankruptcy
or insolvency proceedings or upon the foreclosure, perfection or enforcement of any
Lien in favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case as to debt
owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that arose in the ordinary course
of business of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary;
(ix) guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.12; and
(x) other Investments, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any one time
outstanding the greater of (a) $20,000,000 and (b) 5% of Adjusted Consolidated Net
Tangible Assets.
Permitted Liens means the following types of Liens:
(i) Liens securing Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
that constitutes Priority Credit Facility Debt permitted pursuant to clause (i) of
the definition of Permitted Indebtedness;
(ii) Liens existing as of the Issue Date (excluding Liens securing Indebtedness
of the Company under the Bank Credit Facility);
20
(iii) Liens securing the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees;
(iv) Liens in favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(v) Liens for taxes, assessments and governmental charges or claims either
(a) not delinquent or (b) contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as
to which the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have set aside on its
books such reserves as may be required pursuant to GAAP;
(vi) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen,
mechanics, suppliers, materialmen, repairmen and other Liens imposed by law incurred
in the ordinary course of business for sums not delinquent or being contested in
good faith, if such reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be
required by GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof;
(vii) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in
connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of
social security, or to secure the payment or performance of tenders, statutory or
regulatory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, government contracts and
leases, performance and return of money bonds and other similar obligations
(exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money but including lessee or
operator obligations under statutes, governmental regulations or instruments related
to the ownership, exploration and production of oil, gas and minerals on state,
federal or foreign lands or waters);
(viii) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default so
long as any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the
review of such judgment shall not have been finally terminated or the period within
which such proceeding may be initiated shall not have expired;
(ix) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar charges or
encumbrances not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of
the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(x) any interest or title of a lessor under any capital lease or operating
lease;
(xi) purchase money Liens; provided, however, that (a) the related purchase
money Indebtedness shall not be secured by any Property of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary other than the Property so acquired (including, without
limitation, those acquired indirectly through the acquisition of
stock or other ownership interests) and any proceeds therefrom, (b) the
aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens it otherwise
permitted to be incurred under the Indenture and does not exceed the cost of the
property or assets so acquired and (c) the Liens securing such Indebtedness shall be
created within 90 days of such acquisition;
21
(xii) Liens securing obligations under hedging agreements that the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary enters into in the ordinary course of business for the
purpose of protecting its production, purchases and resales against fluctuations in
oil or natural gas prices;
(xiii) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods of any Person
securing such Persons obligations in respect of bankers acceptances issued or
created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or
storage of such inventory or other goods;
(xiv) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial
letters of credit which encumber documents and other Property relating to such
letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;
(xv) Liens encumbering Property under construction arising from progress or
partial payments by a customer of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries
relating to such Property;
(xvi) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising from
statutory, regulatory, contractual or warranty requirements of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries, including rights of offset and set-off;
(xvii) Liens securing Interest Rate Protection Obligations which Interest Rate
Protection Obligations relate to Indebtedness that is secured by Liens otherwise
permitted under this Indenture;
(xviii) Liens (other than Liens securing Indebtedness) on, or related to,
Properties to secure all or part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of
business for the exploration, drilling, development or operation thereof;
(xix) Liens on pipeline or pipeline facilities which arise by operation of law;
(xx) Liens arising under operating agreements, joint venture agreements,
partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farm-out agreements, division orders,
contracts for the sale, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas,
unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest
agreements and other agreements which are customary in the Oil and Gas Business;
(xxi) Liens reserved in oil and gas mineral leases for bonus or rental payments
or for compliance with the terms of such leases;
(xxii) Liens constituting survey exceptions, encumbrances, easements or
reservations of, or rights to others for, rights-of-way, zoning or other
restrictions as to the use of real properties, and minor defects of title which, in
the case of any of the foregoing, were not incurred or created to secure the payment
of borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of Property or services, and in the
aggregate
22
do not materially adversely affect the value of the Properties of the
Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or materially impair the
use of such Properties for the purposes for which such Properties are held by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries;
(xxiii) Liens securing Non-Recourse Indebtedness; provided, however, that the
related Non-Recourse Indebtedness shall not be secured by any Property of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Property acquired (including,
without limitation, those acquired indirectly through the acquisition of stock or
other ownership interests) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with the
proceeds of such Non-Recourse Indebtedness;
(xxiv) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company and Liens on Property of a Subsidiary
existing at the time it became a Subsidiary, provided that such Liens were in
existence prior to the contemplation of the acquisition and do not extend to any
assets other than the acquired Property; and
(xxv) Liens resulting from the deposit of funds or evidences of Indebtedness in
trust for the purpose of defeasing Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries so long as such deposit and such defeasance are permitted
under Section 9.10.
Notwithstanding anything in clauses (i) through (xxv) of this definition, the term
Permitted Liens shall not include any Liens resulting from the creation, incurrence,
issuance, assumption or guarantee of any Production Payments other than Production Payments
that are created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with the financing
of, and within 30 days after, the acquisition of the Properties that are subject thereto.
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness means Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary, the net proceeds of which are used to renew, extend, refinance, refund or
repurchase (including, without limitation, pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or
Prepayment Offer) outstanding Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary,
provided that (i) if the Indebtedness (including the Notes) being renewed, extended,
refinanced, refunded or repurchased is pari passu with or subordinated in right of payment
to either the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, then such Indebtedness is pari passu with
or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case
may be, at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced,
refunded or repurchased, (ii) such Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity for its final
scheduled principal payment that is no earlier than the Stated Maturity for the final
scheduled principal payment of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced,
refunded or repurchased and (iii) such Indebtedness has an Average
Life at the time such Indebtedness is incurred that is equal to or greater than the
Average Life of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or
repurchased; provided, further, that such Indebtedness is in an aggregate principal amount
(or, if such Indebtedness is issued at a price less than the principal amount thereof, the
aggregate amount of gross proceeds therefrom is) not in excess of the aggregate principal
amount
23
then outstanding of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or
repurchased (or if the Indebtedness being renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or
repurchased was issued at a price less than the principal amount thereof, then not in excess
of the amount of liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP) plus the
amount of any premium required to be paid in connection with such renewal, extension,
refinancing, refunding or repurchase pursuant to the terms of the Indebtedness being
renewed, extended, refinanced, refunded or repurchased or the amount of any premium
reasonably determined by the Company as necessary to accomplish such renewal, extension,
refinancing, refunding or repurchase, plus the amount of reasonable fees and expenses
incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection therewith.
Preferred Stock means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests,
participations or other equivalents (however designated) of such Persons preferred or
preference stock, whether now outstanding or issued after the Issue Date, including, without
limitation, all classes and series of preferred or preference stock of such Person.
Priority Credit Facility Debt means, collectively, (i) Indebtedness of the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary (including, without limitation, Indebtedness under the Bank Credit
Facility) secured by Liens not otherwise permitted under any of clauses (ii) through (xxv),
inclusive, of the definition of Permitted Liens, and (ii) other Indebtedness or
Disqualified Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.
For purposes of clause (i) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness, Priority Credit
Facility Debt shall be calculated, at any time of determination, (a) in the case of
Indebtedness under the Bank Credit Facility or Indebtedness under any other instrument or
agreement, with reference to the aggregate principal amount outstanding thereunder at such
time, excluding all interest, fees and other Obligations under such facility, instrument or
agreement, and (b) in the case of Disqualified Capital Stock, in the manner specified in the
definition of Disqualified Capital Stock.
Production Payments means, collectively, Dollar-Denominated Production Payments and
Volumetric Production Payments.
Public Equity Offering means an offer and sale of Common Stock (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the Company for cash pursuant to a registration statement that has
been declared effective by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act (other than a
registration statement on Form S-8 or otherwise relating to equity securities issuable under
any employee benefit plan of the Company).
Qualified Capital Stock of any Person means any and all Capital Stock of such Person
other than Disqualified Capital Stock.
Redemption Date, when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, in whole or in
part, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
24
Redemption Price, when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, means the price
at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date means the
April 1 or October 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding
such Interest Payment Date.
Restricted Investment means (without duplication) (i) the designation of a Subsidiary
as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in the manner described in the definition of Unrestricted
Subsidiary and (ii) any Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
S&P means Standard and Poors Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
Sale/Leaseback Transaction means, with respect to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any principal property, whereby such
property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to such Person.
Senior Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
(whether outstanding on the date hereof or hereinafter incurred), unless such Indebtedness
is Subordinated Indebtedness.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, (i) a corporation a majority of whose
Voting Stock is at the time owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, by one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person,
or (ii) any other Person (other than a corporation), including, without limitation, a joint
venture, in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or such Person and
one or more Subsidiaries of such Person have, directly or indirectly, at the date of
determination thereof, at least majority ownership interest entitled to vote in the election
of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or other Person performing similar functions).
Subsidiary Guarantor means (i) Comstock Oil & Gas, LP, (ii) Comstock Oil & Gas
Louisiana, LLC, (iii) Comstock Oil & Gas GP, LLC, (iv) Comstock Oil & Gas Investments, LLC,
(v) Comstock Oil & Gas Holdings, Inc., (vi) each of the Companys other Restricted
Subsidiaries, if any, executing a supplemental indenture in compliance with the provisions
of Section 9.13(a) hereof and (vii) any Person that becomes a successor guarantor of the
Notes in compliance with the provisions of Sections 9.11 and 9.13 hereof.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means (i) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of
determination will be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of
Directors of the Company as provided below and (ii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary. The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary of the
Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary so long as (a) neither the Company nor any Restricted
Subsidiary is directly or indirectly liable pursuant to the terms of any
25
Indebtedness of
such Subsidiary; (b) no default with respect to any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary would
permit (upon notice, lapse of time or otherwise) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or
cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity;
(c) such designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary would be permitted under Section 9.10
hereof; and (d) such designation shall not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien
on any of the Properties of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any
Permitted Lien or any Lien the creation or imposition of which shall have been in compliance
with Section 9.15 hereof); provided, however, that with respect to clause (a), the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary may be liable for Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary if
(1) such liability constituted a Permitted Investment or a Restricted Payment permitted by
Section 9.10 hereof, in each case at the time of incurrence, or (2) the liability would be a
Permitted Investment at the time of designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary. Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be
evidenced to the Trustee by filing a Board Resolution with the Trustee giving effect to such
designation. If at any time any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing
requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted
Subsidiary for purposes of the Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be
deemed to be Incurred as of such date. The Board of Directors of the Company may designate
any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary if, immediately after giving effect
to such designation, on a pro forma basis, (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, (ii) the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness
(not including the incurrence of Permitted Indebtedness) under Section 9.12(a) hereof and
(iii) if any of the Properties of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries would
upon such designation become subject to any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien), the creation
or imposition of such Lien shall have been in compliance with Section 9.15 hereof.
Volumetric Production Payments means production payment obligations of the Company or
a Restricted Subsidiary recorded as deferred revenue in accordance with GAAP, together with
all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to
the extent (i) all of the Capital Stock or other ownership interests in such Restricted
Subsidiary, other than directors qualifying shares mandated by applicable law, is owned
directly or indirectly by the Company or (ii) such Restricted Subsidiary does substantially
all of its business in one or more foreign jurisdictions and is required by the applicable
laws and regulations of any such foreign jurisdiction to be partially owned by the
government of such foreign jurisdiction or individual or corporate citizens of such foreign
jurisdiction in order for such Restricted Subsidiary to transact business in such foreign
jurisdiction, provided that the Company, directly or indirectly, owns the remaining Capital
Stock or ownership interest in such Restricted Subsidiary and, by
contract or otherwise, controls the management and business of such Restricted
Subsidiary and derives the economic benefits of ownership of such Restricted Subsidiary to
substantially the same extent as if such Restricted Subsidiary were a wholly owned
subsidiary.
26
Section 3.2 Amendment of Section 1.2 of the Original Indenture. Section 1.2 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended, solely as it applies to the Notes, by
inserting therein, in alphabetical order, the following definitional cross-references:
|
|
|
|
|
Term |
|
Defined in |
|
Change of Control Notice |
|
|
9.16 |
(c) |
Change of Control Offer |
|
|
9.16 |
(a) |
Change of Control Purchase Date |
|
|
9.16 |
(c) |
Change of Control Purchase Price |
|
|
9.16 |
(a) |
Excess Proceeds |
|
|
9.17 |
(b) |
Global Note |
|
Appendix A |
Investment Grade Ratings |
|
|
9.21 |
|
Offer Amount |
|
|
9.17 |
(c) |
Offer Period |
|
|
9.17 |
(c) |
Payment Restriction |
|
|
9.19 |
|
Permitted Consideration |
|
|
9.17 |
(a) |
Prepayment Offer |
|
|
9.17 |
(b) |
Prepayment Offer Notice |
|
|
9.17 |
(c) |
Purchase Date |
|
|
9.17 |
(c) |
Restricted Payment |
|
|
9.10 |
(a) |
Reversion Date |
|
|
9.21 |
|
Surviving Entity |
|
|
7.1 |
(a) |
Suspended Covenants |
|
|
9.21 |
|
Suspension Date |
|
|
9.21 |
|
Suspension Period |
|
|
9.21 |
|
Section 3.3 References to Appendix A. Solely with respect to the Notes, the Original Indenture is hereby amended such that each
reference to Appendix A appearing therein shall be deemed to refer to Appendix A to the First
Supplemental Indenture.
ARTICLE IV.
Amendment and Restatement of
Article III of the Original Indenture
Article III of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, solely
as it applies to the Notes, to read as follows:
ARTICLE III.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 3.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
The Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to
surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, as expressly provided for
in the Indenture) as to all Outstanding Notes, and the Trustee, at the expense
27
of the Company, shall, upon payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 5.6 hereof,
execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture when
(a) either
(1) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Notes
which have been replaced as provided in Section 2.7 hereof and (ii) Notes for whose
payment money or United States governmental obligations of the type described in
clause (i) of the definition of Cash Equivalents have theretofore been deposited in
trust with the Trustee or any Paying Agent or segregated and held in trust by the
Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as
provided in Section 9.3 hereof) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,
or
(2) all such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(i) have become due and payable, or
(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one
year, or
(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,
and the Company, in the case of clause (2)(i), (2)(ii) or (2)(iii) above, has irrevocably
deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay
and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such
deposit (in the case of Notes which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity
or Redemption Date, as the case may be, together with instructions from the Company
irrevocably directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or
redemption, as the case may be;
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums then due and payable
hereunder by the Company; and
(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel, which, taken together, state that all conditions precedent herein relating to the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Notes have been complied
with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of
the Company to the Trustee under Section 5.6 hereof and, if money shall have been
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deposited with the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 3.2
hereof and the last paragraph of Section 9.3 hereof shall survive.
Section 3.2 Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.3 hereof, all money
deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof shall be held in trust and applied
by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment,
either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying
Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and
premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the
Trustee.
ARTICLE V.
Amendment and Restatement of
Article IV of the Original Indenture
Article IV of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, solely as
it applies to the Notes, to read as follows:
ARTICLE IV.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 4.1 Events of Default.
Event of Default, wherever used herein, means any one of the following events
(whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or
involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order
of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(a) default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any of the Notes
when the same becomes due and payable, whether such payment is due at Stated Maturity, upon
redemption, upon repurchase pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or a Prepayment Offer,
upon acceleration or otherwise; or
(b) default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Notes, when it
becomes due and payable, and the continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or
(c) default in the performance or breach of the provisions of Article VII hereof, the
failure to make or consummate a Change of Control Offer in accordance with the provisions of
Section 9.16 or the failure to make or consummate a Prepayment Offer in accordance with the
provisions of Section 9.17; or
29
(d) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall fail to comply with the provisions of
Section 9.9 for a period of 90 days after written notice of such failure stating that it is
a notice of default hereunder shall have been given (x) to the Company by the Trustee or
(y) to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes then Outstanding); or
(e) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall fail to perform or observe any other
term, covenant or agreement contained in the Notes, any Subsidiary Guarantee or the
Indenture (other than a default specified in subparagraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) above) for a
period of 60 days after written notice of such failure stating that it is a notice of
default hereunder shall have been given (x) to the Company by the Trustee or (y) to the
Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Notes then Outstanding; or
(f) the occurrence and continuation beyond any applicable grace period of any default
in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest on any Indebtedness
of the Company (other than the Notes) or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted
Subsidiary for money borrowed when due, or any other default resulting in acceleration of
any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted
Subsidiary for money borrowed, provided that the aggregate principal amount of such
Indebtedness, together with the aggregate principal amount of any other such Indebtedness
under which there has been a payment default or the maturity of which has been so
accelerated, shall exceed $50,000,000; or
(g) any Subsidiary Guarantee shall for any reason cease to be, or be asserted by the
Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, not to be, in full force and effect
(except pursuant to the release of any such Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with this
Indenture); or
(h) failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted
Subsidiary to pay final judgments or orders rendered against the Company or any Subsidiary
Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary aggregating in excess of $50,000,000 (net of
any amounts covered by insurance with a reputable and creditworthy insurance company that
has not disclaimed liability) and either (a) commencement by any creditor of an enforcement
proceeding upon such judgment (other than a judgment that is stayed by reason of pending
appeal or otherwise) or (b) the occurrence of a 60-day period during which a stay of such
judgment or order, by reason of pending appeal or otherwise, was not in effect; or
(i) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises
(a) for relief in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted
Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any
other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar
law or (b) adjudging the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted
Subsidiary bankrupt or insolvent, or approving a petition seeking reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment or composition of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any
other Restricted Subsidiary under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any applicable federal or
state law, or appointing under any such law a
30
custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar
official of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary or of
a substantial part of its consolidated assets, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of
its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other
decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(j) the commencement by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted
Subsidiary of a voluntary case or proceeding under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other
applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or
any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by the
Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary to the entry of a
decree or order for relief in respect thereof in an involuntary case or proceeding under the
Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency
case or proceeding against it, or the filing by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or
any other Restricted Subsidiary of a petition or consent seeking reorganization or relief
under any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it under any such law to the
filing of any such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian,
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or sequestrator (or other similar official) of the
Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary or of any substantial
part of its consolidated assets, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of
creditors under any such law, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its
debts generally as they become due or taking of corporate action by the Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary in furtherance of any such action.
Section 4.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 4.1(i) or
(j) hereof) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding, by written notice to the Company
(and to the Trustee if such notice is given by the Holders), may, and the Trustee upon the
request of the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Notes shall, by written notice to the Company, declare all unpaid principal of, premium, if
any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable immediately,
upon which declaration all amounts payable in respect of the Notes shall be immediately due
and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 4.1(i) or (j) hereof occurs and is
continuing, the amounts described above shall become and be immediately due and payable
without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made and before a judgment or
decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this
Article provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Notes, by written notice to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, may
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
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(a) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor has paid or deposited with the Trustee a
sum sufficient to pay,
(1) all overdue interest on all Outstanding Notes,
(2) all unpaid principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Outstanding Notes
which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, including
any Notes required to have been purchased on a Change of Control Date or a Purchase
Date pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or a Prepayment Offer, as applicable, and
interest on such unpaid principal at the rate borne by the Securities,
(3) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue
interest and overdue principal at the rate borne by the Notes (without duplication
of any amount paid or deposited pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) above), and
(4) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and
counsel;
(b) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of
competent jurisdiction as certified to the Trustee by the Company; and
(c) all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of amounts of principal of (or
premium, if any, on) or interest on Notes which have become due solely by such declaration
of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 4.13 hereof.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent
thereon.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in
Section 4.1(e) hereof shall have occurred and be continuing, such Event of Default and any
consequential acceleration shall be automatically rescinded if the Indebtedness that is the
subject of such Event of Default has been repaid, or if the default relating to such
Indebtedness is waived or cured and if such Indebtedness has been accelerated, then the
holders thereof have rescinded their declaration of acceleration in respect of such
Indebtedness (provided, in each case, that such repayment, waiver, cure or rescission is
effected within a period of 10 days from the continuation of such default beyond the
applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration), and written notice of such
repayment, or cure or waiver and rescission, as the case may be, shall have been given to
the Trustee by the Company and countersigned by the holders of such Indebtedness or a
trustee, fiduciary or agent for such holders or other evidence satisfactory to the Trustee
of such events is provided to the Trustee, within 30 days after any such acceleration in
respect of the Notes, and so long as such rescission of any such acceleration of the Notes
does not conflict with any judgment or decree as certified to the Trustee by the Company.
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Section 4.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if
(a) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Note when such
interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or
(b) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any
Note at the Maturity thereof or with respect to any Note required to have been purchased by
the Company on the Change of Control Purchase Date or the Purchase Date pursuant to a Change
of Control Offer or Prepayment Offer, as applicable, then the Company will, upon demand of
the Trustee, pay to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of such Notes, the whole
amount then due and payable on such Notes for principal (and premium, if any) and interest,
and interest on any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment
of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon any overdue installment of interest, at
the rate borne by the Notes, and, in addition thereto, 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.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in
its own name as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the
collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final
decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes and
collect the money adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the
Property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion
proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders by such appropriate
judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any
such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in the
Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in the Indenture, or to enforce any
other proper remedy.
Section 4.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative
to the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Notes, their
creditors or the Property of the Company, of any Subsidiary Guarantor or of any such other
obligor, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes shall then be due
and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether
the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors or such
other obligor for the payment of overdue principal, premium, if any, or interest) shall be
entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
33
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any)
and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Notes and to file such other papers or
documents and take any other actions including participation as a full member of any
creditor or other committee as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of
the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements
and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such
judicial proceeding, and
(b) to collect and receive any money or other Property payable or deliverable on any
such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official
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 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 5.6 hereof.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or
consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees 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 4.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes.
All rights of action and claims under the Indenture or the Notes or the Subsidiary
Guarantees may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of
the Notes or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such
proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name and as trustee of an
express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and
counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes in respect of which such
judgment has been recovered.
Section 4.6 Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the
following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in the case of the
distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon
presentation of the Notes and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and
upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: to the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 5.6 hereof;
SECOND: to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and
premium, if any, on) and interest on the Notes in respect of
34
which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably,
without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable
on such Notes for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: the balance, if any, to the Company, or to whomsoever may be lawfully
entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.
Section 4.7 Limitation on Suits.
No Holder of any Notes shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or
otherwise, with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee,
or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing
Event of Default;
(b) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Notes shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of
such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as the
Trustee may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance
with such request;
(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee
during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority or more in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Notes;
it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any
manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of the Indenture to affect,
disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain
priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any right under the Indenture,
except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all the
Holders.
Section 4.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and
Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in the Indenture, the Holder of any Note shall have
the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment, as provided herein
(including, if applicable, Article XI hereof) and in such Note of the principal of (and
premium if any, on) and (subject to Section 2.11 hereof) interest on, such Note on the
respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Note (or, in the case of redemption, on
35
the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and
such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 4.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or
remedy under the Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any
reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every
such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Subsidiary
Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to
their former positions hereunder and thereunder and all rights and remedies of the Trustee
and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 4.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.7 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred
upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other
right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be
cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or
hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any
right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or
employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 4.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Note to exercise any right
or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or
constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right
and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised
from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the
Holders, as the case may be.
Section 4.12 Control by Holders.
The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Notes shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred on the Trustee, provided that
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with the Indenture,
(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not
inconsistent with such direction,
36
(c) the Trustee need not take any action which might involve it in personal liability,
and
(d) the Trustee may decline to take any action that would benefit some Holders to the
detriment of other Holders.
Prior to taking any such action under this Section, the Trustee shall be entitled to such
reasonable security or indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and
liabilities that may be incurred by it in taking or declining to take any such action
hereunder.
Section 4.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Notes may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes, waive any existing Default
or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, except a Default or Event of Default
(a) in respect of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest
on any Note, or
(b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article VIII hereof cannot
be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note affected
thereby.
Upon any such waiver, such Default or Event of Default shall cease to exist for every
purpose under the Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 4.14 Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.
Each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors covenants (to the extent that each
may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead or in any manner
whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension, or usury law or
other law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which would prohibit or
forgive the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor from paying all or any portion of the
principal of (premium, if any, on) or interest on the Notes as contemplated herein, or which
may affect the covenants or the performance of the 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.
37
ARTICLE VI.
Amendment of Certain Provisions of
Article V of the Original Indenture
Section 5.13 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, solely
as it applies to the Notes, to read as follows:
Section 5.13 Notice of Defaults.
Within 60 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder, the Trustee shall
transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), notice of such
Default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived;
provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of
(or premium, if any, on) or interest on any Note, the Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or
a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith
determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders. The
Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default, other than a Default under
Section 4.1(a) or 4.1(b), unless the Trustee shall have been advised in writing that a
Default has occurred. No duty imposed upon the Trustee in this Indenture shall be
applicable with respect to any Default of which the Trustee is not deemed to have notice.
ARTICLE VII.
Amendment and Restatement of
Article VII of the Original Indenture
Article VII of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, solely
as it applies to the Notes, to read as follows:
ARTICLE VII.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE , TRANSFER OR LEASE
Section 7.1 Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms.
The Company shall not, in any single transaction or a series of related transactions,
merge or consolidate with or into any other Person, or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease
or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all the Properties of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis to any Person or group of Affiliated
Persons, and the Company shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to enter into
any such transaction or series of related transactions if such transaction or series of
transactions, in the aggregate, would result in a sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer,
lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Properties of the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis to any other Person or group of
Affiliated Persons, unless at the time and after giving effect thereto:
38
(a) either (i) if the transaction is a merger or consolidation, the Company shall be
the surviving Person of such merger or consolidation, or (ii) the Person (if other than the
Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which the
Properties of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, are sold,
assigned, conveyed, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of (any such surviving Person
or transferee Person being called the Surviving Entity) shall be a corporation organized
and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia and shall, in either case, expressly assume by an indenture
supplemental to the Indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to
the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture, and, in
each case, the Indenture shall remain in full force and effect;
(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related
transactions on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness not previously an
obligation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which becomes the obligation
of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with or as a result of
such transaction or transactions as having been incurred at the time of such transaction or
transactions), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(c) except in the case of the consolidation or merger of the Company with or into a
Restricted Subsidiary or any Restricted Subsidiary with or into the Company or another
Restricted Subsidiary, immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such
transaction or transactions on a pro forma basis (assuming that the transaction or
transactions occurred on the first day of the period of four full fiscal quarters ending
immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction or transactions, with the
appropriate adjustments with respect to the transaction or transactions being included in
such pro forma calculation), the Company (or the Surviving Entity if the Company is not the
continuing obligor under the Indenture) could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness
(excluding Permitted Indebtedness) under Section 9.12(a) hereof;
(d) if the Company is not the continuing obligor under the Indenture, then each
Subsidiary Guarantor, unless it is the Surviving Entity, shall have by supplemental
indenture confirmed that its Subsidiary Guarantee of the Notes shall apply to the Surviving
Entitys obligations under the Indenture and the Notes:
(e) if any of the Properties of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries would
upon such transaction or series of related transactions become subject to any Lien (other
than a Permitted Lien), the creation or imposition of such Lien shall have been in
compliance with Section 9.15 hereof; and
(f) the Company (or the Surviving Entity if the Company is not the continuing obligor
under the Indenture) shall have delivered to the Trustee, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee, (i) an Officers Certificate stating that such consolidation,
merger, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition and, if a supplemental indenture is
required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture, comply with the
Indenture and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel stating that the requirements of
Section 7.1(a) hereof have been satisfied.
39
Section 7.2 Successor Substituted.
Upon any consolidation of the Company with or merger of the Company into any other
corporation or any sale, assignment, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of all
or substantially all of the Properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis in accordance with Section 7.1 hereof, the Surviving Entity shall succeed
to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the
Indenture with the same effect as if such Surviving Entity had been named as the Company
herein, and in the event of any such sale, assignment, lease, conveyance, transfer or other
disposition, the Company (which term shall for this purpose mean the Person named as the
Company in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor Person which shall
theretofore become such in the manner described in Section 7.1 hereof), except in the case
of a lease, shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and
the Notes, and the Company may be dissolved and liquidated and such dissolution and
liquidation shall not cause a Change of Control under clause (e) of the definition thereof
to occur unless the sale, assignment, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the Properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on
a consolidated basis to any Person otherwise results in a Change of Control.
ARTICLE VIII.
Amendment and Restatement of
Article VIII of the Original Indenture
Article VIII of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, solely
as it applies to the Notes, to read as follows:
ARTICLE VIII.
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 8.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution,
each of the Subsidiary Guarantors, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee
upon Company Request, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more
indentures supplemental to the Indenture, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of
the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by
any such successor of the covenants of the Company contained in the Indenture and in the
Notes; or
(b) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or to
surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or
40
(c) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying the
Indenture under the TIA or maintaining such qualification thereafter; or
(d) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions
with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture, provided that such action
shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holder; or
(e) to secure the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees pursuant to the requirements of
Section 9.15 hereof or otherwise; or
(f) to add any Restricted Subsidiary as an additional Subsidiary Guarantor as provided
in Sections 9.11 and 9.13(a) hereof or to evidence the succession of another Person to any
Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 12.2(b) hereof and the assumption by any such
successor of the covenants and agreements of such Subsidiary Guarantor contained herein, in
the Notes and in the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor; or
(g) to release a Subsidiary Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to
Section 12.3 hereof; or
(h) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated
Notes.
Section 8.2 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Outstanding Notes, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the
Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, each of the Subsidiary
Guarantors, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee upon Company Request may
enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental to the Indenture for the purpose of
adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of
the Indenture with respect to the Notes, or of modifying in any manner the rights of the
Holders under the Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall,
without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note affected thereby:
(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on,
any Note, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any
premium thereon, or change the coin or currency in which principal of any Note or any
premium or the interest on any Note is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for
the enforcement of any such payment after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of
redemption, on or after the Redemption Date); or
(b) reduce the percentage of aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, the
consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of
whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain
41
provisions of the Indenture or certain defaults hereunder or the consequences of a
default provided for in the Indenture; or
(c) modify any of the provisions of this Section 8.2 or Section 4.13 or 9.6 hereof,
except to increase any percentage of Holders referred to therein or to provide that certain
other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the
Holder of each Outstanding Note affected thereby; or
(d) modify any provisions of the Indenture relating to the Subsidiary Guarantees in a
manner adverse to the Holders; or
(e) amend, change or modify the obligation of the Company to make and consummate a
Change of Control Offer in the event of a Change of Control, or to make and consummate a
Prepayment Offer with respect to any Asset Sale, or modify any of the provisions or
definitions with respect thereto.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of the Holders under this Section to approve the
particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such
Act shall approve the substance thereof.
Section 8.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture
permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by the
Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying
upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is
authorized or permitted by the Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to,
enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustees own rights, duties or
immunities under the Indenture or otherwise.
Section 8.4 Effects of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, the Indenture
shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part
of the Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Notes theretofore or thereafter
authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.
Section 8.5 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
Section 8.6 References in Notes to Supplemental Indentures.
Notes authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture
pursuant to this Article 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 supplemental indenture. If
the Company shall so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the
Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental
42
indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, and authenticated and delivered
by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Notes.
Section 8.7 Notice of Supplemental Indentures.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental
indenture pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.2 hereof, the Company shall give notice
thereof to the Holders of each Outstanding Note affected, in the manner provided for in
Section 13.5 hereof, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental
indenture.
ARTICLE IX.
Amendment of Certain Provisions of
Article IX of the Original Indenture
Section 9.1 Amendment and Restatement of Section 9.4 of the Original Indenture. Section 9.4 of the Original Indenture
is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, solely as
it applies to the Notes, to read as follows:
Section 9.4 Corporate Existence.
Except as expressly permitted by Article VII hereof, Section 9.17 hereof or other
provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary
to preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate existence, rights (charter and
statutory) and franchises of the Company and each Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such existence of its Restricted
Subsidiaries, rights or franchises, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine
that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not
disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.
Section 9.2 Amendment and Restatement of Section 9.5 of the Original Indenture. Section 9.5 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, solely as
it applies to the Notes, to read as follows:
Section 9.5 Statement by Officers as to Default.
(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 100 days after the end of each
fiscal year of the Company, an Officers Certificate stating that a review of the activities
of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been
made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the
Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture,
and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of
such Officers knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and
every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture and no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (or, if a Default or Event
of Default shall have occurred to either such Officers knowledge, describing all such
43
Defaults or Events of Default of which such Officer may have knowledge and what action the
Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto). Such Officers Certificate
shall comply with TIA Section 314(a)(4). For purposes of this Section 9.5(a), such
compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of
notice under this Indenture.
(b) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes is outstanding, deliver to the
Trustee, upon any of its Officers becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an
Officers Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the
Company proposes to take with respect thereto, within 10 days of its occurrence.
Section 9.3 Additional Covenants. Article IX of the Original Indenture is hereby amended, solely as it applies to the Notes, to
add the following covenants at the end thereof:
Section 9.8 Payment of Taxes; Maintenance of Properties; Insurance.
The Company shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same
shall become delinquent, (a) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied
or imposed upon the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or
Property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and (b) all lawful claims for labor,
materials and supplies, which, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon the Property of
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment,
charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate provision has been made in accordance with
GAAP.
The Company shall cause all material Properties owned by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary and used or held for use in the conduct of its business or the business of any
Restricted Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order
(ordinary wear and tear excepted), all as in the judgment of the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary may be necessary so that its business may be properly and advantageously
conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 9.8 shall prevent
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from discontinuing the maintenance of any of such
Properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 9.8 shall limit or impair
in any way the right of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to sell, divest and
otherwise to engage in transactions that are otherwise permitted by this Indenture.
The Company shall at all times keep all of its, and cause its Restricted Subsidiaries
to keep their, Properties which are of an insurable nature insured with
insurers, believed by the Company to be responsible, against loss or damage to the
extent that property of similar character and in a similar location is usually so insured by
corporations similarly situated and owning like Properties.
44
The Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may adopt such other plan or method of
protection, in lieu of or supplemental to insurance with insurers, whether by the
establishment of an insurance fund or reserve to be held and applied to make good losses
from casualties, or otherwise, conforming to the systems of self-insurance maintained by
corporations similarly situated and in a similar location and owning like Properties, as may
be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary.
Section 9.9 Provision of Financial Information.
(a) The Company (and the Subsidiary Guarantors, if applicable) shall file with the
Commission, within the time periods specified in the Commissions rules and regulations, to
the extent such filings are accepted by the Commission and whether or not the Company has a
class of securities registered under the Exchange Act, the annual reports, quarterly reports
and other documents that the Company would be required to file if it were subject to Section
13 or 15 of the Exchange Act. The Company (and the Subsidiary Guarantors, if applicable)
shall also (a) file with the Trustee (with exhibits), and provide to each Holder of Notes
(without exhibits), without cost to such Holder, copies of such reports and documents within
15 days after the date on which the Company (and the Subsidiary Guarantors, if applicable)
file such reports and documents with the Commission or the date on which the Company (and
the Subsidiary Guarantors, if applicable) would be required to file such reports and
documents if the Company were so required and (b) if filing such reports and documents with
the Commission is not accepted by the Commission or is prohibited under the Exchange Act,
furnish to the Trustee, within the time periods specified in the Commissions rules and
regulations, such reports and documents and supply at its cost copies of such reports and
documents (including any exhibits thereto) to any Holder of Securities promptly upon written
request given in accordance with Section 13.4 hereof. The Company is obligated to make
available, upon request, to any Holder of Notes the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4)
under the Securities Act, during any period in which the Company is not subject to Section
13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(b) If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries,
then, to the extent material, the quarterly and annual financial information required by
Section 9.9(a) will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the
financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and
results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the
financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the
Company.
Section 9.10 Limitation on Restricted Payments.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly
or indirectly, take the following actions:
(i) declare or pay any dividend on, or make any distribution to holders of, any
shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
45
(other than dividends or distributions payable solely in shares of Qualified
Capital Stock of the Company or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase
Qualified Capital Stock of the Company);
(ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Capital
Stock of the Company or any Affiliate thereof (other than any Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) or any options, warrants or other rights to
acquire such Capital Stock (other than the purchase, redemption, acquisition or
retirement of any Disqualified Capital Stock of the Company solely in shares of
Qualified Capital Stock of the Company);
(iii) make any principal payment on or repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise
acquire or retire for value, prior to any scheduled principal payment, scheduled
sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness (excluding any
intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries), except in any case out of the proceeds of Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness, or
(iv) make any Restricted Investment;
(such payments or other actions described in clauses (i) through (iv) being collectively
referred to as Restricted Payments), unless at the time of and after giving effect to the
proposed Restricted Payment (the amount of any such Restricted Payment, if other than cash,
shall be the amount determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination
shall be conclusive and evidenced by a Board Resolution):
(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(2) the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than
Permitted Indebtedness) in accordance with Section 9.12(a) hereof; and
(3) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments declared or made after the
Existing Notes Issue Date shall not exceed the sum (without duplication) of the
following:
(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company accrued on a
cumulative basis during the period beginning on February 1, 2004 and ending
on the last day of the Companys last fiscal quarter ending prior to the
date of such proposed Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net
Income shall be a loss, minus 100% of such loss); plus
(B) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of
Property other than cash, received after the Existing Notes Issue Date by
the Company from the issuance or sale (other than to any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries) of shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or any
options, warrants or rights to purchase such shares of Qualified Capital
Stock of the Company; plus
46
(C) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of
Property other than cash, received after the Existing Notes Issue Date by
the Company (other than from any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) upon the
exercise of any options, warrants or rights to purchase shares of Qualified
Capital Stock of the Company; plus
(D) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received after the Existing Notes
Issue Date by the Company from the issuance or sale (other than to any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries) of Indebtedness or shares of Disqualified
Capital Stock that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualified
Capital Stock of the Company, together with the aggregate cash received by
the Company at the time of such conversion or exchange; plus
(E) to the extent not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income,
the net reduction in Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries resulting from
dividends, repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of assets, in
each case to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Existing Notes
Issue Date from any Unrestricted Subsidiary or from the redesignation of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (valued in each case as
provided in the definition of Investment), not to exceed in the case of
any Unrestricted Subsidiary the total amount of Investments (other than
Permitted Investments) in such Unrestricted Subsidiary made by the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary after the
Issue Date.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) above, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
may take the following actions so long as (in the case of clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vii)
below) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:
(i) the payment of any dividend on any Capital Stock of the Company within 60
days after the date of declaration thereof, if at such declaration date such
declaration complied with the provisions of paragraph (a) above (and such payment
shall be deemed to have been paid on such date of declaration for purposes of any
calculation required by the provisions of paragraph (a) above);
(ii) the payment of any dividend payable from a Restricted Subsidiary to the
Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
(iii) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of any
shares of any class of Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in
exchange for, or out of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds of, a substantially
concurrent issue and sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of shares of
Qualified Capital Stock of the Company;
(iv) the repurchase, redemption, repayment, defeasance or other acquisition or
retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness in exchange for, or out of the
aggregate Net Cash Proceeds from, a substantially concurrent
47
issue and sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of shares of Qualified
Capital Stock of the Company;
(v) the purchase, redemption, repayment, defeasance or other acquisition or
retirement for value of Subordinated Indebtedness (other than Disqualified Capital
Stock) in exchange for, or out of the aggregate net cash proceeds of, a
substantially concurrent incurrence (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of
Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company so long as (a) the principal amount of such
new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or, if such Subordinated
Indebtedness being refinanced provides for an amount less than the principal amount
thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration thereof, such
lesser amount as of the date of determination) of the Subordinated Indebtedness
being so purchased, redeemed, repaid, defeased, acquired or retired, plus the amount
of any premium required to be paid in connection with such refinancing pursuant to
the terms of the Indebtedness refinanced or the amount of any premium reasonably
determined by the Company as necessary to accomplish such refinancing, plus the
amount of expenses of the Company incurred in connection with such refinancing, (b)
such new Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes at least to the same extent as
such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, redeemed, repaid, defeased, acquired or
retired, and (c) such new Indebtedness has an Average Life to Stated Maturity that
is longer than the Average Life to Stated Maturity of the Notes and such new
Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity for its final scheduled principal payment that is
at least 91 days later than the Stated Maturity for the final scheduled principal
payment of the Notes;
(vi) loans made to officers, directors or employees of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary approved by the Board of Directors of the Company in an
aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 outstanding at any one time, the proceeds
of which are used solely (a) to purchase common stock of the Company in connection
with a restricted stock or employee stock purchase plan, or to exercise stock
options received pursuant to an employee or director stock option plan or other
incentive plan, in a principal amount not to exceed the exercise price of such stock
options, or (b) to refinance loans, together with accrued interest thereon, made
pursuant to item (a) of this clause (v); and
(vii) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$10,000,000.
The actions described in clauses (i), (iii), (iv) and (vi) of this paragraph (b) shall
be Restricted Payments that shall be permitted to be made in accordance with this paragraph
(b) but shall reduce the amount that would otherwise be available for Restricted Payments
under clause (3) of paragraph (a) (provided that any dividend paid pursuant to clause (i) of
this paragraph (b) shall reduce the amount that would otherwise be available under clause
(3) of paragraph (a) when declared, but not also when subsequently paid pursuant to such
clause (i)), and the actions described in clauses (ii), (v) and (vii) of this paragraph (b)
shall be permitted to be taken in accordance with this
48
paragraph and shall not reduce the amount that would otherwise be available for
Restricted Payments under clause (3) of paragraph (a).
(c) In computing Consolidated Net Income under paragraph (a) above, (1) the Company
shall use audited financial statements for the portions of the relevant period for which
audited financial statements are available on the date of determination and unaudited
financial statements and other current financial data based on the books and records of the
Company for the remaining portion of such period and (2) the Company shall be permitted to
rely in good faith on the financial statements and other financial data derived from the
books and records of the Company that are available on the date of determination. If the
Company makes a Restricted Payment which, at the time of the making of such Restricted
Payment would in the good faith determination of the Company be permitted under the
requirements of this Indenture, such Restricted Payment shall be deemed to have been made in
compliance with this Indenture notwithstanding any subsequent adjustments made in good faith
to the Companys financial statements affecting Consolidated Net Income of the Company for
any period.
Section 9.11 Limitation on Guarantees by Restricted Subsidiaries.
The Company shall not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to guarantee, assume or
in any other manner become liable (whether directly or indirectly) with respect to any
Indebtedness of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary unless such Restricted
Subsidiary simultaneously executes and delivers an indenture supplemental to this Indenture
agreeing to be bound by the terms applicable to a Subsidiary Guarantor and providing for a
Subsidiary Guarantee of the Notes on the same terms as the guarantee of such Indebtedness,
except that (a) such Subsidiary Guarantee need not be secured unless required pursuant to
Section 9.15, and (b) if such Indebtedness is by its terms expressly subordinated to the
Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, any such guarantee, assumption or other liability of
such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to such
Restricted Subsidiarys Subsidiary Guarantee at least to the same extent as such
Subordinated Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes; provided, however, that this clause
(b) shall not be applicable to any guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that (i) existed
at the time such Person became a Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) was not incurred in
connection with, or in contemplation of, such Persons becoming a Subsidiary of the Company.
Section 9.12 Limitation on Indebtedness and Disqualified Capital Stock.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
create, incur, assume, guarantee or in any manner become directly or indirectly liable for
the payment of (collectively, incur) any Indebtedness (including any Acquired
Indebtedness), except for Permitted Indebtedness, and the Company shall not, and shall not
permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, issue any Disqualified Capital Stock (except
for the issuance by the Company of Disqualified Capital Stock (a) which is redeemable at the
Companys option in cash or Qualified Capital Stock and (b) the dividends on which are
payable at the Companys option in cash or Qualified Capital Stock); provided however, that
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Subsidiary Guarantors may incur
Indebtedness or issue shares of Disqualified Capital
49
Stock if (i) at the time of such event and after giving effect thereto on a pro forma
basis the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the four full quarters immediately
preceding such event, taken as one period, would have been equal to or greater than 2.5 to
1.0 and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the
time such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Capital Stock is issued
or would occur as a consequence of the incurrence of the additional Indebtedness or the
issuance of the Disqualified Capital Stock. For purposes of determining compliance with
this Section 9.12(a), in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of one or
more of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (xi) of
such definition or is entitled to be incurred (whether incurred under the Bank Credit
Facility or otherwise) pursuant to the proviso of the foregoing sentence, the Company may,
in its sole discretion, classify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with
this covenant and such item of Indebtedness will be treated as having been incurred pursuant
to only one of such clauses of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness or the proviso of
the foregoing sentence and an item of Indebtedness may be divided and classified in more
than one of the types of Indebtedness permitted hereunder.
(b) The amount of any guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any
Indebtedness of the Company or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be
outstanding or incurred for purposes of this Section 9.12 in addition to the amount of
Indebtedness which it guarantees.
(c) For purposes of this Section 9.12, Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary by merger, consolidation or other acquisition shall be deemed to have
been incurred by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Person becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary.
Section 9.13 Additional Subsidiary Guarantors.
(a) The Company shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary that guarantees the payment of,
assumes or in any other manner becomes liable (whether directly or indirectly) with respect
to any Indebtedness of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,
including, without limitation, Indebtedness under the Bank Credit Facility, to execute and
deliver an indenture supplemental to this Indenture agreeing to be bound by the terms
applicable to a Subsidiary Guarantor and providing for a Subsidiary Guarantee of the Notes
by such Restricted Subsidiary.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing and the other provisions of this Indenture, any
Subsidiary Guarantee incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to this Section 9.13 shall
provide by its terms that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released and
discharged upon the terms and conditions set forth in Section 12.3 hereof.
Section 9.14 Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Preferred Stock of Restricted
Subsidiaries.
The Company (a) shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue or sell any
Preferred Stock to any Person other than to the Company or one of its Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) shall not permit any Person other than the Company or
50
one of its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries to own any Preferred Stock of any other
Restricted Subsidiary except, in each case, for (i) the Preferred Stock of a Restricted
Subsidiary owned by a Person at the time such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted
Subsidiary or (ii) a sale of Preferred Stock in connection with the sale of all of the
Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries effected
in accordance with Section 9.17 hereof.
Section 9.15 Limitation on Liens.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or
indirectly, create, incur, assume, affirm or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of
any kind, except for Permitted Liens, upon any of their respective Properties, whether now
owned or acquired after the Issue Date, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or
convey any right to receive income thereon, unless (a) in the case of any Lien securing
Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes are secured by a lien on such Property or proceeds that
is senior in priority to such Lien and (b) in the case of any other Lien, the Notes are
directly secured equally and ratably with the obligation or liability secured by such Lien.
Section 9.16 Purchase of Notes Upon Change of Control.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall be obligated to make
an offer to purchase (a Change of Control Offer) all of the then Outstanding Notes, in
whole or in part (and if in part, in denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000
in excess thereof), from the Holders of such Notes, at a purchase price (the Change of
Control Purchase Price) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes, plus
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Change of Control Purchase Date (subject to the
right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on an
Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Purchase Date), in
accordance with the procedures set forth in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this Section.
The Company shall, subject to the provisions described below, be required to purchase all
Notes properly tendered into the Change of Control Offer and not withdrawn. The Company
will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if another
Person makes the Change of Control Offer at the same purchase price, at the same times and
otherwise in substantial compliance with the requirements applicable to a Change of Control
Offer to be made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn
under such Change of Control Offer.
(b) The Change of Control Offer is required to remain open for at least 20 Business
Days and until the close of business on the fifth Business Day prior to the Change of
Control Purchase Date.
(c) Not later than the 30th day following the occurrence of any Change of Control, the
Company shall give to the Trustee in the manner provided in Section 13.4 and each Holder of
the Notes in the manner provided in Section 13.5, a notice (the Change of Control Notice)
governing the terms of the Change of Control Offer and stating:
51
(1) that a Change in Control has occurred and that such Holder has the right to
require the Company to repurchase such Holders Notes, or portion thereof, at the
Change of Control Purchase Price;
(2) any information regarding such Change of Control required to be furnished
pursuant to Rule 13e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and
regulations thereunder;
(3) a purchase date (the Change of Control Purchase Date), which shall be on
a Business Day and no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date the
Change of Control occurred;
(4) that any Note, or portion thereof, not tendered or accepted for payment
will continue to accrue interest:
(5) that unless the Company defaults in depositing money with the Paying Agent
in accordance with the last paragraph of clause (d) of this Section 9.16, or payment
is otherwise prevented, any Note, or portion thereof, accepted for payment pursuant
to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Change of
Control Purchase Date; and
(6) the instructions a Holder must follow in order to have his Notes
repurchased in accordance with paragraph (d) of this Section.
If any of the Notes subject to the Change of Control Offer is in the form of a Global Note,
then the Company shall modify the Change of Control Notice to the extent necessary to accord
with the procedures of the depository applicable thereto.
(d) Holders electing to have Notes purchased will be required to surrender such Notes
to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the Change of Control Notice at least five
Business Days prior to the Change of Control Purchase Date. Holders will be entitled to
withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than three Business Days
prior to the Change of Control Purchase Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or
letter setting forth the name of the Holder and principal amount of the Notes delivered for
purchase by the Holder as to which his election is to be withdrawn and a statement that such
Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Notes purchased. Holders whose Notes are
purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased
portion of the Notes surrendered.
On the Change of Control Purchase Date, the Company shall (i) accept for payment Notes
or portions thereof validly tendered pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, (ii) deposit
with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the purchase price of all Notes or portions
thereof so tendered, and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so
accepted. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail or deliver to Holders of the Notes so
tendered payment in an amount equal to the purchase price for the Notes, and the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail or make available for delivery to
such Holders a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Note
which any such Holder did not surrender for purchase.
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The Company shall announce the results of a Change of Control Offer on or as soon as
practicable after the Change of Control Purchase Date. For purposes of this Section 9.16,
the Trustee will act as the Paying Agent.
(e) The Company shall comply with Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other
securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are
applicable, in the event that a Change of Control occurs and the Company is required to
purchase Notes as described in this Section 9.16.
Section 9.17 Limitation on Asset Sales.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
consummate any Asset Sale unless (i) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case
may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair
Market Value of the Property subject to such Asset Sale and (ii) all of the consideration
paid to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Asset Sale is in
the form of cash, Cash Equivalents, Liquid Securities, Exchanged Properties or the
assumption by the purchaser of liabilities of the Company (other than liabilities of the
Company that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes) or liabilities of any Subsidiary
Guarantor that made such Asset Sale (other than liabilities of a Subsidiary Guarantor that
are by their terms subordinated to such Subsidiary Guarantors Subsidiary Guarantee), in
each case as a result of which the Company and its remaining Restricted Subsidiaries are no
longer liable for such liabilities (Permitted Consideration); provided, however, that the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be permitted to receive Property other than
Permitted Consideration, so long as the aggregate Fair Market Value of all such Property
other than Permitted Consideration received from Asset Sales since the Issue Date and held
by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary at any one time shall not exceed 10% of Adjusted
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. The Net Available Cash from Asset Sales by the Company or
a Restricted Subsidiary may be applied by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, to the
extent the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary elects (or is required by the terms of any
Senior Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), to (i) repay Indebtedness of
the Company under the Bank Credit Facility, (ii) reinvest in Additional Assets (including by
means of an Investment in Additional Assets by a Restricted Subsidiary with Net Available
Cash received by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) or (iii) purchase Notes or
purchase both Notes and one or more series or issues of other Senior Indebtedness on a pro
rata basis (excluding Notes and Senior Indebtedness owned by the Company or an Affiliate of
the Company). Pending any reinvestment pursuant to clause (ii) in the preceding sentence,
the Company may temporarily prepay, repay or purchase Senior Indebtedness of the Company or
a Subsidiary Guarantor.
(b) Any Net Available Cash from an Asset Sale not applied in accordance with the
preceding paragraph within 365 days from the date of such Asset Sale shall constitute
Excess Proceeds. When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10,000,000, the
Company shall be required to make an offer (the Prepayment Offer) to all Holders of Notes
and all Holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing
provisions similar to those set forth herein with respect to offers to
53
purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets to purchase the maximum
principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out
of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Prepayment Offer will be equal to 100% of
principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Purchase Date (subject to
the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due
on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Purchase Date), and will be payable
in cash. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes tendered by Holders thereof exceeds the
amount of available Excess Proceeds allocated for repurchases of Notes pursuant to the
Prepayment Offer for Notes, then such Excess Proceeds will be allocated pro rata according
to the principal amount of the Notes tendered and the Trustee will select the Notes to be
purchased in accordance with this Indenture. To the extent that any portion of the amount
of Excess Proceeds remains after compliance with the second sentence of this paragraph and
provided that all Holders of Notes have been given the opportunity to tender their Notes for
purchase as described in the following paragraph in accordance with this Indenture, the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may use such remaining amount for purposes permitted
by this Indenture and the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset to zero.
(c) (i) Within 30 days after the 365th day following the date of an Asset Sale, the
Company shall, if it is obligated to make an offer to purchase the Notes pursuant to the
preceding paragraph, send a written Prepayment Offer notice, by first-class mail, to the
Trustee and the Holders of the Notes (the Prepayment Offer Notice), accompanied by such
information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Company believes shall enable
such Holders of the Notes to make an informed decision with respect to the Prepayment Offer
(which at a minimum shall include (A) the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K
(including audited consolidated financial statements) of the Company, the most recent
subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company and any Current Report on
Form 8-K of the Company filed subsequent to such Quarterly Report, other than Current
Reports describing Asset Sales otherwise described in the offering materials, or
corresponding successor reports (or, during any time that the Company is not subject to the
reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, corresponding reports
prepared pursuant to Section 9.9), (B) a description of material developments in the
Companys business subsequent to the date of the latest of such reports and (C) if material,
appropriate pro forma financial information). The Prepayment Offer Notice shall state,
among other things, (1) that the Company is offering to purchase Notes pursuant to the
provisions of this Indenture, (2) that any Note (or any portion thereof) accepted for
payment (and duly paid on the Purchase Date) pursuant to the Prepayment Offer shall cease to
accrue interest on the Purchase Date, (3) that any Notes (or portions thereof) not properly
tendered shall continue to accrue interest, (4) the purchase price and purchase date, which
shall be, subject to any contrary requirements of applicable law, no less than 30 days nor
more than 60 days after the date the Prepayment Offer Notice is mailed (the Purchase
Date), (5) the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be purchased, (6) a description of
the procedure which Holders of Notes must follow in order to tender their Notes and the
procedures that Holders of Notes must follow in order to withdraw an election to tender
their Notes for payment and (7) all other instructions and materials necessary to enable
Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Prepayment Offer.
54
(ii) Not later than the date upon which written notice of a Prepayment Offer is
delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee
an Officers Certificate as to (1) the amount of the Prepayment Offer (the Offer
Amount), (2) the allocation of the Net Available Cash from the Asset Sales pursuant
to which such Prepayment Offer is being made and (3) the compliance of such
allocation with the provisions of Section 9.17(a). On such date, the Company shall
also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent (or, if the
Company is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) in cash an amount
equal to the Offer Amount to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions
of this Section. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Prepayment Offer
remains open (the Offer Period), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for
cancellation the Notes or portions thereof which have been properly tendered to and
are to be accepted by the Company. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall, on the
Purchase Date, mail or deliver payment to each tendering Holder in the amount of the
purchase price. In the event that the aggregate purchase price of the Notes
delivered by the Company to the Trustee is less than the Offer Amount, the Trustee
or the Paying Agent shall deliver the excess to the Company immediately after the
expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with this Section.
(iii) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender
the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company or its agent at
the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the
Purchase Date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee
or the Company receives not later than one Business Day prior to the Purchase Date,
a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the
Holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered for purchase by the
Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such
Note purchased. If at the expiration of the Offer Period the aggregate principal
amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company shall
select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may
be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000,
or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, shall be purchased). Holders
whose Notes are purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal
amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.
(iv) At the time the Company delivers Notes to the Trustee which are to be
accepted for purchase, the Company shall also deliver an Officers Certificate
stating that such Notes are to be accepted by the Company pursuant to and in
accordance with the terms of this Section 9.17. A Note shall be deemed to have been
accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee or the Paying Agent mails or delivers
payment therefor to the surrendering Holder.
(d) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule
14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations thereunder to the
extent such laws and regulations are applicable in
55
connection with the purchase of Notes as described above. To the extent that the
provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions relating to
the Prepayment Offer, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and
regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described above by
virtue thereof.
Section 9.18 Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, enter into or suffer to exist any transaction or series of related
transactions (including, without limitation, the sale, purchase, exchange or lease of
Property or the rendering of any services) with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the
Company (other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary), unless (a) such
transaction or series of related transactions is on terms that are no less favorable to the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than would be available in a
comparable transaction in arms-length dealings with an unrelated third party, (b) with
respect to a transaction or series of related transactions involving aggregate payments in
excess of $5,000,000, the Company delivers an Officers Certificate to the Trustee
certifying that such transaction or series of related transactions complies with clause (a)
above and that such transaction or series of related transactions has been approved by a
majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Company, and (c) with respect to any one
transaction or series of related transactions involving aggregate payments in excess of
$20,000,000, the Officers Certificate referred to in clause (b) above also certifies that
the Company has obtained a written opinion from an independent nationally recognized
investment banking firm or appraisal firm specializing or having a specialty in the type and
subject matter of the transaction or series of related transactions at issue, which opinion
shall be to the effect set forth in clause (a) above or shall state that such transaction or
series of related transactions is fair from a financial point of view to the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to:
(i) loans or advances to officers, directors and employees of the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary made in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $1,000,000 outstanding at any one time;
(ii) indemnities of officers, directors, employees and other agents of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted by corporate charter or other
organizational document, bylaw or statutory provisions;
(iii) the payment of reasonable and customary fees to directors of the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries who are not employees of the Company or any
Affiliate,
(iv) the Companys employee compensation and other benefit arrangements;
(v) transactions exclusively between or among the Company and any of the
Restricted Subsidiaries or exclusively between or among such Restricted
56
Subsidiaries, provided such transactions are not otherwise prohibited by this
Indenture; and
(vi) any Restricted Payment permitted to be paid pursuant Section 9.10.
Section 9.19 Limitation on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting
Restricted Subsidiaries.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or
indirectly, create or suffer to exist or allow to become effective any consensual
encumbrance or restriction of any kind on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (a)
pay dividends, in cash or otherwise, or make any other distributions on or in respect of its
Capital Stock, or make payments on any Indebtedness owed, to the Company or any other
Restricted Subsidiary, (b) to make loans or advances to the Company or any other Restricted
Subsidiary or (c) to transfer any of its Property to the Company or any other Restricted
Subsidiary (any such restrictions being collectively referred to herein as a Payment
Restriction), except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of
(i) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a
leasehold interest of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or customary restrictions in
licenses relating to the Property covered thereby and entered into in the ordinary course of
business; (ii) any instrument governing Indebtedness of a Person acquired by the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such acquisition, which encumbrance or restriction
is not applicable to any other Person, other than the Person, or the Property of the Person,
so acquired, provided that such Indebtedness was not incurred in anticipation of such
acquisition; (iii) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Disqualified Capital Stock of a
Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, provided that (x) such
Indebtedness or Disqualified Capital Stock is permitted under Section 9.12 and (y) the terms
and conditions of any Payment Restrictions thereunder are not materially more restrictive
than the Payment Restrictions contained in the Bank Credit Facility and the Indenture as in
effect on the Issue Date; (iv) the Bank Credit Facility as in effect on the Issue Date or
any agreement that amends, modifies, supplements, restates, extends, renews, refinances or
replaces the Bank Credit Facility, provided that the terms and conditions of any Payment
Restriction thereunder are not materially more restrictive than the Payment Restrictions
contained in the Bank Credit Facility as in effect on the date of Issue Date; (v) this
Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees; or (vi) the indenture governing the
Companys existing 6-7/8% Senior Notes due 2012, such Senior Notes and any subsidiary
guarantees thereof, in each case as in effect on the Issue Date.
Section 9.20 Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter
into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction unless (i) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as
the case may be, would be able to incur Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable
Indebtedness with respect to such Sale/Leaseback Transaction or (ii) the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary receives proceeds from such Sale/Leaseback Transaction at least equal
to the fair market value thereof (as determined in good faith by the Companys Board of
Directors, whose determination in good faith,
57
evidenced by a resolution of such Board, shall
be conclusive) and such proceeds are applied in the same manner and to the same extent as
Net Available Cash and Excess Proceeds from an Asset Sale.
Section 9.21 Covenant Suspension.
Following any day (a Suspension Date) that (a) the Notes have a rating equal to or
higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P and a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or
the equivalent) by Moodys (Investment Grade Ratings), (b) follows a date on which the
Notes do not have Investment Grade Ratings, and (c) no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
shall not be subject to the covenants described in Sections 7.1(c), 9.10, 9.12, 9.17 and
9.18 (collectively, the Suspended Covenants). In the event that the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as
a result of the preceding sentence, and on any subsequent date the Notes fail to have
Investment Grade Ratings, or a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then
immediately after such date (a Reversion Date), the Suspended Covenants will again be in
effect with respect to future events, unless and until a subsequent Suspension Date occurs.
The period between a Suspension Date and a Reversion Date is referred to in this Indenture
as a Suspension Period. Notwithstanding that the Suspended Covenants may be reinstated,
no Default or Event of Default will be deemed to have occurred as a result of a failure to
comply with the Suspended Covenants during any Suspension Period. Calculations made after
the Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under
Section 9.10 will be made as though the covenants described under Section 9.10 had been in
effect since the Issue Date and throughout the Suspension Period. During any Suspension
Period, the Board of Directors of the Company may not designate any of the Companys
Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to this Indenture.
ARTICLE X.
Amendment and Restatement of
Article X of the Original Indenture
Article X of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, solely as
it applies to the Notes, to read as follows:
ARTICLE X
REDEMPTION OF NOTES
Section 10.1 Notice to Trustee.
If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Notes, it shall
notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date, the principal amount of Notes to be
redeemed and that such redemption is being made pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Notes.
58
The Company shall give each notice to the Trustee provided for in this Section at least
60 days before the Redemption Date unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period. Such
notice shall be accompanied by an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the
Company to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein. Any
election to redeem Notes shall be revocable until the Company gives a notice of redemption
pursuant to Section 10.2 to the Holders of Notes to be redeemed.
Section 10.2 Selection by Trustee of Notes to Be Redeemed.
If less than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the particular Notes to be redeemed
shall be selected not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date
by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption, pro rata,
by lot or by any other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may
provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal of Notes; provided,
however, that Notes and portions of Notes selected for redemption shall be in amounts of
$2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for
redemption and, in the case of any Notes selected for partial redemption, the principal
amount thereof to be redeemed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all
provisions relating to redemption of Notes shall relate, in the case of any Note redeemed or
to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Note which has
been or is to be redeemed.
Section 10.3 Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided for in Section 13.5 hereof
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Notes
to be redeemed.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(a) the Redemption Date;
(b) the Redemption Price;
(c) if less than all Outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in
the case of a partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Notes to be
redeemed;
(d) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price (together with accrued interest,
if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 10.5 hereof) will become due
and payable upon each such Note, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed, and that, unless
the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and any applicable accrued
interest, interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date; and
59
(e) the place or places where such Notes are to be surrendered for payment of the
Redemption Price.
Notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be
given by the Company or, at the Companys request, by the Trustee in the name and at the
expense of the Company. Failure to give such notice by mailing to any Holder of Notes or
any defect therein shall not affect the validity of any proceedings for the redemption of
other Notes.
Section 10.4 Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall
deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own
Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 9.3 hereof) an amount of
money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the
Notes which are to be redeemed on such Redemption Date.
Section 10.5 Notes Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Notes so to be redeemed shall,
on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified
(together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and
after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and
accrued and unpaid interest) such Notes shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any
such Note for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Note shall be paid by the
Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the
Redemption Date.
If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for
redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the
Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Notes.
Section 10.6. Notes Redeemed in Part.
Any Note which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the office or
agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 9.2 hereof (with, if
the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly
executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holders attorney duly authorized in writing), and
the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of
such Note without service charge, a new Note or Notes, 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 amount of the Note so surrendered.
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ARTICLE XI.
Amendment and Restatement of
Article XI of the Original Indenture
Article XI of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, solely as
it applies to the Notes, to read as follows:
ARTICLE XI
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 11.1 Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may, at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to the
Notes, elect to have either Section 11.2 or Section 11.3 hereof be applied to all
Outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XI.
Section 11.2 Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Companys exercise under Section 11.1 hereof of the option applicable to this
Section 11.2, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed to have been
discharged from their respective obligations with respect to all Outstanding Notes on the
date the conditions set forth in Section 11.4 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, legal
defeasance). For this purpose, such legal defeasance means that the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors shall be deemed (i) to have paid and discharged their respective
obligations under the Outstanding Notes; provided, however, that the Notes shall continue to
be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.5 hereof and the other Sections of
this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and (ii) to have satisfied all
their other obligations with respect to such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, at
the expense and direction of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the
same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged
hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Notes to receive, solely from the trust
fund described in Section 11.4 hereof and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments
in respect of the principal of (and premium if any, on) and interest on such Notes when such
payments are due (or at such time as the Notes would be subject to redemption at the option
of the Company in accordance with this Indenture), (b) the respective obligations of the
Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors under Sections 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 4.8,
4.14, 9.2, 12.1 (to the extent it relates to the foregoing Sections and this Article XI),
12.4 and 12.5 hereof and the Appendix,
(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, and
(d) the obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Article XI.
Subject to compliance with this Article XI, the Company may exercise its option under this
Section 11.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 11.3 hereof with
respect to the Notes.
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Section 11.3 Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Companys exercise under Section 11.1 hereof of the option applicable to this
Section 11.3, the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released from their
respective obligations under any covenant contained in Section 9.5 hereof, in Sections 9.8
through 9.20 hereof and in clauses (c) and (e) of Section 7.1 hereof with respect to the
Outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied
(hereinafter, covenant defeasance), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not to be
Outstanding for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of
Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall
continue to be deemed Outstanding for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose,
such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Notes, the Company and
each Subsidiary Guarantor may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of
any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or
indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of
any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document
and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under
Section 4.1(c), 4.1(d) or 4.1(e) hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of
this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby.
Section 11.4 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 11.2 or
Section 11.3 hereof to the Outstanding Notes:
(a) The Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall irrevocably have deposited or caused
to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section
5.7 hereof who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article XI applicable to
it) 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 such Notes,
(a) cash in United States dollars in an amount, or (b) U.S. Government Obligations which
through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance
with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment,
money in an amount, or (c) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally
recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification
thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the
Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of (and premium,
if any, on) and interest on the Outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity thereof (or
Redemption Date, if applicable), provided that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably
instructed in writing by the Company to apply such money or the proceeds of such U.S.
Government Obligations to said payments with respect to the Notes. Before such a deposit,
the Company may give to the Trustee, in accordance with Section 10.1 hereof, a notice of its
election to redeem all of the Outstanding Notes at a future date in accordance with Article
X hereof, which notice shall be irrevocable. Such irrevocable redemption notice, if given,
shall be given effect in applying the foregoing. For this purpose, U.S. Government
Obligations
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means securities that are (x) direct obligations of the United States of America for
the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (y) obligations of a
Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United
States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith
and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are not
callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a
depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act),
as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of
principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for
the account of the holder of such depository receipt, provided that (except as required by
law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the
holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of
the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the
U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
(b) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be
continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as Sections 4.1(i) and 4.1(j) are
concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such
deposit.
(c) Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a
conflicting interest under this Indenture or the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any
securities of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.
(d) Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or
violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material agreement or instrument to
which the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party or by which it is bound, as
evidenced to the Trustee in an Officers Certificate delivered to the Trustee concurrently
with such deposit.
(e) In the case of an election under Section 11.2 hereof, the Company shall have
delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received
from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since
the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax
laws, in either case providing that the Holders of the Outstanding Notes will not recognize
income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such legal defeasance
and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the
same times as would have been the case if such legal defeasance had not occurred (it being
understood that (x) such Opinion of Counsel shall also state that such ruling or applicable
law is consistent with the conclusions reached in such Opinion of Counsel and (y) the
Trustee shall be under no obligation to investigate the basis or correctness of such
ruling).
(f) In the case of an election under Section 11.3 hereof, the Company shall have
delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the
Outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as
a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax
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on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the
case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.
(g) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, which, taken together, state that all conditions precedent provided for
relating to either the legal defeasance under Section 11.2 hereof or the covenant defeasance
under Section 11.3 (as the case may be) have been complied with.
Section 11.5 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust;
Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.3 hereof, all money and
U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or
other qualifying trustee; collectively for purposes of this Section 11.5, the Trustee)
pursuant to Section 11.4 hereof in respect of the Outstanding Notes shall be held in trust
and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this
Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the
Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such
Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if
any) and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against all taxes, fees or other
charges imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Governmental Obligations deposited pursuant
to Section 11.4 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than
any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the
Outstanding Notes.
Anything in this Article XI to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver
or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government
Obligations held by it as provided in Section 11.4 hereof which, in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written
certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which
would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent legal defeasance or covenant
defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article.
Section 11.6 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with
Section 11.5 hereof by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental
authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the
Companys and the Subsidiary Guarantors obligations under this Indenture and the Notes
shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.2
or 11.3 hereof, as the case may be, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is
permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 11.5 hereof; provided, however,
that if the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor makes any payment of principal of (or
premium, if any, on) or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations,
the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be
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subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the
money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE XII.
Amendment and Restatement of
Article XII of the Original Indenture
Article XII of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, solely
as it applies to the Notes, to read as follows:
ARTICLE XII
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES
Section 12.1 Unconditional Guarantee.
Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby unconditionally, jointly and severally, guarantees
(each such guarantee being referred to herein as this Subsidiary Guarantee, with all such
guarantees being referred to herein as the Subsidiary Guarantees) to each Holder of Notes
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and
assigns, the full and prompt performance of the Companys obligations under the Indenture
and the Notes and that:
(a) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest on the Notes will be
promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or
otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, to
the extent lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee
hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with
the terms hereof and thereof; and
(b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or of any such
other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in
accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise;
subject, however, in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, to the limitations set forth in
Section 12.4 hereof.
Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed
for whatever reason, the Subsidiary Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to
pay the same immediately. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations
hereunder shall, to the extent permitted by law, be unconditional, irrespective of the
validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or the Indenture, the absence of any
action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to
any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any
action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a
legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each
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Subsidiary Guarantor hereby waives, to the extent permitted by law, diligence,
presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or
bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company,
protest, notice and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that its Subsidiary Guarantee will
not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes,
the Indenture and in this Subsidiary Guarantee. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by
any court or otherwise to return to the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any custodian,
trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor, any amount paid by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the
Trustee or such Holder, this Subsidiary Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged,
shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees it shall not
be entitled to enforce any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any
obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby.
Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between each Subsidiary Guarantor, on the
one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the
obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article IV hereof for the
purposes of this Subsidiary Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other
prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby,
and (y) in the event of any acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article IV
hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and
payable by each Subsidiary Guarantor for the purpose of this Subsidiary Guarantee.
Section 12.2 Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
(a) Except as set forth in Article VII hereof, nothing contained in this Indenture or
in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Subsidiary Guarantor with
or into the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor or shall prevent any sale, conveyance or
other disposition of all or substantially all the Properties of a Subsidiary Guarantor to
the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor.
(b) Except as set forth in Article VII hereof, nothing contained in this Indenture or
in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Subsidiary Guarantor with
or into a Person other than the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor (whether or not
Affiliated with such Subsidiary Guarantor), or successive consolidations or mergers in which
a Subsidiary Guarantor or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall
prevent any sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all the Properties
of a Subsidiary Guarantor to a Person other than the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor
(whether or not Affiliated with such Subsidiary Guarantor) authorized to acquire and operate
the same; provided, however, that (i) immediately after such transaction, and giving effect
thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred as a result of such transaction
and be continuing, (ii) such transaction shall not violate any of the covenants of Sections
9.1 through 9.20 hereof, and (iii) upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or
other disposition, such Subsidiary Guarantors Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in this
Article XII, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and
conditions of this Indenture to be performed by such Subsidiary Guarantor, shall be
expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture
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satisfactory in form to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee, by such
Person formed by such consolidation or into which such Subsidiary Guarantor shall have
merged (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor), or by the Person that shall have acquired
such Property (except to the extent the following Section 12.3 would result in the release
of such Subsidiary Guarantee, in which case such surviving Person or transferee of such
Property shall not have to execute any such supplemental indenture and shall not have to
assume such Subsidiary Guarantors Subsidiary Guarantee). In the case of any such
consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or other disposition and upon the assumption by the
successor Person, by supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee and
satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual performance and observance of
all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the applicable
Subsidiary Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for such
Subsidiary Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the initial
Subsidiary Guarantor.
Section 12.3 Release of Subsidiary Guarantors.
Upon the sale or disposition (by merger or otherwise) of a Subsidiary Guarantor (or all
or substantially all of its Properties) to a Person other than the Company or another
Subsidiary Guarantor and pursuant to a transaction that is otherwise in compliance with the
terms of this Indenture, including but not limited to the provisions of Section 12.2 hereof
or pursuant to Article VII hereof, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed released from
its Subsidiary Guarantee and all related obligations under this Indenture; provided,
however, that any such release shall occur only to the extent that all obligations of such
Subsidiary Guarantor under all of its guarantees of, and under all of its pledges of assets
or other security interests which secure, other Indebtedness of the Company or any other
Restricted Subsidiary shall also be released upon such sale or other disposition. The
Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release upon receipt of a
Company Request accompanied by an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel certifying
that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance with the
provisions of this Indenture. In addition, in the event that any Subsidiary Guarantor
ceases to guarantee payment of, or in any other manner to remain liable (whether directly or
indirectly) with respect to, any and all other Indebtedness of the Company or any other
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, including, without limitation, Indebtedness under the
Bank Credit Facility, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall also be released from its Subsidiary
Guarantee and the related obligations under this Indenture for so long as it remains not
liable with respect to all such other Indebtedness. The Trustee shall deliver an
appropriate instrument evidencing such release upon receipt of a Company Request accompanied
by an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel certifying that such Subsidiary
Guarantor has ceased to guarantee or otherwise be liable with respect to such other
Indebtedness of the Company and the other Restricted Subsidiaries. Each Subsidiary
Guarantor that is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions
of this Indenture shall be released from its Subsidiary Guarantee and all related
obligations under this Indenture for so long as it remains an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The
Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release upon its receipt of
the Board Resolution designating such Unrestricted Subsidiary. Any Subsidiary Guarantor not
released in accordance with this Section 12.3
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shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of (and premium, if any, on) and
interest on the Notes as provided in this Article XII.
Section 12.4 Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantors Liability.
Each Subsidiary Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder, hereby confirm
that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor
pursuant to its Subsidiary Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for
purposes of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform
Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing
intention, the Holders and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the
obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary 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 after giving effect 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 Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to
Section 12.5 hereof, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its
Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting such a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer.
This Section 12.4 is for the benefit of the creditors of each Subsidiary Guarantor.
Section 12.5 Contribution.
In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Subsidiary
Guarantors, the Subsidiary Guarantors agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or
distribution is made by any Subsidiary Guarantor (a Funding Guarantor) under its
Subsidiary Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each
other Subsidiary Guarantor (if any) in a pro rata amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets of
each Subsidiary Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and
expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Companys obligations with
respect to the Notes or any other Subsidiary Guarantors obligations with respect to its
Subsidiary Guarantee.
Section 12.6 Severability.
In case any provision of this Subsidiary Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, that portion of such provision that is not invalid, illegal or unenforceable
shall remain in effect, and the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
ARTICLE XIII.
Amendment of Certain Provisions of
Article XIII of the Original Indenture
Section 13.1 Amendment and Restatement of Section 13.4 of the Original Indenture. Section 13.4 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, solely as
it applies to the Notes, to read as follows:
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Section 13.4 Notices, etc. to Trustee, Company and Subsidiary Guarantors.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of
Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or
furnished to or filed with,
(1) the Trustee by any Holder, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be
sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing
(in the English language) and delivered in person or mailed by certified or
registered mail (return receipt requested) to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust
Office; or
(2) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor by the Trustee or by any Holder
shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly
provided) if in writing (in the English language) and delivered in person or mailed
by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested) to the Company or such
Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, addressed to it at the Companys offices
located at 5300 Town and Country Blvd., Suite 500, Frisco, Texas, 75034, Attention:
Chief Financial Officer, or at any other address otherwise furnished in writing to
the Trustee by the Company.
Section 13.2 Amendment and Restatement of Section 13.9 of the Original Indenture. Section 13.9 of the
Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, solely as it applies to the
Notes, to read as follows:
Section 13.9 Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person
(other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Registrar and their successors
hereunder, the Holders and, to the extent set forth in Section 12.4 hereof, creditors of
Subsidiary Guarantors) any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under
this Indenture.
ARTICLE XIV.
Miscellaneous
Section 14.1 Governing Law; Trust Indenture Act Controls.
(a) THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF
CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE
REQUIRED THEREBY.
(b) The Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to
be part of the Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. If
and to the extent that any provision of this Supplemental Indenture limits,
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qualifies or conflicts
with the duties imposed by operation of Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, or conflicts
with any provision (an incorporated provision) required by or deemed to be included in the
Indenture by operation of such Trust Indenture Act section, such imposed duties or incorporated
provision shall control.
Section 14.2 Duplicate Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies or counterparts of this Supplemental Indenture.
Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
Section 14.3 Article XIV of the Original Indenture.
Article XIV of the Original Indenture shall be inapplicable in its entirety to the Notes.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be
duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
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ISSUER: |
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COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. |
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By:
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/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS
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Name: |
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SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS: |
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COMSTOCK OIL & GAS, LP |
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By:
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/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS
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COMSTOCK OIL & GAS LOUISIANA, LLC |
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By:
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/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS
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COMSTOCK OIL & GAS GP, LLC |
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/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS
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COMSTOCK OIL & GAS INVESTMENTS, LLC |
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/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS
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[Signature Page to Comstock Resources, Inc. First Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 9, 2009]
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COMSTOCK OIL & GAS HOLDINGS, INC. |
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By:
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/s/ ROLAND O. BURNS
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[Signature Page to Comstock Resources, Inc. First Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 9, 2009]
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TRUSTEE: |
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. |
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By:
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/s/ RAFAEL MARTINEZ
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Name: Rafael Martinez |
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Title: Senior Associate |
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[Signature Page to Comstock Resources, Inc. First Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 9, 2009]
APPENDIX A
PROVISIONS RELATING TO NOTES
1. Definitions.
1.1 Definitions.
For the purposes of this Appendix A, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated
below:
Depository means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.
Notes means the 83/8% Senior Notes due 2017 to be issued from time to time as provided for in
the Indenture.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Securities Custodian means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as appointed by the
Depository) or any successor person thereto, who shall initially be the Trustee.
1.2 Other Definitions.
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2.1 |
(b) |
Global Note |
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2.1 |
(a) |
2. The Notes.
2.1 Form and Dating.
(a) Global Notes. Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global
Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons with the global securities
legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto (each, a Global Note), which shall be deposited on behalf of
the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Securities Custodian, and registered in
the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Company and
authenticated by the Trustee as provided in the Indenture. The aggregate principal amount of the
Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of
the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided.
(b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited
with or on behalf of the Depository.
Appendix A, Page 1
The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b) and
pursuant to an order of the Company, authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes
that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such Global Note or Global Notes or
the nominee of such Depository and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or
pursuant to such Depositorys instructions or held by the Trustee as Securities Custodian.
Members of, or participants in, the Depository (Agent Members) shall have no rights under
the Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depository or by the
Trustee as Securities Custodian or under such Global Note, and the Depository may be treated by the
Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such
Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall
prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to
any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as
between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such
Depository governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global
Note.
(c) Certificated Notes. Except as provided in Section 2.3 or 2.4 of this Appendix A, owners
of beneficial interests in Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of
certificated Notes.
2.2 Authentication.
The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1) Notes for original issue in an aggregate
principal amount of $300,000,000 and (2) Additional Notes in an unlimited amount (subject only to
the Companys compliance with Section 9.12 of the Indenture), if and when issued, upon a written
order of the Company signed by two Officers of the Company. Such order shall specify the amount of
the Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of such Notes is to be
authenticated. Except as set forth in Section 9.12 of the Indenture, the aggregate principal
amount of Notes that may be outstanding at any time is unlimited.
2.3 Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Certificated Notes. When certificated Notes are presented to the
Registrar or a co-registrar with a request:
(x) to register the transfer of such certificated Notes; or
(y) to exchange such certificated Notes for an equal principal amount of certificated
Notes of other authorized denominations,
the Registrar or co-registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its
reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the certificated
Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:
Appendix A, Page 2
(i) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar or co-registrar, duly executed by
the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing; and
(ii) are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 2.3(b) of this Appendix A or pursuant to
clause (A) or (B) below, and are accompanied by the following additional information and
documents, as applicable:
(A) if such certificated 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 certificated Notes are being transferred to the Company, a
certification to that effect.
(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Certificated Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global
Note. A certificated Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note except
upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a
certificated Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar or co-registrar, together with written
instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Securities Custodian to make, an
adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Global Note to reflect an increase in the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Global Note, such instructions to
contain information regarding the Depository account to be credited with such increase, then the
Trustee shall cancel such certificated Note and cause, or direct the Securities Custodian to cause,
in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depository and the
Securities Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Global Note to be
increased by the aggregate principal amount of the certificated Note to be exchanged and shall
credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a
beneficial interest in the Global Note equal to the principal amount of the certificated Note so
canceled. If no Global Notes are then outstanding and the Global Note has not been previously
exchanged pursuant to Section 2.4 of this Appendix A, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall
authenticate, upon written order of the Company in the form of an Officers Certificate, a new
Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.
(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.
(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be
effected through the Depository, in accordance with the Indenture (including applicable
restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depository
therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver a written
order given in accordance with the Depositorys procedures containing information regarding
the participant account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial interest in the
Global Note and such account shall be credited in accordance with such instructions with a
beneficial interest in the Global Note and the account of the
Appendix A, Page 3
Person making the transfer shall be debited by an amount equal to the beneficial
interest in the Global Note being transferred.
(ii) If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note
to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Registrar shall reflect on its books
and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which
such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the
interest to be so transferred, and the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the
date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of Global Note from which such
interest is being transferred.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix A (other than the
provisions set forth in Section 2.4 of this Appendix A), a Global Note may not be
transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a
nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the
Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor
Depository.
(d) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a
Global Note have either been exchanged for certificated Notes, redeemed, repurchased or canceled,
such Global Note shall be returned by the Depository to the Trustee for cancellation or retained
and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in
a Global Note is exchanged for certificated Notes, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal
amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on
the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Securities Custodian for such Global Note)
with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Securities Custodian, to reflect such
reduction.
(e) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and
the Trustee shall authenticate certificated Notes and Global Notes at the Registrars or
co-registrars request.
(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but
the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments,
or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer
taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant
to Section 8.6, 9.16, 9.17 and 10.6 of the Indenture).
(iii) The Registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of
or exchange of any Note for a period beginning 15 days before the mailing of a notice of
redemption or an offer to repurchase Notes or 15 days before an interest payment date.
(iv) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the
Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar may deem and treat
the person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note
Appendix A, Page 4
for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Note and for
all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Company,
the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar shall be affected by notice
to the contrary.
(v) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of the
Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under the
Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
(f) No Obligation of the Trustee.
(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a
Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or any other Person with
respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any
participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with
respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other
than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the
payment (or any delay in payment) of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All
notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders
under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be the
Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in
any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable
rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected
in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members,
participants and any beneficial owners.
(ii) 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 Depository participants, members or beneficial owners in any
Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or
evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the
terms of the Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to
form with the express requirements hereof.
2.4 Certificated Notes.
(a) A Global Note deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee as Securities Custodian
pursuant to Section 2.1 of this Appendix A shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in
the form of certificated Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of
such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3
of this Appendix A and (i) the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to
continue as a Depository for such Global Note or if at any time the Depository ceases to be a
clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and in either case a successor depositary for
such Global Note is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, or (ii) the Company delivers to
the Trustee an Officers certificate notifying the Trustee that it elects to cause the issuance of
certificated Notes in exchange for all outstanding Global
Appendix A, Page 5
Notes issued under the Indenture, or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of
Default with respect to the Notes.
(b) Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this
Section 2.4 shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee, to be so transferred, in whole
or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon
such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of
certificated Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant
to this Section shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $2,000 and
any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof and registered in such names as the Depository
shall direct.
(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b) of this Appendix A, the registered Holder of a
Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and
Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is
entitled to take under the Indenture or the Notes.
(d) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.4(a)(i),
(ii) or (iii) of this Appendix A, the Company will promptly make available to the Trustee a
reasonable supply of certificated Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest
coupons.
Appendix A, Page 6
Exhibit 1 to Appendix A
[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]
[Global Notes Legend]
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE
MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE
DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST
COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (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 SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT
IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS
WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
Appendix A, Page 7
[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
83/8% Senior Note due 2017
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No. _____ |
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CUSIP No. ____________ |
Comstock Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation, promises to pay to , or
registered assigns, the principal sum of ____________ Dollars on October 15, 2017.
Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15, beginning on April 15, 2010.
Record Dates: April 1 and October 1.
Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.
Dated: ,
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
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Form of Face Security, Page 1
TRUSTEES CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
as Trustee, certifies
that this is one of the Notes
referred to in the Indenture.
Form of Face Security, Page 2
[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]
83/8% Senior Note due 2017
1. Interest.
Comstock Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation (such corporation, and its successors and
assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the Company), promises
to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum shown above. The
Company will pay interest semiannually on April 15 and October 15 of each year. Interest on the
Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has
been paid, from the date of original issuance thereof. Interest will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the
rate borne by the Notes plus 1% per annum, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of
interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.
2. Method of Payment.
The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are
registered holders of Notes at the close of business on the April 1 or October 1 next preceding the
interest payment date even if Notes are canceled after the record date and on or before the
interest payment date. Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal
payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States of America
that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in
respect of the Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium and interest) will
be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository
Trust Company. The Company will make all payments in respect of a certificated Note (including
principal, premium and interest), by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder
thereof; provided, however, that payments on the Notes may also be made, in the case of a Holder of
at least $500,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account
maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire
transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating
such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such
other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).
3. Paying Agent and Registrar.
Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the Trustee) will act as Paying
Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or
co-registrar without notice. The Company may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.
4. Indenture.
The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of October 9, 2009 between the
Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee (the Original Indenture), as
Form of Reverse Side of Security, Page 1
supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of even date therewith (the First
Supplemental Indenture, and the Original Indenture as supplemented thereby, the Indenture). The
terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by
reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in
effect on the date of the Indenture (the TIA). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined
herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such
terms, and the Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of those terms.
The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company with no limit as to the aggregate
principal amount at any one time outstanding (subject to Section 9.12 of the Indenture). The Notes
issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes are treated as a single class of securities for
all purposes of the Indenture. The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to, among other things, make certain Investments and other
Restricted Payments, pay dividends and other distributions, incur Indebtedness, enter into
consensual restrictions upon the payment of certain dividends and distributions by such Restricted
Subsidiaries, issue or sell shares of certain capital stock of such Restricted Subsidiaries, enter
into or permit certain transactions with Affiliates, create or incur Liens and make Asset Sales.
The Indenture also imposes limitations on the ability of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to
consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or
substantially all of the Property of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.
To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal and interest on the Notes and all
other amounts payable by the Company under the Indenture and the Notes when and as the same shall
be due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of
the Notes and the Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantors will unconditionally guarantee the
Obligations on a joint and several basis pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.
5. Optional Redemption.
The Notes are subject to redemption, at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any
time on or after October 15, 2013 at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of
principal amount) set forth below if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning October 15 of
the years indicated below:
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2013 |
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104.188 |
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2014 |
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102.094 |
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2015 and thereafter |
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100.000 |
% |
together in the case of any such redemption with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the
Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive
interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Redemption Date), all as
provided in the Indenture.
Form of Reverse Side of Security, Page 2
Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to October 15, 2012, the Company may redeem, at any time
or from time to time, up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued on the Issue
Date, at a redemption price of 108.375% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid
interest, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant
record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the
Redemption Date), with the Net Cash Proceeds of one or more Public Equity Offerings, provided that
at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued on the Issue Date remains
outstanding immediately after such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its
Subsidiaries) and that such redemption occurs within 60 days following the closing of any such
Public Equity Offering.
6. Sinking Fund.
The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund.
7. Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption will be sent at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the
redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at his or her registered address. Notes in
denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000 in
excess of $2,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all
Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying
Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after
such date interest ceases to accrue on such Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.
8. Repurchase of Notes at the Option of Holders upon Change of Control.
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, any Holder of Notes will have the right, subject
to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to cause the Company to repurchase all or any
part of the Notes of such Holder at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the
Notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase as
provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.
9. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.
The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and whole
multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance
with the Indenture. Upon any transfer or exchange, the Registrar and the Trustee may require a
Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay
any taxes required by law or permitted by the Indenture.
10. Persons Deemed Owners.
The registered Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
Form of Reverse Side of Security, Page 3
11. Unclaimed Money.
If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee
or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its written request unless an abandoned
property law designates another Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must
look only to the Company and not to the Trustee for payment.
12. Discharge and Defeasance.
Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time may terminate some of or all its
obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee money or
U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Notes to redemption or
maturity, as the case may be.
13. Amendment, Waiver.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and
the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors and the
rights of the Holders under the Indenture at any time by the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and
the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Notes at the time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of
specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding, on behalf
of the Holders of all the Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the
Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent
or waiver by or on behalf of the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such
Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of
transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof whether or not notation of such consent or
waiver is made upon this Note. Without the consent of any Holder, the Company, the Subsidiary
Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes to cure any
ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to qualify or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under
the TIA, to add or release any Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the Indenture and to make certain
other specified changes and other changes that do not adversely affect the interests of any Holder.
14. Defaults and Remedies.
As set forth in the Indenture, an Event of Default is generally (i) failure to pay principal
upon maturity, redemption or otherwise (including pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or a
Prepayment Offer); (ii) default for 30 days in payment of interest on any of the Notes;
(iii) default in the performance of agreements relating to mergers, consolidations and sales of all
or substantially all assets or the failure to make or consummate a Change of Control Offer or a
Prepayment Offer; (iv) failure for 90 days after notice to comply with Section 9.9 of the
Indenture; (v) failure for 60 days after notice to comply with any other covenants in the
Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee or the Notes; (vi) certain payment defaults under, and the
acceleration prior to the maturity of, certain Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $20,000,000; (vi) the failure of any
Subsidiary Guarantee to be in full force and effect (except as permitted by the Indenture);
Form of Reverse Side of Security, Page 4
(vii) certain final judgments or orders against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in an
aggregate amount of more than $20,000,000 (net of any amounts covered by insurance with a reputable
and creditworthy insurance company that has not disclaimed liability) which remain unsatisfied and
either become subject to commencement of enforcement proceedings or remain unstayed for a period of
60 days; and (viii) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may declare the
principal amount of all the Notes to be due and payable immediately, except that (i) in the case of
an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, the principal amount of the Notes will become due and payable
immediately without further action or notice, and (ii) in the case of an Event of Default which
relates to certain payment defaults or the acceleration with respect to certain Indebtedness, any
such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration of the Notes will be automatically
rescinded if any such Indebtedness is repaid or if the default relating to such Indebtedness is
cured or waived, and if the holders thereof have accelerated such Indebtedness, such holders have
rescinded their declaration of acceleration. No Holder may pursue any remedy under the Indenture
unless the Trustee shall have failed to act after notice from such Holder of an Event of Default
and written request by Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Notes to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default, and the offer to the Trustee of
indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it; however, such provision does not affect the right to sue
for enforcement of any overdue payment on a Note by the Holder thereof. Subject to certain
limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may
direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders
notice of any continuing default (except default in payment of principal, premium or interest) if
it determines in good faith that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Holders. The
Company is required to file annual reports with the Trustee as to the absence or existence of
defaults.
15. Trustee Dealings with the Company.
Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its
individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal
with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal
with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.
16. No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or Affiliate of the Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor, as such, past, present or future, shall not have any personal liability under
this Note or any other Note or the Indenture by reason of his or its status as such director,
officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or Affiliate, or any liability for any obligations of
the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on,
in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder, by accepting this
Note, waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the
consideration for the issuance of this Note.
Form of Reverse Side of Security, Page 5
17. Authentication.
This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an
authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this
Note.
18. Abbreviations.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM
(=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of
survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors
Act).
19. Governing Law.
THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE
APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
20. 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 Notes and has directed the
Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to the Holders. No
representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as
contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification
numbers placed thereon.
THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH TO ANY HOLDER OF NOTES UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE
HOLDER A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL INDENTURE AND THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WHICH HAS IN IT THE
TEXT OF THIS NOTE.
Form of Reverse Side of Security, Page 6
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer this Note to
(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code)
(Insert assignees soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)
and irrevocably appoint agent to transfer this Note on the
books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
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Date:
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Your Name: |
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(Print exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) |
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Your Signature: |
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(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) |
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Signature Guarantee: |
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Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized
signature guaranty medallion program or other signature acceptable
to Trustee |
[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES]
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE
The initial principal amount of this Global Note is $ [ ]. The following increases or
decreases in this Global Note have been made:
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Principal amount of |
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Amount of increase |
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this Global Note |
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Signature of authorized |
Date of |
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Amount of decrease in Principal |
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in Principal Amount |
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following such |
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signatory of Trustee or |
Exchange |
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Amount of this Global Note |
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of this Global Note |
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decrease or increase |
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Securities Custodian |
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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 9.16 or
9.17 of the Indenture, check the box below:
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o Section 9.16
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o Section 9.17 |
If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to
Section 9.16 or 9.17 of the Indenture, state the amount: $
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Date:
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Your signature: |
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(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of the Note) |
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Signature guarantee: |
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Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized
signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor
acceptable to the trustee. |