UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Amendment
No. 1 to
Form
T-3
APPLICATION
FOR QUALIFICATION OF INDENTURES
UNDER
THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
____________________
SPECTRUM
BRANDS, INC.
(Name
of Applicant)
Six
Concourse Parkway
Suite
3300
Atlanta,
Georgia 30328
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
SECURITIES
TO BE ISSUED UNDER THE
INDENTURES
TO BE QUALIFIED
Title
of Class
|
Amount
|
Variable
Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013
|
$350
million, plus any additional principle issuable as interest payable
on the
Notes
|
Approximate
date of proposed public offering:
As
soon
as practicable after the date of this Application for
Qualification.
Name
and address of agent for service:
Randall
J. Steward
Executive
Vice-President
and
Chief Financial Officer
Spectrum
Brands, Inc.
Six
Concourse Parkway, Suite 3300
Atlanta,
Georgia 30328
(770)
829-6200
|
Copies
to be sent to:
Margaret
A. Brown, Esq.
Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
One
Beacon Street
31st
Floor
Boston,
MA 02108
(617)
573-4800
|
The
obligor hereby amends this application for qualification on such date or dates
as may be necessary to delay its effectiveness until (i) the 20th day after
the
filing of an amendment which specifically states that it shall supersede this
application, or (ii) such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to Section
307(c) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, may determine upon the written
request of the obligor.
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
This
Amendment No. 1 to Form T-3 I (this “Amendment No. 1”) is being filed to (i)
amend and restate “Item 2. Securities Act Exemption Applicable,” “Item 3.
Affiliates,” “Item 4. “Directors and Executive Officers,” “Item 6.
Underwriters,” “Item 7. Capitalization” and “Item 8. Analysis of Indenture
Provisions,” as set forth in the Application for Qualification of Indentures
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, on Form T-3 (File No.
022-28833) filed by Spectrum Brands, Inc.(the “Company”) with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission on March 9, 2007 (the “T-3”), (ii) to furnish
Exhibit 99.T3E, the Offering Circular and Consent Solicitation Statement, dated
March 16, 2007, and related documents, and (iii) to update Exhibit 99.T3C,
the
Indenture between Spectrum Brands, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and Wells
Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee.
(a)
Spectrum Brands, Inc. (“Spectrum” or the “Company”) is a Wisconsin corporation.
(b)
Spectrum (formerly Rayovac Corporation) is organized under the laws of the
State
of
Wisconsin.
2.
|
Securities
Act Exemption Applicable.
|
The
Company is offering (the “Exchange Offer”) to exchange $950 principal amount of
Variable Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (CUSIP No. 84762LAB1)
(the “New Notes”) to be issued pursuant to a new indenture (the “New Indenture”)
for each $1,000 principal amount of the Company’s 8 1/2% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2013 (CUSIP No. 755081AD8) issued by the Company and guaranteed by
Tetra Holding (US), Inc., ROV Holding, Inc., ROVCAL, Inc., United Industries
Corporation, Schultz Company, Spectrum Neptune US Holdco Corporation, United
Pet
Group, Inc., DB Online, LLC, Southern California Foam, Inc., Aquaria, Inc.,
Aquarium Systems, Inc., and Perfecto Manufacturing, Inc. (the “Existing Notes”).
The Company will also pay accrued and unpaid interest on such principal amount
of Existing Notes up to, but not including, April 1, 2007.
In
connection with the Exchange Offer, we are also soliciting consents (the
“Consent Solicitation”) to proposed amendments and a waiver (such amendments and
waiver, the “Proposed Amendments”) to the indenture, dated as of September 30,
2003, as supplemented (the “Indenture”), governing the Existing Notes which
amendments, subject to consummation of the Exchange Offer, would eliminate
substantially all of the restrictive covenants and certain of the default
provisions of the Indenture, and which waiver would waive certain alleged or
existing defaults or events of default under the Indenture and certain rights
under other debt agreements or instruments of the Company. If the requisite
consents to the Proposed Amendments are received (and not revoked prior to
the
date of the execution of the supplemental indenture) prior to consent expiration
date and the other conditions to the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation
are
satisfied or waived, the Company will pay to each Holder who has validly
delivered (and not revoked) a consent prior to the consent expiration date
a
consent payment in the amount of $50 in principal amount of New Notes for each
$1,000 in principal amount of Existing Notes in respect of which such consent
has been validly delivered. The complete terms of the Exchange Offer and Consent
Solicitation are contained in the Offering Circular and Consent Solicitation
Statement, dated March 16, 2007 (the “Offering Circular”), and related
documents incorporated by reference herein as Exhibit 99.T3E.
As
the
New Notes and interest on the Existing Notes are proposed to be offered for
exchange by the Company with its existing security holders exclusively and
solely for outstanding securities of the Company, the transaction is exempt
from
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”), pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(a)(9) thereof. No sales of
securities of the same class as the New Notes have been or are to be made by
the
Company by or through an underwriter at or about the same time as the Exchange
Offer for which the exemption is claimed. No consideration has been, or is
to be
given, directly or indirectly, to any person in connection with the transaction,
except for the customary payments to be made in respect of preparation,
printing, and mailing of the Offering Circular and related documents and the
engagement of Global Bondholder Services Corporation as Information Agent,
U.S.
Bank National Association as Exchange Agent for the Company and Banc of America
Securities LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co. as financial advisors to the
Company.
No
holder of the outstanding securities has made or will be requested to make
any
cash payment to the Company in connection with the Exchange Offer.
AFFILIATIONS
The
following is a list of affiliates of the Company as of the date of the T-3.
The
voting securities of each of these entities are owned 100% by its immediate
parent unless otherwise indicated. Where an immediate parent owns less than
100%
of the stock of its subsidiary, the remainder of the stock is owned by
unaffiliated third parties, unless otherwise indicated.
Name
of Company
|
|
Jurisdiction
of Organization
|
Anabasis
Handelsgesellschaft mbH (31)
|
|
Germany
|
Aquaria,
Inc. (16)
|
|
California
|
Aquarium
Systems, Inc. (18)
|
|
Delaware
|
Brisco
Electronics B.V.(32)
|
|
Netherlands
|
DB
Online, LLC (16)
|
|
Hawaii
|
Distribuidora
Rayovac Guatemala, S.A. (43)
|
|
Guatemala
|
Distribuidora
Rayovac Honduras, S.A. (46)
|
|
Honduras
|
Distribuidora
Ray-O-Vac/Varta, S.A. De C.V. (47)
|
|
Mexico
|
Eight
in One GmbH (23)
|
|
Germany
|
Ipopojuca
Empreendimentos E Participacoes S.A. (11)
|
|
Brazil
|
Microlite
S. A. (10)
|
|
Brazil
|
Minera
Vidaluz, S.A. De C.V. (1)
|
|
Mexico
|
Ningbo
Baowang Battery Co., Ltd. (7)
|
|
China
|
Perfecto
Manufacturing, Inc (17)
|
|
Delaware
|
Pile
D'alsace S.A.S. (27)
|
|
France
|
Rayovac
(UK) Limited (27)
|
|
UK
|
Rayovac
Argentina S.R.L. (51)
|
|
Argentina
|
Rayovac
Brasil Participacoes Ltda. (38)
|
|
Brazil
|
Name
of Company
|
|
Jurisdiction
of Organization
|
Rayovac
Chile Sociedad Comercial Ltda. (50)
|
|
Chile
|
Rayovac
Costa Rica, S.A. (44)
|
|
Costa
Rica
|
Ray-O-Vac
De Mexico, S.A. De C.V. (48)
|
|
Mexico
|
Rayovac
Dominican Republic, S.A. (41)
|
|
Dominican
Rep.
|
Rayovac
El Salvador, S.A. De C.V. (40)
|
|
El
Salvador
|
Rayovac
Europe B.V. (27)
|
|
Netherlands
|
Rayovac
Europe GmbH (22)
|
|
Germany
|
Rayovac
Europe Limited (33)
|
|
UK
|
Rayovac
Far East Limited (37)
|
|
Hong
Kong
|
Rayovac
Foreign Sales Corporation (1) (36)
|
|
Barbados
|
Rayovac
Guatemala, S.A. (42)
|
|
Guatemala
|
Rayovac
Honduras, S.A. (45)
|
|
Honduras
|
Rayovac
Overseas Corp. (2)
|
|
Cayman
|
Rayovac
PRC(6)
|
|
Cayman
|
Rayovac
Venezuela, S.A. (26)
|
|
Venezuela
|
Rayovac-VARTA
S.A. (49)
|
|
Colombia
|
Rayovac-VARTA
Soluciones Limitada. (52)
|
|
Colombia
|
Remington
Consumer Products (34)
|
|
UK
|
Remington
Consumer Products (Ireland) Ltd. (34)
|
|
Ireland
|
Remington
Licensing Corporation (1)(35)
|
|
Delaware
|
Remington
Products Australia Pty. Ltd. (2)
|
|
Australia
|
Remington
Products GMBH (31)
|
|
Germany
|
Remington
Products New Zealand Ltd. (9)
|
|
New
Zealand
|
ROV
German General Partner GmbH (27)
|
|
Germany
|
ROV
German Limited GmbH(55)
|
|
Germany
|
ROV
Holding, Inc (1)
|
|
Delaware
|
ROV
International Finance Company(2)
|
|
Cayman
Islands
|
ROVCAL,
Inc. (1)
|
|
California
|
Schultz
Company (12)
|
|
Missouri
|
Southern
California Foam, Inc. (16)
|
|
California
|
Spectrum
Brands (Hong Kong) Limited (7)
|
|
Hong
Kong
|
Spectrum
Brands (Shenzhen) Ltd. (7)
|
|
China
|
Spectrum
Brands Asia (2)
|
|
Cayman
|
Spectrum
Brands Canada, Inc.(2)
|
|
Canada
|
Spectrum
Brands Europe GmbH (21)
|
|
Germany
|
Spectrum
Brands Europe Holding GmbH (2)
|
|
Germany
|
Spectrum
Brands HK1 Limited (3)
|
|
Hong
Kong
|
Spectrum
Brands HK2 Limited (3)
|
|
Hong
Kong
|
Spectrum
Brands Holding B.V. (39)
|
|
Netherlands
|
Spectrum
Brands IP, Inc. (8)
|
|
Ontario
|
Spectrum
Brands Lux S.a.r.l. (19)
|
|
Luxemborg
|
Spectrum
Brands Mauritius Limited (5)
|
|
Mauritius
|
Spectrum
Brands Schweiz GmbH (20)
|
|
Switzerland
|
Spectrum
China Business Trust (4)
|
|
China
|
Spectrum
Neptune CA Holdco Corporation (13)
|
|
Nova
Scotia
|
Name
of Company
|
|
Jurisdiction
of Organization
|
Spectrum
Neptune Holding Company GP, Ltd. (14)
|
|
Nova
Scotia
|
Spectrum
Neptune Holding Company, LP (15)
|
|
Ontario
|
Spectrum
Neptune US Holdco Corporation (12)
|
|
Delaware
|
Tetra
(UK) Limited (34)
|
|
UK
|
Tetra
Aquatic Asia Pacific Private Limited (2)
|
|
Singapore
|
Tetra
France S.A.S.(29)
|
|
France
|
Tetra
GmbH (23)
|
|
Germany
|
Tetra
Holding (US), Inc. (1)
|
|
Delaware
|
Tetra
Holding GmbH (22)
|
|
Germany
|
Tetra
Italia S.r.L. (28)
|
|
Italy
|
Tetra
Japan K.K. (2)
|
|
Japan
|
United
Industries Corporation (1)
|
|
Delaware
|
United
Pet Group, Inc (12)
|
|
Delaware
|
VARTA
B.V. (20)
|
|
Netherlands
|
VARTA
Baterie Sp.Zo.o (54)
|
|
Poland
|
VARTA
Baterie spol. S R.O. (57)
|
|
Czech
Rep.
|
VARTA
Batterie Ges.M.B.H. (21)
|
|
Austria
|
VARTA
Batterie S.r.L. (27)
|
|
Italy
|
VARTA
Consumer Batteries A/S (27)
|
|
Denmark
|
VARTA
Consumer Batteries Gmbh & Co. KGAA (30)
|
|
Germany
|
VARTA
Ltd. (34)
|
|
UK
|
VARTA
Pilleri Ticaret Ltd. Sirketi (56)
|
|
Turkey
|
VARTA
Remington Rayovac d.o.o (25)
|
|
Bosnia
Herz
|
VARTA
Remington Rayovac d.o.o (25)
|
|
Croatia
|
VARTA
Remington Rayovac Trgovina d.o.o.(25)
|
|
Slovenia
|
VARTA
S.A.S.(29)
|
|
France
|
VARTA-Hungaria
Kreskedelmi Es Szolgaltato Kft (53)
|
|
Hungary
|
ZAO
“Spectrum Brands” Russia (21)
|
|
Russia
|
Zoephos
International N.V. (2)
|
|
Netherlands
Antilles
|
Zoomedica
Frickhinger GmbH (24)
|
|
Germany
|
____________________
(2)
|
Owned
by ROV Holding, Inc.
|
(3)
|
Owned
by Spectrum Brands Asia.
|
(4)
|
Owned
by Spectrum Brands HK1 and Spectrum Brands
HK2.
|
(5)
|
Owned
by Spectrum China Business Trust.
|
(6)
|
Owned
by Spectrum Brands Mauritius
Limited.
|
(7)
|
Owned
by Rayovac PRC.
|
(8)
|
Owned
by Spectrum Brands Canada.
|
(9)
|
Owned
by Remington Products Australia Pty
Ltd.
|
(10)
|
Owned
90.9% by Rayovac Brasil Participcoes Ltda. Remaining 9.1% owned by
Tabriza, an unaffiliated company. In addition, each of Hartmut Junghahn,
Donna Corredera, Randy Steward Luiz Carlos Sambo and Carlos Lima
own 1
preferred share, which constitutes all of the shares
outstanding.
|
(11)
|
Owned
by Microlite S.A. In addition, each of Randy Steward, Hartmut Junghahn,
Donna Corredera and Luiz Carlos Sambo own 1 preferred share, which
constitutes all of the shares
outstanding.
|
(12)
|
Owned
by United Industries Corporation.
|
(13)
|
Owned
by Spectrum Neptune U.S. Holdco
Corporation.
|
(14)
|
Owned
by Spectrum CA Holdco Corporation.
|
(15)
|
Owed
by Spectrum Neptune Holding GP,
Ltd.
|
(16)
|
Owned
by United Pet Group, Inc.
|
(17)
|
Owned
by Aquaria, Inc.
|
(18)
|
Owned
by Perfecto Manufacturing, Inc.
|
(19)
|
Owned
by Spectrum Brands Holding B.V.
|
(20)
|
Owned
by Spectrum Brands Lux Sarl.
|
(22)
|
Owned
by Spectrum Brands Europe GmbH.
|
(23)
|
Owned
by Tetra Holding GmbH.
|
(24)
|
Owned
by Tetra GmbH.
|
(25)
|
Owned
by VARTA Batterie Ges. m.b.H.
|
(26)
|
Owned
by Rayovac Overseas Corp.
|
(27)
|
Owned
by Rayovac Europe Gmbh.
|
(28)
|
Owned
by VARTA Batterie S.r.L.
|
(29)
|
Owned
by Pile d'Alsace S.A.S.
|
(30)
|
Owned
by ROV German Limited GmbH.
|
(31)
|
Owned
by VARTA Consumer Batteries GmbH & Co.
KGaA.
|
(32)
|
Owned
by Rayovac Europe B.V.
|
(33)
|
Owned
by Rayovac (UK) Limited.
|
(34)
|
Owned
by Rayovac Europe Limited.
|
(35)
|
Owned
50% by Spectrum.
|
(36)
|
Owned
99.9% by Spectrum and 1% by ROV Holding
Inc.
|
(37)
|
Owned
99.9% by ROV Holding, Inc.
|
(38)
|
Owned
99.99% by ROV Holding, Inc. and 1% by
Spectrum.
|
(39)
|
Owned
97% by ROV Holding, Inc. and 3% by
Spectrum.
|
(40)
|
Owned
94.7% by Rayovac Overseas Corp. and 5.3% by Rayovac Costa
Rica
|
(41)
|
Owned
99.99% by Rayovac Overseas Corp. Each of the following owns one share:
Distribuidora Rayovac Guatemala, Rayovac Venezuela, Distribuidora
Rayovac
Honduras, Rayovac Guatemala, Rayovac Honduras and Rayovac El
Salvador.
|
(42)
|
Owned
84.21% by Rayovac Overseas Corp. and 15.79% by Distribuidora Rayovac
Guatemala.
|
(43)
|
Owned
99.06% by Rayovac Overseas Corp. and 0.94% by Rayovac
Guatemala.
|
(44)
|
Owned
96.24% by Rayovac Overseas Corp. and 3.76% by Rayovac Honduras.
|
(45)
|
Owned
80.31% by Rayovac Overseas Corp., 5.31% by Rayovac El Salvador, 5.31%
by
Rayovac Costa Rica, 5.31% by Rayovac Guatemala and 3.76% by Distribuidora
Rayovac Honduras.
|
(46)
|
Owned
80.4% by Rayovac Overseas Corp., 3.8% by Rayovac Honduras, 5.4% by
Rayovac
El Salvador, 5.2% by Rayovac Costa Rica and 5.2% by Rayovac
Guatemala.
|
(47)
|
Owned
99.008% by Rayovac Overseas Corp. and 0.002% by Rayovac Dominican
Republic.
|
(48)
|
Owned
99.98% by Rayovac Overseas Corp. and each of James T. Lucke and Rayovac
Dominican Republic own less than
0.01%.
|
(49)
|
Owned
as follows: ROVAC 67%, Rayovac Venezuela 23%, Rayovac Dominican Republic
9.9%, less than 0.01% by each of Jose Zapata, Kent Hussey, James
Lucke,
Rayovac de Mexico and Rayovac
Guatemala.
|
(50)
|
Owned
99.99% by Rayovac Overseas Corp. and 0.01% by
Spectrum.
|
(51)
|
Owned
95% by Rayovac Overseas Corp. and 5% by
Spectrum.
|
(52)
|
Owned
99.99% by Rayovac Overseas Corp. and Less than 0.01% by Jose Vicente
Zapata, Colombian counsel.
|
(53)
|
Owned
99% by Rayovac Europe Gmbh and 1% by ROV German Limited
GmbH.
|
(54)
|
Owned
99.83% by Rayovac Europe Gmbh.
|
(55)
|
Owned
99.6% by Rayovac Europe Gmbh.
|
(56)
|
Owned
99.093% by Rayovac Europe Gmbh and 0.007% by James T.
Lucke.
|
(57)
|
Owned
98% by Rayovac Europe Gmbh and 2% by ROV German Limited
GmbH.
|
MANAGEMENT
AND CONTROL
4.
|
Directors
and Executive Officers.
|
The
following table lists the names and offices held by all directors and executive
officers of the Company as of March 9, 2007. The mailing address for each of
the
individuals listed in the following table is:
c/o
Spectrum Brands, Inc.
Six
Concourse Parkway
Suite
3300
Atlanta,
Georgia 30328
(770)
829-6200
Name
|
|
Office
|
David
|
Jones
|
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
|
Randall
|
Steward
|
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Hartmut
|
Junghahn
|
|
Executive
Vice President, Latin America
|
Remy
|
Burel
|
|
President,
Europe/ROW
|
Kenneth
|
Biller
|
|
President,
Global Operations
|
John
|
Heil
|
|
President,
Global Pet Supplies, Co-Chief Operating Officer
|
David
|
Lumley
|
|
President,
World Wide Batteries, Personal Care & Home & Garden, and Co-Chief
Operating Officer
|
Donna
|
Corredera
|
|
Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Latin
America
|
Rick
|
Dempsey
|
|
Senior
Vice President and Chief Information Officer
|
Andreas
|
Rouve
|
|
Senior
Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer,
Europe/ROW
|
Christof
|
Queisser
|
|
Senior
Vice President, Marketing and Sales,
Europe/ROW
|
Name
|
|
Office
|
James
|
Lucke
|
|
Senior
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
|
Kent
|
Hussey
|
|
Vice
Chairman and Director
|
Alfredo
|
Mayne-Nicholls
|
|
Vice
President, Sales and Marketing, Latin America
|
Paula
|
Bauer
|
|
Senior
Vice President
|
Paul
|
Cheeseman
|
|
Senior
Vice President
|
Anthony
|
Genito
|
|
Senior
Vice President
|
Patrick
|
Gore
|
|
Senior
Vice President
|
Thomas
|
Walzer
|
|
Senior
Vice President
|
John
|
Beattie
|
|
Vice
President
|
Chad
|
Colony
|
|
Vice
President
|
Anthony
|
Cords
|
|
Vice
President
|
Dale
|
Einerson
|
|
Vice
President
|
Robert
|
Falconi
|
|
Vice
President
|
Andrew
|
Fiorenza
|
|
Vice
President
|
Steven
|
Fraundorfer
|
|
Vice
President
|
Mark
|
Gershenson
|
|
Vice
President
|
Joe
|
Gil
|
|
Vice
President
|
Jim
|
Huffmyer
|
|
Vice
President
|
Ramzi
|
Kanso
|
|
Vice
President
|
James
|
Kimble
|
|
Vice
President
|
Russell
|
Kohl
|
|
Vice
President
|
Randal
|
Lewis
|
|
Vice
President
|
Timothy
|
Mead
|
|
Vice
President
|
James
|
Patullo
|
|
Vice
President
|
Andy
|
Ponte
|
|
Vice
President
|
Randall
|
Raymond
|
|
Vice
President
|
Kristen
|
Rider
|
|
Vice
President
|
Jeffrey
|
Schmoeger
|
|
Vice
President
|
Ricky
|
Spurlock
|
|
Vice
President
|
John
|
Walker
|
|
Vice
President
|
Tom
|
Ramey
|
|
Vice
President, Asia Pacific
|
Kevin
|
Brenner
|
|
President,
Americas Aquatics division of Global Pet
|
Hans-Peter
|
Kübler
|
|
Vice
President, Eastern Europe & Middle East Africa
|
Wolfgang
|
Mollenhauer
|
|
Vice
President, General Manager, Pet Europe, Far East
|
Matthias
|
Schiller
|
|
Vice
President, Middle Europe
|
Barry
|
Seenberg
|
|
Vice
President, Companion Animal
|
Lazare
|
Sellam
|
|
Vice
President, Southern Europe
|
Greg
|
Ellery
|
|
Vice
President, Asia Pacific
|
John
|
Bowlin
|
|
Director
|
Charles
|
Brizius
|
|
Director
|
William
|
Carmichael
|
|
Director
|
John
|
Lupo
|
|
Director
|
Scott
|
Schoen
|
|
Director
|
Barbara
|
Thomas
|
|
Director
|
Thomas
|
Shepherd
|
|
Lead
Director
|
5.
|
Principal
Owners of Voting
Securities
|
Presented
below is certain information regarding each person owning 10% or more of the
voting securities of the Company as of the date of this
Application:
Name
|
|
Complete
Mailing
Address
|
|
Title
of
Class
Owned
|
|
Amount
Owned
(includes
beneficial
ownership)
|
|
Percentage
of
Voting
Securities
Owned
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THL
Parties
c/o
Thomas H. Lee
Partners,
LP
|
|
100
Federal
Street,
35th
Floor
Boston,
MA
02110
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
12,760,584
(1)
|
|
24.30%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ameriprise
Financial
Inc.
|
|
General
Counsel’s
Office
50591
Ameriprise
Financial
Center
Minneapolis,
MN
55474
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
7,535,376
(2)
|
|
14.36%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles
A. Brizius
|
|
c/o
Thomas H. Lee
100
Federal
Street,
35th
Floor
Boston,
MA
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
12,760,584 (1)(3)
|
|
24.30%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott
A. Schoen
|
|
c/o
Thomas H. Lee
100
Federal
Street,
35th
Floor
Boston,
MA
|
|
|
|
12,760,584 (1)(4)
|
|
24.30%
|
(1)
|
Based
in part on information set forth in a Schedule 13D that was filed
with the
SEC on February 17, 2005 (“Schedule 13D”).
|
|
The
THL Parties may be deemed to beneficially own 12,765,584 shares of
Common
Stock pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5(b).
The
aggregate number of shares beneficially owned by the THL Parties
is
comprised of (A) 10,593,305 shares directly held by Thomas H. Lee
Equity Fund IV, L.P. (“Equity Fund”), (B) 366,192 shares directly
held by Thomas H. Lee Foreign Fund IV, L.P. (“Foreign Fund”),
(C) 1,031,186 shares directly held by Thomas H. Lee Foreign Fund
IV-B, L.P. (“Foreign Fund B”), (D) 2,785 shares directly held by
Thomas H. Lee Investors Limited Partnership (“THL Investors”),
(E) 68,881 shares directly held by Thomas H. Lee Charitable
Investment L.P. (“Charitable Investment”), (F) 6,006 shares directly
held by THL Equity Advisors IV, LLC and (G) 670,266 shares directly
held by (i) the following managing directors of Thomas H. Lee
Advisors, LLC: David V. Harkins; Scott A. Schoen; Scott M. Sperling;
Anthony J. DiNovi; Thomas M. Hagerty; Seth W. Lawry; Kent R. Weldon;
Todd
M. Abbrecht; Charles A. Brizius; Scott Jaeckel; and Soren Oberg,
and
(ii) the following other parties that are not affiliates of Thomas H.
Lee Partners, L.P., but who acquired his/her shares of Common Stock
as
part of a co-investment with the other THL Parties: the 1997 Thomas
H. Lee
Nominee Trust; the 1995 Harkins Gift Trust; the Smith Family Limited
Partnership; the Robert Schiff Lee 1988 Irrevocable Trust; Stephen
Zachary
Lee; Charles W. Robins as Custodian for Jesse Lee; C. Hunter Boll;
Warren
C. Smith, Jr.; Terence M. Mullen; Thomas R. Shepherd; Wendy L. Masler;
Andrew D. Flaster; Charles W. Robins and James Westra ((i) and
(ii) are together referred to herein as the “Related Holders”) (the
Equity Fund, Foreign Fund, Foreign Fund B, THL Investors, Charitable
Investment and the Related Holders are collectively referred to herein
as
the “THL Parties”). The aggregate number of beneficially owned shares may
also be deemed to include 5,000 shares subject to options held by
Mr. Shepherd that were exercisable within 60 days of December 4,
2006.
|
|
|
|
Except
to the extent of a pecuniary interest therein, each of the persons
and
entities comprising the THL Parties expressly disclaims beneficial
ownership of the shares held by each of the other persons and entities
comprising the THL Parties, except: (a) THL Equity Advisors IV LLC
does not disclaim beneficial ownership of shares held by Equity Fund,
Foreign Fund or Foreign Fund B; (b) Management Corp. (as defined
below) does not disclaim beneficial ownership of shares held by THL
Investors; and (c) Thomas H. Lee, an individual U.S. citizen, does
not disclaim beneficial ownership of shares held by the 1997 Thomas
H. Lee
Nominee Trust.
|
|
|
|
The
THL Parties by virtue of certain relationships, may constitute a
“group”
within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of
1934, as amended. As a member of a group, each person and entity
of the
group may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by the entire group.
|
|
|
|
Thomas
H. Lee Advisors, LLC, is the general partner of Thomas H. Lee Partners,
L.P., which is, in turn, the sole member of THL Equity Advisors IV,
LLC,
which is the general partner of each of Equity Fund, Foreign Fund
and
Foreign Fund B. THL Equity Advisors IV, LLC, as sole general partner
of
Equity Fund, Foreign Fund and Foreign Fund B (collectively, the “Advisors
Funds”), may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with respect
to 11,990,683 shares beneficially owned by the Advisors Funds. The
managing directors of Thomas H. Lee Advisors, LLC also own membership
interests in Thomas H. Lee Advisors, LLC. The managing directors
of Thomas
H. Lee Advisors, LLC share voting and investment control over securities
held by the Advisors Funds and may be deemed to share beneficial
ownership
with respect to the 11,990,683 shares held by the Advisors Funds.
|
|
|
|
THL
Investment Management Corp. (“Management Corp.”) is the sole general
partner of THL Investors. Seth W. Lawry, Kent R. Weldon, David V.
Harkins,
Scott A. Schoen, Scott M. Sperling, Anthony J. DiNovi and Thomas
M.
Hagerty are officers of Management Corp. The officers of Management
Corp.
exercise voting and investment control over the shares of Company
stock
held by THL Investors and may be deemed to beneficially own the shares
of
Company stock held by THL Investors.
|
|
Each
of the Related Holders has obtained beneficial ownership of less
than 1%
of the outstanding shares. Each of the Related Holders has sole voting
and
sole dispositive power with respect to such shares beneficially owned
by
it, except for the 1997 Thomas H. Lee Nominee Trust, the 1995 Harkins
Gift
Trust, the Smith Family Limited Partnership, the Robert Schiff Lee
1988
Irrevocable Trust and Charles W. Robins as Custodian for Jesse Lee.
|
|
|
|
Thomas
H. Lee, an individual, may be deemed to share voting and dispositive
power
with respect to the shares beneficially held by the 1997 Thomas H.
Lee
Nominee Trust. Mr. Lee does not disclaim beneficial ownership of such
shares.
|
|
|
|
David
V. Harkins may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power over
shares
held by The 1995 Harkins Gift Trust. Charles W. Robins may be deemed
to
share voting and dispositive power over shares held by him as Custodian
for Jesse Lee and shares held by the Robert Schiff Lee 1988 Irrevocable
Trust. Warren C. Smith, Jr. may be deemed to share voting and dispositive
power over shares held by the Smith Family Limited Partnership. Except
to
the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, Mr. Harkins, Mr. Robins,
Mr. Smith and Mr. Lee each, respectively, disclaims beneficial
ownership of such shares. Thomas H. Lee, an individual, may be deemed
to
share voting and dispositive power over shares held by Charitable
Investment.
|
|
|
|
This
amount also reflects a grant of 13,666 shares of restricted stock
to
Thomas H. Lee Advisors, LLC reported on a Form 4s filed with the
SEC on
October 18, 2006. These shares are presently held by THL Equity
Advisors IV, LLC. THL Equity Advisors IV, LLC is the direct owner
of these
additional shares and a member of the THL Parties reporting group.
As
such, each member of the group may be deemed to beneficially own
these
shares of Common Stock.
|
|
|
|
This
amount also reflects grants of 3,646 and 8,297 shares of restricted
stock
granted to Mr. Shepherd as reported on Form 4s filed with the SEC on
October 5, 2005 and October 18, 2006, respectively.
Mr. Shepherd is the direct owner of these additional shares and a
member the THL Parties reporting group. As such, each member of the
group
may be deemed to beneficially own these additional shares of Common
Stock.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Ameriprise
Financial, Inc. has shared dispositive power with respect to 7,535,376
shares. Information is based on a Schedule 13G filed by Ameriprise
Financial, Inc. with the SEC on February 14, 2007.
|
|
|
(3)
|
5,127
shares are held directly by Mr. Brizius. As discussed in note (2)
above,
Mr. Brizius may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of 12,765,584
shares that may be beneficially owned by the THL Parties, which include
the 5,127 shares held by him directly. Except for shares held by
him
directly or to the extent of a pecuniary interest therein, Mr. Brizius
disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by each of the
other
persons and entities comprising the THL Parties.
|
|
|
(4)
|
30,764
shares are held directly by Mr. Schoen. As discussed in note (2)
above,
Mr. Schoen may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of 12,765,584
shares that may be beneficially owned by the THL Parties, which include
the 30,764 shares held by him directly. Except for shares held by
him
directly, Mr. Schoen disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares
held by
each of the other persons and entities comprising the THL
Parties.
|
UNDERWRITERS
(a) The
following table lists the names and complete mailing addresses of each person
who within three years prior to the date hereof acted as an underwriter of
any
securities of the Company which are outstanding on the date hereof, and the
title of each class of securities underwritten.
Name
|
Mailing
Address
|
Title
of Each Class of
Securities
Underwritten
|
Banc
of America Securities LLC
|
214
N. Tryon Street
17th
Floor
Charlotte,
North Carolina 28255
|
Spectrum
7 3/8% Senior
Subordinated
Notes due 2015
|
|
|
|
Citigroup
Global Markets, Inc.
|
399
Park Ave
New
York, New York 10022
|
Spectrum
7 3/8% Senior
Subordinated
Notes due 2015
|
|
|
|
Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith
Incorporated
|
4
World Financial Center
New
York, New York 10080
|
Spectrum
7 3/8% Senior
Subordinated
Notes due 2015
|
|
|
|
ABN
AMRO Incorporated
|
540
West Madison Street
Suite
2514
Chicago,
Illinois 60661
|
Spectrum
7 3/8% Senior
Subordinated
Notes due 2015
|
(b) No
person is acting, or proposed to be acting, as principal underwriter of the
New
Notes proposed to be offered pursuant to the New Indenture.
CAPITAL
SECURITIES
(a) As
of March 8, 2007
Title
of Class
|
Amount
Authorized
|
Amount
Outstanding
(dollars
in millions)
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock, par value $0.01 per share
|
150,000,000
|
52,534,140
|
Preferred
stock, par value $.01 per share
|
5,000,000
|
0
|
8
1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (1)
|
$350
|
$350
|
New
Variable Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013
(2)
|
$350
|
$350
|
7
3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015
|
$700
|
$700
|
____________________
(1)
To be
extinguished pursuant to the restructuring.
(2)
To be
issued pursuant to the restructuring.
(b) Voting
Rights
|
(1)
|
Each
holder of common stock entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders
shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such
stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question;
|
|
(2)
|
The
Board of Directors has the authority to issue preferred stock with
voting
rights as it may designate. As of the date of the T-3 had not and
as of
the date of this Amendment No. 1, the Company has not issued any
preferred
stock;
|
|
(3)
|
Holders
of Senior Subordinated Notes generally are not entitled to vote at
any
meeting of stockholders.
|
INDENTURE
SECURITIES
8.
|
Analysis
of Indenture Provisions
|
The
New
Notes will be issued under an indenture (the “New Indenture”) to be dated as of
first issuance of New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer and entered into
between the Company, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries, as Guarantors, and
Wells Fargo Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The following
analysis is not a complete description of the New Indenture provisions discussed
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of the New Indenture,
the form of which is attached as Exhibit 99.T3C hereto and incorporated by
reference herein. Spectrum has not entered into the New Indenture as of the
date
of this filing, and the terms of the New Indenture are subject to change prior
to its execution. Capitalized
terms used below but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them
in
the New Indenture.
(a) The
New Notes
|
(i)
|
Events
of Default; Withholding of
Notice
|
Events
of Default in respect of the New Notes include:
|
(1)
|
default
for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the New Notes
whether
or not prohibited by the subordination provisions of the New
Indenture;
|
|
(2)
|
default
in payment when due (whether at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption
or
otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the New Notes,
whether or not prohibited by the subordination provisions of the
New
Indenture;
|
|
(3)
|
failure
by Spectrum or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with
covenants
and obligations related to (i) the right of Holders of the New Notes
to
require Spectrum to repurchase all or part of the New Notes upon
a Change
in Control of Spectrum (Section 4.14 of the New Indenture), (ii)
the sale
by Spectrum or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its or their
Assets
and the use of the proceeds from such sale (Section 4.10 of the New
Indenture), (iii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets
of
any Spectrum or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or the merger
or
consolidation of Spectrum or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries with
or
into another person (Section 5.01 of the New Indenture), and (iv)
the sale
of all or substantially all of the assets of any Guarantor or the
merger
or consolidation of any Guarantor with or into another person (Section
4.20(c) of the New Indenture);
|
|
(4)
|
failure
by Spectrum or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after
written notice by the Trustee or Holders representing 25% or more
of the
aggregate principal amount of New Notes outstanding to comply with
any of
the other agreements in the New
Indenture;
|
|
(5)
|
default
under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may
be
issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness
for
money borrowed by Spectrum or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
(or the
payment of which is Guaranteed by Spectrum or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists,
or is
created after the date of the New Indenture, if that
default:
|
|
(A)
|
is
caused by a failure to make any payment of principal at the final
maturity
of such Indebtedness (a “Payment
Default”);
or
|
|
(B)
|
results
in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express
maturity,
|
and,
in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with
the
principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been
a
Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates
$10.0 million or more;
|
(6)
|
failure
by Spectrum or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments
(to the extent such judgments are not paid or covered by insurance
provided by a carrier that has acknowledged coverage in writing and
has
the ability to perform) aggregating in excess of $10.0 million, which
judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60
days;
|
|
(7)
|
except
as permitted by the New Indenture, any Note Guarantee shall be held
in any
judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease
for any
reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person
acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations
under its Note Guarantee; and
|
|
(8)
|
certain
events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to Spectrum, any
Guarantor
or any Significant Subsidiary of Spectrum (or any Restricted Subsidiaries
that together would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary).
|
In
the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or
insolvency, with respect to Spectrum, any Guarantor or any Significant
Subsidiary of Spectrum (or any Restricted Subsidiaries that together would
constitute a Significant Subsidiary), all outstanding New Notes will become
due
and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event
of
Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25%
in
principal amount of the then outstanding New Notes may declare all the New
Notes
to be due and payable immediately.
Holders
of the New Notes may not enforce the New Indenture or the New Notes except
as
provided in the New Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding New Notes may direct the
Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from
Holders of the New Notes notice of any Default or Event of Default (except
a
Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest)
if
it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.
The
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the New Notes then
outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of
the
New Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences
under the New Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in
the
payment of interest on, or the principal of, the New Notes. The Holders of
a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding New Notes will have the
right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
exercising any remedy available to the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse
to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the New Indenture, that
may
involve the Trustee in personal liability, or that the Trustee determines in
good faith may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders of New Notes
not
joining in the giving of such direction and may take any other action it deems
proper that is not inconsistent with any such direction received from Holders
of
New Notes. A Holder may not pursue any remedy with respect to the New Indenture
or the New Notes unless:
|
(1)
|
the
Holder gives the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of
Default;
|
|
(2)
|
the
Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding
New
Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the
remedy;
|
|
(3)
|
such
Holder or Holders offer the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the
Trustee
against any costs, liability or
expense;
|
|
(4)
|
the
Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt
of
the request and the offer of indemnity;
and
|
|
(5)
|
during
such 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the outstanding New Notes do not give the Trustee a direction
that is inconsistent with the
request.
|
However,
such limitations do not apply to the right of any Holder of a Note to receive
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, such Note or
to
bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment, on or after the due date
expressed in the New Notes, which right shall not be impaired or affected
without the consent of the Holder.
In
the case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any willful action
or
inaction taken or not taken by or on behalf of Spectrum with the intention
of
avoiding payment of the premium that Spectrum would have had to pay if Spectrum
then had elected to redeem the New Notes pursuant to the optional redemption
provisions of the New Indenture, an equivalent premium shall also become and
be
immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration
of the New Notes.
|
(ii)
|
Authentication
and Delivery of New Notes; Use of
Proceeds
|
As
set
forth in Section 2.02 of the New Indenture, one Officer shall sign the New
Notes
for Spectrum by manual or facsimile signature.
A
Note
shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.
The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated
under the New Indenture.
If
an
Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time
a
Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.
The
aggregate principal amount of New Notes which may be authenticated and delivered
under the New Indenture is unlimited.
The
Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to Spectrum to
authenticate New Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate New Notes
whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this New Indenture to
authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An
authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or
an
Affiliate of Spectrum.
The
Trustee shall, upon a written order of Spectrum signed by one Officer,
authenticate New Notes for original issue up to the aggregate principal amount
authorized pursuant to this New Indenture.
Because
the New Notes are being issued in exchange for the Existing Notes, there will
be
no proceeds from the issuance of the New Notes.
|
(iii)
|
Release
and Substitution of Property Subject to the Lien of the New
Indenture
|
The
New
Notes are not secured by any lien on property.
|
(iv)
|
Satisfaction
and Discharge of the New
Indenture
|
The
New
Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all
New Notes issued thereunder, when:
|
(A)
|
all
New Notes that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed
New Notes that have been replaced or paid and New Notes for whose
payment
money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid
to
Spectrum) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
or
|
|
(B)
|
all
New Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of
redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one
year and
Spectrum or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to
be
deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the
benefit
of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities,
or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without
consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge
the
entire indebtedness on the New Notes not delivered to the Trustee
for
cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest
to the
date of maturity or redemption;
|
|
(2)
|
no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
on the
date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and
such
deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute
a
default under, any other instrument to which Spectrum or any Guarantor
is
a party or by which Spectrum or any Guarantor is
bound;
|
|
(3)
|
Spectrum
or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by
it
under the New Indenture; and
|
|
(4)
|
Spectrum
has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under the New
Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the
New Notes
at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may
be.
|
In
addition, Spectrum must deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction
and
discharge have been satisfied.
Spectrum
may, at its option and at any time, elect to have all of its obligations
discharged with respect to the outstanding New Notes and all obligations of
the
Guarantors discharged with respect to their Note Guarantees (“Legal
Defeasance”)
except
for:
|
(1)
|
the
rights of Holders of outstanding New Notes to receive payments in
respect
of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such New
Notes
when such payments are due from the trust referred to
below;
|
|
(2)
|
Spectrum’s
obligations with respect to the New Notes concerning issuing temporary
New
Notes, registration of New Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
New
Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and
money for
security payments held in trust;
|
|
(3)
|
the
rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and
Spectrum’s and the Guarantor’s obligations in connection therewith;
and
|
|
(4)
|
the
Legal Defeasance provisions of the New
Indenture.
|
In
addition, Spectrum may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the
obligations of Spectrum and the Guarantors released with respect to certain
covenants that are described in the New Indenture (“Covenant
Defeasance”)
and
thereafter any omission to comply with those covenants shall not constitute
a
Default or Event of Default with respect to the New Notes. In the event Covenant
Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment, bankruptcy,
receivership, rehabilitation and insolvency events) described under “Events of
Default” will no longer constitute Events of Default with respect to the New
Notes.
In
order
to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
|
(1)
|
Spectrum
must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit
of
the Holders of the New Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable
Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts
as will
be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, or interest
and
premium, if any, on the outstanding New Notes on the stated maturity
or on
the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and Spectrum
must
specify whether the New Notes are being defeased to maturity or to
a
particular redemption date;
|
|
(2)
|
in
the case of Legal Defeasance, Spectrum shall have delivered to the
Trustee
an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming
that
(a) Spectrum has received from, or there has been published by, the
Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (b) since the date of the New
Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income
tax
law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion
of
Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding New Notes
will
not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes
as a
result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income
tax
on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
would
have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not
occurred;
|
|
(3)
|
in
the case of Covenant Defeasance, Spectrum shall have delivered to
the
Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee
confirming that the Holders of the outstanding New Notes will not
recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as
a result
of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income
tax on
the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would
have
been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not
occurred;
|
|
(4)
|
no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
either:
(a) in the case of Covenant Defeasance or Legal Defeasance, on the
date of
such deposit; or (b) in the case of Legal Defeasance, or insofar
as Events
of Default from bankruptcy or insolvency events are concerned, at
any time
in the period ending on the 123rd day after the date of
deposit;
|
|
(5)
|
such
Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach
or
violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement
or
instrument to which Spectrum or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
or by
which Spectrum or any of its Subsidiaries is
bound;
|
|
(6)
|
Spectrum
must have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
that, (1) assuming no intervening bankruptcy of Spectrum or any Guarantor
between the date of deposit and the 123rd
day following the deposit and assuming that no Holder is an “insider” of
Spectrum under applicable bankruptcy law, after the 123rd day following
the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of
any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally, including Section 547 of the United
States Bankruptcy Code and (2) the creation of the defeasance trust
does
not violate the Investment Company Act of
1940;
|
|
(7)
|
Spectrum
must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the
deposit was not made by Spectrum with the intent of preferring the
Holders
of New Notes over the other creditors of Spectrum with the intent
of
defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of Spectrum
or
others;
|
|
(8)
|
if
the New Notes are to be redeemed prior to their stated maturity,
Spectrum
must deliver to the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem all
of the
New Notes on the specified redemption date;
and
|
|
(9)
|
Spectrum
must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the
Legal
Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
|
|
(v)
|
Evidence
Required to be Furnished by the Company to the Trustee as to Compliance
with the Conditions and Covenants Provided for in the New Indenture.
|
Spectrum
is required to deliver to the Trustee annually within 90 days after the end
of
each fiscal year a statement regarding compliance with the New Indenture. Upon
becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, Spectrum is required to
deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.
Spectrum
shall also comply with Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act without
regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice and, if so, specifying
each such default of which such signer has knowledge and the nature
thereof.
The
New
Notes are issued by Spectrum and guaranteed by certain of its subsidiaries
as
set forth below. The mailing address for each of the individuals listed in
the
following table is:
c/o
Spectrum Brands, Inc.
Six
Concourse Parkway
Suite
3300
Atlanta,
Georgia 30328
(770)
829-6200
Subsidiary
Guarantors
|
Tetra
Holding (US), Inc.
|
ROV
Holding, Inc.
|
ROVCAL,
Inc.
|
United
Industries Corporation
|
Schultz
Company
|
Spectrum
Neptune US Holdco Corporation
|
United
Pet Group, Inc.
|
DB
Online, LLC
|
Southern
California Foam, Inc.
|
Aquaria,
Inc.
|
Aquarium
Systems, Inc.
|
Perfecto
Manufacturing, Inc.
|
Content
of Application For Qualification
This
Amendment No. 1 for qualification comprises:
(a) Pages
number 1 to 22, consecutively.
(b) The
statement of eligibility and qualification on Form T-1 of Wells Fargo Bank,
N.A., as Trustee under the New Indenture to be qualified (included as Exhibit
99.T3G hereto).
(c) The
following exhibits in addition to those filed as part of the statement of
eligibility and qualification of each trustee:
List
of
Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
|
Exhibit
Description
|
|
|
Exhibit
99.T3A
|
Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Spectrum Brands, Inc. (filed
as
Exhibit 3.1 of Spectrum Brands' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the
fiscal quarter ended April 3, 2005 filed with the Commission on May
13,
2005 and incorporated by reference herein)
|
Exhibit
99.T3B
|
Amended
and Restated By-laws of Spectrum Brands, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 3.2
of
Spectrum Brands' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
ended April 3, 2005 filed with the Commission on May 13, 2005 and
incorporated by reference herein)
|
Exhibit
99.T3C
|
Indenture
between Spectrum Brands, Inc., the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank,
N.A.,
as Trustee (filed herewith).
|
Exhibit
99.T3D
|
Not
Applicable
|
Exhibit
99.T3E
|
Offering
Circular and Consent Solicitation Statement, dated March 16, 2007
(filed
herewith)
|
Exhibit
99.T3F
|
A
cross reference sheet showing the location in the Indenture between
Spectrum Brands, Inc., the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,
as
Trustee of the provisions inserted therein pursuant to Section 310
through
318(a), inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act (included as part of
Exhibit
99.T3C herewith).
|
Exhibit
99.T3G
|
Form
T-1 qualifying Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as Trustee under the Indenture
between Spectrum Brands, Inc., the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank,
N.A.,
as Trustee to be qualified (previously
filed).
|
SIGNATURE
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the applicant, Spectrum
Brands, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State
of Wisconsin, has duly caused this application to be signed on its behalf by
the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, and its seal to be hereunto affixed
and
attested, all in the City of Atlanta, and State of Georgia, on the
16th
day of
March, 2007.
|
|
|
(Seal) |
SPECTRUM
BRANDS,
INC. |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Randall
J. Steward |
|
Randall
J. Steward |
|
Executive
Vice-President and
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
Attest: |
By: |
/s/ Kent
Hussey |
|
Kent
Hussey |
|
Vice
Chairman and Director |
Unassociated Document
SPECTRUM
BRANDS, INC.
VARIABLE
RATE TOGGLE SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2013
SPECTRUM
BRANDS, INC.
INDENTURE
Dated
as
of
[ ],
2007
WELLS
FARGO BANK, N.A.
Trustee
CROSS-REFERENCE
TABLE*
Trust
Indenture Act
|
|
Indenture
|
Section
|
|
Section
|
310
|
(a)(1)
|
|
7.10
|
|
(a)(2)
|
|
7.10
|
|
(a)(5)
|
|
7.10
|
|
(b)
|
|
7.10
|
|
(c)
|
|
N.A.
|
311
|
(a)
|
|
7.11
|
|
(b)
|
|
7.11
|
312
|
(a)
|
|
2.05
|
|
(b)
|
|
12.03
|
|
(c)
|
|
12.03
|
313
|
(a)
|
|
7.06
|
|
(b)(2)
|
|
7.06
|
|
(c)
|
|
7.06
|
|
(d)
|
|
7.06
|
314
|
(a)
|
|
4.03
|
|
(c)(1)
|
|
12.04
|
|
(c)(2)
|
|
12.04
|
|
(e)
|
|
12.05
|
316
|
(a)(last
sentence)
|
|
2.09
|
|
(a)(1)(A)
|
|
6.05
|
|
(a)(1)(B)
|
|
6.04
|
317
|
(a)(1)
|
|
6.08 |
*
This
Cross-Reference Table is not part of this Indenture.
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
|
|
ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
|
1
|
|
|
|
Section
1.01
|
Definitions
|
1
|
Section
1.02
|
Other
Definitions
|
23
|
Section
1.03
|
Incorporation
by Reference of Trust Indenture Act
|
24
|
Section
1.04
|
Rules
of Construction
|
25
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
II THE NOTES
|
26
|
|
|
|
Section
2.01
|
Form
and Dating
|
26
|
Section
2.02
|
Execution
and Authentication
|
26
|
Section
2.03
|
Registrar
and Paying Agent
|
27
|
Section
2.04
|
Paying
Agent to Hold Money in Trust
|
27
|
Section
2.05
|
Holder
Lists
|
28
|
Section
2.06
|
Transfer
and Exchange
|
28
|
Section
2.07
|
Replacement
Notes
|
31
|
Section
2.08
|
Outstanding
Notes
|
32
|
Section
2.09
|
Treasury
Notes
|
32
|
Section
2.10
|
Certificated
Notes
|
32
|
Section
2.11
|
Temporary
Notes
|
34
|
Section
2.12
|
Cancellation
|
34
|
Section
2.13
|
Defaulted
Interest
|
34
|
Section
2.14
|
CUSIP
and ISIN Numbers
|
34
|
Section
2.15
|
Deposit
of Moneys
|
34
|
Section
2.16
|
Computation
of Interest
|
35
|
Section
2.17
|
Characterization
of Notes for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes
|
35
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
III REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
|
35
|
|
|
|
Section
3.01
|
Notices
to Trustee
|
35
|
Section
3.02
|
Selection
of Notes to Be Redeemed
|
35
|
Section
3.03
|
Notice
of Redemption
|
35
|
Section
3.04
|
Effect
of Notice of Redemption
|
36
|
Section
3.05
|
Deposit
of Redemption Price
|
36
|
Section
3.06
|
Notes
Redeemed in Part
|
37
|
Section
3.07
|
Optional
Redemption
|
37
|
Section
3.08
|
Mandatory
Redemption
|
38
|
Section
3.09
|
Offer
to Purchase
|
38
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
IV COVENANTS
|
40
|
|
|
|
Section
4.01
|
Payment
of Notes
|
40
|
Section
4.02
|
Maintenance
of Office or Agency
|
40
|
Section
4.03
|
Reports
|
41
|
Section
4.04
|
Compliance
Certificate
|
41
|
Section
4.05
|
Taxes
|
42
|
Section
4.06
|
Stay,
Extension and Usury Laws
|
42
|
Section
4.07
|
Restricted
Payments
|
42
|
Section
4.08
|
Dividend
and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted
Subsidiaries
|
46
|
Section
4.09
|
Incurrence
of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock
|
47
|
Section
4.10
|
Asset
Sales
|
50
|
Section
4.11
|
Transactions
with Affiliates
|
52
|
Section
4.12
|
Liens
|
53
|
Section
4.13
|
Corporate
Existence
|
54
|
Section
4.14
|
Offer
to Repurchase upon Change of Control
|
54
|
Section
4.15
|
Limitation
on Senior Subordinated Debt
|
55
|
Section
4.16
|
Designation
of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries
|
55
|
Section
4.17
|
Payments
for Consent
|
57
|
Section
4.18
|
Business
Activities
|
57
|
Section
4.19
|
Limitation
on Issuances and Sales of Equity Interests in Restricted
Subsidiaries
|
57
|
Section
4.20
|
Additional
Note Guarantees
|
58
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
V SUCCESSORS
|
59
|
|
|
|
Section
5.01
|
Merger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets
|
59
|
Section
5.02
|
Successor
Corporation Substituted
|
60
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
|
61
|
|
|
|
Section
6.01
|
Events
of Default
|
61
|
Section
6.02
|
Acceleration
|
63
|
Section
6.03
|
Other
Remedies
|
64
|
Section
6.04
|
Waiver
of Past Defaults
|
64
|
Section
6.05
|
Control
by Majority
|
64
|
Section
6.06
|
Limitation
on Suits
|
65
|
Section
6.07
|
Rights
of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment
|
65
|
Section
6.08
|
Collection
Suit by Trustee
|
65
|
Section
6.09
|
Trustee
May File Proofs of Claim
|
65
|
Section
6.10
|
Priorities
|
66
|
Section
6.11
|
Undertaking
for Costs
|
66
|
Section
6.12
|
Restoration
of Rights and Remedies
|
67
|
Section
6.13
|
Rights
and Remedies Cumulative
|
67
|
Section
6.14
|
Delay
or Omission Not Waiver
|
67
|
Section
6.15
|
Record
Date
|
67
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VII TRUSTEE
|
67
|
|
|
|
Section
7.01
|
Duties
of Trustee
|
67
|
Section
7.02
|
Rights
of Trustee
|
69
|
Section
7.03
|
Individual
Rights of Trustee
|
69
|
Section
7.04
|
Trustee’s
Disclaimer
|
70
|
Section
7.05
|
Notice
of Defaults
|
70
|
Section
7.06
|
Reports
by Trustee to the Holders of the Notes
|
70
|
Section
7.07
|
Compensation
and Indemnity
|
70
|
Section
7.08
|
Replacement
of Trustee
|
71
|
Section
7.09
|
Successor
Trustee by Merger, Etc.
|
72
|
Section
7.10
|
Eligibility;
Disqualification
|
72
|
Section
7.11
|
Preferential
Collection of Claims Against Company
|
73
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VIII LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE; SATISFACTION AND
DISCHARGE
|
73
|
|
|
|
Section
8.01
|
Option
to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
|
73
|
Section
8.02
|
Legal
Defeasance and Discharge
|
73
|
Section
8.03
|
Covenant
Defeasance
|
74
|
Section
8.04
|
Conditions
to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
|
74
|
Section
8.05
|
Satisfaction
and Discharge of Indenture
|
76
|
Section
8.06
|
Survival
of Certain Obligations
|
77
|
Section
8.07
|
Acknowledgment
of Discharge by Trustee
|
77
|
Section
8.08
|
Deposited
Money and Cash Equivalents to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous
Provisions
|
77
|
Section
8.09
|
Repayment
to Company
|
77
|
Section
8.10
|
Indemnity
for Government Securities
|
78
|
Section
8.11
|
Reinstatement
|
78
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
IX AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
|
78
|
|
|
|
Section
9.01
|
Without
Consent of Holders of Notes
|
78
|
Section
9.02
|
With
Consent of Holders of Notes
|
79
|
Section
9.03
|
Compliance
with Trust Indenture Act
|
81
|
Section
9.04
|
Revocation
and Effect of Consents
|
81
|
Section
9.05
|
Notation
on or Exchange of Notes
|
81
|
Section
9.06
|
Trustee
to Sign Amendments, Etc.
|
82
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
X SUBORDINATION
|
82
|
|
|
|
Section
10.01
|
Agreement
to Subordinate
|
82
|
Section
10.02
|
Liquidation;
Dissolution; Bankruptcy
|
82
|
Section
10.03
|
Default
on Designated Senior Debt
|
82
|
Section
10.04
|
Acceleration
of Securities
|
83
|
Section
10.05
|
When
Distribution Must Be Paid Over
|
83
|
Section
10.06
|
Notice
by the Company
|
84
|
Section
10.07
|
Subrogation
|
84
|
Section
10.08
|
Relative
Rights
|
84
|
Section
10.09
|
Subordination
May Not Be Impaired by the Company
|
85
|
Section
10.10
|
Distribution
or Notice to Representative
|
85
|
Section
10.11
|
Rights
of Trustee and Paying Agent
|
85
|
Section
10.12
|
Authorization
to Effect Subordination
|
85
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
XI NOTE GUARANTEES
|
86
|
|
|
|
Section
11.01
|
Guarantee
|
86
|
Section
11.02
|
Subordination
of Note Guarantee
|
87
|
Section
11.03
|
Limitation
on Guarantor Liability
|
87
|
Section
11.04
|
Execution
and Delivery of Note Guarantee
|
87
|
Section
11.05
|
Releases
Following Sale of Assets
|
88
|
Section
11.06
|
Additional
Guarantors
|
88
|
Section
11.07
|
Notation
Not Required
|
88
|
Section
11.08
|
Successors
and Assigns
|
88
|
Section
11.09
|
No
Waiver
|
89
|
Section
11.10
|
Modification
|
89
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
XII MISCELLANEOUS
|
89
|
|
|
|
Section
12.01
|
Trust
Indenture Act Controls
|
89
|
Section
12.02
|
Notices
|
89
|
Section
12.03
|
Communication
by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes
|
91
|
Section
12.04
|
Certificate
and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent
|
91
|
Section
12.05
|
Statements
Required in Certificate or Opinion
|
91
|
Section
12.06
|
Rules
by Trustee and Agents
|
92
|
Section
12.07
|
No
Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders
|
92
|
Section
12.08
|
Governing
Law
|
92
|
Section
12.09
|
No
Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements
|
92
|
Section
12.10
|
Successors
|
92
|
Section
12.11
|
Severability
|
92
|
Section
12.12
|
Counterpart
Originals
|
92
|
Section
12.13
|
Table
of Contents, Headings, Etc.
|
92
|
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
A
|
FORM
OF NOTE
|
Exhibit
B
|
FORM
OF NOTE GUARANTEE
|
Exhibit
C
|
FORM
OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
|
|
|
Schedule
I
|
GUARANTORS
|
INDENTURE
dated as of [ ],
2007
among Spectrum Brands, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the “Company”),
the
Guarantors listed in Schedule
I
hereto
and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”).
The
Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of
each
other and for the equal and proportionate benefit of the Holders of the Variable
Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2013.
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section
1.01 Definitions.
“Acquired
Debt”
means,
with respect to any specified Person:
(a) Indebtedness
of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or
into, or becomes a Subsidiary of, such specified Person, whether or not such
Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other
Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person;
and
(b) Indebtedness
secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified
Person.
“Additional
Notes”
means an additional principal amount of Notes which may be issued in connection
with any PIK Payment.
“Affiliate”
of
any
specified Person means (a) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling
or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified
Person or (b) any executive officer or director of such specified Person. For
purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person,
shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise;
provided
that
beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person shall be
deemed to be control. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,”
“controlled by” and “under common control with” shall have correlative meanings;
provided
further
that
each of Paula Grundstücksverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Vermietungs-KG,
Mannheim and ROSATA Grundstücksvermietungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Object
Dischingen KG, Dusseldorf, shall not be deemed Affiliates of the Company or
any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries solely by virtue of the beneficial ownership
by
the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of up to 20% of the Voting Stock
of
each entity.
“Agent”
means
any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.
“Applicable
Procedures”
means,
with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in
any
Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such
transfer or exchange.
“Asset
Sale”
means:
(a) the
sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any property or assets;
provided
that the sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all
of
the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
shall be governed by the provisions of Section 4.14 and/or Section 5.01 and
not
by the provisions of Section 4.10; and
(b) the
issuance of Equity Interests by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or
the sale by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Equity Interests in
any
of its Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding
the preceding, the following items shall be deemed not to be Asset
Sales:
(i) any
single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having
a fair market value of less than $5.0 million;
(ii) a
transfer of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(iii) an
issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to
another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
(iv) the
sale, lease or other disposition of equipment, inventory, accounts receivable
or
other assets in the ordinary course of business;
(v) the
sale or other disposition of Cash Equivalents;
(vi) a
Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07;
(vii) any
sale or disposition of any property or equipment that has become damaged, worn
out, obsolete or otherwise unsuitable or no longer required for use in the
ordinary course of the business of the Company or its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(viii) the
licensing of intellectual property in the ordinary course of
business;
(ix) any
sale or other disposition deemed to occur with creating or granting a Lien
not
otherwise prohibited by this Indenture; and
(x) upon
the termination of the VARTA joint venture with VARTA AG, the sale, transfer
or
other disposition of the Equity Interests in FinanceCo (as defined in the VARTA
Joint Venture Agreement) and the forgiveness of any loans owed by VARTA AG,
in
each case pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of, the VARTA Joint
Venture Agreement as in effect on the date of this Indenture.
“Bankruptcy
Law”
means
any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, winding-up,
liquidation, reorganization or relief of debtors or any amendment to, succession
to or change in any such law, including, without limitation, the state
bankruptcy law of the Company or the Guarantor’s jurisdiction and title 11,
United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended.
“Beneficial
Owner”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange
Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular
“person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such
“person” shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that
such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other
securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only
upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and
“Beneficially Owned” shall have a corresponding meaning.
“Board
of Directors”
means
(a) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation;
(b) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner
of the partnership; and (c) with respect to any other Person, the board or
committee of such Person serving a similar function.
“Business
Day”
means
any day other than a Legal Holiday.
“Capital
Lease Obligation”
means,
at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability
in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be
capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.
“Capital
Stock”
means
(a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock; (b) in the case of an
association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations,
rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; (c) in
the
case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership
interests (whether general or limited); and (d) any other interest or
participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the
profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing
Person.
“Cash
Equivalents”
means
(a) United States dollars; (b) securities issued or directly and fully
guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or
instrumentality thereof (provided
that the
full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having
maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition; (c)
certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of six
months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with
maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank deposits, in each case,
with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0
million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better; (d) repurchase
obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities
of
the types described in clauses (b) and (c) above entered into with any financial
institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (c) above; (e)
commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable from Moody’s or S&P
and in each case maturing within nine months after the date of acquisition;
(f)
marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of
America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public
instrumentality thereof having the highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or
S&P and maturing within six months from the date of acquisition thereof; and
(g) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash
Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (a) through (f) of this
definition.
“Certificated
Note”
means
a
certificated note in registered certificated form in the name of the Holder
thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, in the form of
Exhibit A hereto, except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend
and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note”
attached thereto.
“Change
of Control”
means
the occurrence of any of the following: (a) the direct or indirect sale,
transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or
consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or
substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section
13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act); (b) the adoption of a plan relating to the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (c) any “person” or “group” (as such
terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the
ultimate Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the voting
power of the Voting Stock of the Company; (d) the first day on which a majority
of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing
Directors; or (e) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any
Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into the Company,
in
any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting
Stock of the Company or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for
cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where (i)
the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such
transaction is converted into or exchanged for Voting Stock (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the surviving or transferee Person constituting a
majority of the outstanding shares of such Voting Stock of such surviving or
transferee Person (immediately after giving effect to such issuance) and (ii)
immediately after such transaction, no “person” or “group” (as such terms are
used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes, directly or
indirectly, the ultimate Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the voting power
of
the Voting Stock of the surviving or transferee Person.
“Consolidated
Cash Flow”
means,
with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income
of such Person for such period plus,
without
duplication: (a) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person
and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such
provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income;
plus
(b)
Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period,
to
the extent that any such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus
(c)
depreciation, amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other
intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid
in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any special charges
and additional restructuring charges referred to in clauses (d) and (e) without
giving effect to the provisos, and any such non-cash expense to the extent
that
it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period
or
amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of
such
Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such
depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in
computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(d)
special charges included on the face of the Company’s consolidated statement of
operations for its fiscal years ended September 30, 2002 and 2003 furnished
to
Holders as provided under Section 4.03 and, in the case of fiscal 2003,
additional restructuring charges related to markdown monies included as a
reduction of net sales, to the extent such special charges and additional
restructuring charges were deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income for
such period; provided
that the
maximum aggregate amount of such special charges and additional restructuring
charges for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 shall not exceed $42.0
million; plus
(e)
special charges related to the acquisition of Remington incurred during any
period after June 30, 2003, and prior to September 30, 2005, and included on
the
face of the Company’s consolidated statement of operations furnished to Holders
as provided under Section 4.03 to the extent such special charges were deducted
in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period; provided
that the
maximum aggregate amount of such special charges shall not exceed $35.0 million;
minus
(f)
non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other
than the accrual of revenue consistent with past practice,
in
each
case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with
GAAP.
Notwithstanding
the preceding, the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, and
the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses of, a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute
Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company (A) in the same proportion that the Net
Income of such Restricted Subsidiary was added to compute such Consolidated
Net
Income of the Company and (B) only to the extent that a corresponding amount
would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended or distributed
to the Company by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior governmental approval
(that has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction
pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments,
decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to
that
Subsidiary or its stockholders.
“Consolidated
Net Income”
means,
with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net
Income of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated
basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided
that:
(a) the
Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary
or
that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be included
only
to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the
specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof;
(b) the
Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent that
the
declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted
Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted
without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or,
directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any
agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental
regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its
equityholders;
(c) the
Net Income of any Person acquired during the specified period for any period
prior to the date of such acquisition shall be excluded;
(d) the
cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded;
and
(e) notwithstanding
clause (a) above, the Net Income (but not loss) of any Unrestricted Subsidiary
shall be excluded, whether or not distributed to the specified Person or one
of
its Subsidiaries.
“Consolidated
Net Tangible Assets”
of
any
Person means, as of any date, the amount which, in accordance with GAAP, would
be set forth under the caption “Total Assets” (or any like caption) on a
consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries,
as of
the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial
statements are available, less (a) all intangible assets, including, without
limitation, goodwill, organization costs, patents, trademarks, copyrights,
franchises, and research and development costs and (b) current
liabilities.
“Continuing
Directors”
means,
as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the
Company who (a) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of this
Indenture; or (b) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of
Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were
members of such Board at the time of such nomination or election.
“Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee”
shall
be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.02 hereof or such
other
address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.
“Credit
Agreement”
means
that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the date of this
Indenture,
by and
among the Company, Goldman
Sachs Credit Partners L.P., as Administrative Agent, and the lenders named
therein and financial institutions and other parties thereto, including any
related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements
executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended, modified,
renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time, regardless of
whether such amendment, modification, renewal, refunding, replacement or
refinancing is with the same financial institutions or otherwise.
“Credit
Facilities”
means,
one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit
Agreement) or commercial paper facilities, in each case with banks or other
institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans,
receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders
or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such
receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified,
renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to
time.
“Custodian”
means
the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any
successor entity thereto.
“Default”
means
any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both
would be, an Event of Default.
“Depositary”
means,
with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global
form,
the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect
to
the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder
and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this
Indenture.
“Designated
Senior Debt”
means:
(a) any
Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement; and
(b) after
payment in full of all Obligations under the Credit Agreement, any other Senior
Debt permitted under this Indenture the principal amount of which is $50.0
million or more and that has been designated by the Company as “Designated
Senior Debt.”
“Disqualified
Stock”
means
any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into
which
it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option
of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is
mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise,
or
redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or
prior
to the date that is one year after the date on which the Notes mature, except
to
the extent such Capital Stock is solely redeemable with, or solely exchangeable
for, any Equity Interests of the Company that are not Disqualified Stock.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute
Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require
the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change
of
control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms
of
such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any
such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or
redemption complies with Section 4.07. The term “Disqualified Stock” shall also
include any options, warrants or other rights that are convertible into
Disqualified Stock or that are redeemable at the option of the holder, or
required to be redeemed, prior to the date that is one year after the date
on
which the Notes mature.
“Domestic
Subsidiary”
means
any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company other than a Restricted Subsidiary
that
is (a) a “controlled foreign corporation” under Section 957 of the Internal
Revenue Code or (b) a Subsidiary of any such controlled foreign
corporation.
“Equity
Interests”
means
Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital
Stock
(but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable
for,
Capital Stock).
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange
Offer”
means
the exchange offer for the Notes, pursuant to the Offering Circular and Consent
Solicitation Statement, dated March [ ],
2007.
“Existing
Indebtedness”
means
the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement) in existence
on the date of the Existing Indenture after giving effect to the application
of
the proceeds of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement borrowed on the date
of
the Existing Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.
“Existing
Indenture”
means
the Indenture dated as of September 30, 2003, among the Company, the
subsidiaries of the Company party thereto as guarantors and U.S. Bank National
Association, as trustee, governing the Company’s outstanding 8 1/2% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2013.
“fair
market value”
means
the price that would be paid in an arm’s-length transaction between an informed
and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing
buyer
under no compulsion to buy, as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive if evidenced by a resolution
of the Board of Directors.
“Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio”
means,
with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the
Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges
of
such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any
of
its Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, Guarantees, repays, repurchases or redeems
any
Indebtedness or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to
the
commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being
calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the
calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation
Date”),
then
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro
forma
effect
to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase or redemption
of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock,
and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the
beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.
In
addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio,
acquisitions and dispositions of business entities or property and assets
constituting a division or line of business of any Person that have been made
by
the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through
mergers or consolidations and including any related financing transactions,
during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period
and on or prior to the Calculation Date shall be given pro
forma
effect
as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period
and Consolidated Cash Flow for such reference period shall be calculated on
a
pro
forma
basis in
accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, but without giving
effect to clause (c) of the proviso set forth in the definition of Consolidated
Net Income; (b) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued
operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, shall be excluded; (c) the
Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in
accordance with GAAP shall be excluded, but only to the extent that the
obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges shall not be obligations of the
specified Person or any of its Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date;
and
(d) consolidated interest expense attributable to interest on any Indebtedness
(whether existing or being incurred) computed on a pro
forma
basis
and bearing a floating interest rate shall be computed as if the rate in effect
on the Calculation Date (taking into account any interest rate option, swap,
cap
or similar agreement applicable to such Indebtedness if such agreement has
a
remaining term in excess of 12 months or, if shorter, at least equal to the
remaining term of such Indebtedness) had been the applicable rate for the entire
period.
“Fixed
Charges”
means,
with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without
duplication, of (a) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, including,
without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue
discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred
payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with
Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges
incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and
net of the effect of all payments made, received or accrued in connection with
Hedging Obligations; plus
(b) the
consolidated interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was
capitalized during such period; plus
(c) any
interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by such
Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets
of
such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee
or Lien is called upon; plus
(d) the
product of (i) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in
cash, on any series of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of such Person
or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than (A) dividends on Equity Interests
payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified
Stock) or (B) dividends to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company, times (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the
denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state
and
local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case,
on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP; provided
that
Fixed Charges shall not include any interest expense of, or dividends paid
by,
VARTA to VARTA AG to the extent that the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
of
the Company receives interest or dividends in cash from VARTA AG in connection
with the VARTA Joint Venture Agreement as in effect on the date of this
Indenture.
“Foreign
Subsidiary”
means
any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company other than a Domestic
Subsidiary.
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and
pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute
of
Certified Public Accountants, the opinions and pronouncements of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board and in the statements and pronouncements
of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession, which are in effect on the date of this Indenture.
“Global
Note Legend”
means
the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f), which is required to be placed on
all
Global Notes issued under this Indenture.
“Global
Notes”
means
a
permanent global Note in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the
Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the
Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and
registered in the name of the Depositary.
“Government
Securities”
means
direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of
America for the payment of which guarantee or obligations the full faith and
credit of the United States is pledged.
“Guarantee”
means,
as to any Person, a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or
indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of
assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect
thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness of another Person.
“Guarantors”
means:
(a) each
direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary of the Company on the date of this
Indenture; and
(b) any
other subsidiary that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the
provisions of this Indenture;
and
their
respective successors and assigns until released from their obligations under
their Note Guarantees and this Indenture in accordance with the terms of this
Indenture.
“Hedging
Obligations”
means,
with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person under
(a)
interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements, interest rate
collar agreements and other agreements or arrangements designed for the purpose
of fixing, hedging or swapping interest rate risk; (b) commodity swap
agreements, commodity option agreements, forward contracts and other agreements
or arrangements designed for the purpose of fixing, hedging or swapping
commodity price risk; and (c) foreign exchange contracts, currency swap
agreements and other agreements or arrangements designed for the purpose of
fixing, hedging or swapping foreign currency exchange rate risk.
“Holder”
means
a
Person in whose name a Note is registered.
“incur”
means,
with respect to any Indebtedness, to incur, create, issue, assume, Guarantee
or
otherwise become directly or indirectly liable for or with respect to, or become
responsible for, the payment of, contingently or otherwise, such Indebtedness;
provided
that (a)
any Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed to be incurred by such
Restricted Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company; and (b) neither the accrual of interest nor the accretion of original
issue discount nor the payment of interest in the form of additional
Indebtedness with the same terms and the payment of dividends on Disqualified
Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock
(to the extent provided for when the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock on
which
such interest or dividend is paid was originally issued) shall be considered
an
incurrence of Indebtedness; provided
that in
each case the amount thereof is for all other purposes included in the Fixed
Charges and Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiary as
accrued.
“Indebtedness”
means,
with respect to any, specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether
or not contingent:
(a) in
respect of borrowed money;
(b) evidenced
by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or
reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), but excluding obligations with
respect to letters of credit (including trade letters of credit) securing
obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person
to
the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if drawn upon, to
the
extent such drawing is reimbursed no later than the fifth Business Day following
receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement);
(c) in
respect of banker’s acceptances;
(d) in
respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Attributable Debt;
(e) in
respect of the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any
property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade
payable;
(f) representing
Hedging Obligations, other than Hedging Obligations that are incurred in the
ordinary course of business for the purpose of fixing, hedging or swapping
interest rate, commodity price or foreign currency exchange rate risk (or to
reverse or amend any such agreements previously made for such purposes), and
not
for speculative purposes, and that do not increase the Indebtedness of the
obligor outstanding at any time other than as a result of fluctuations in
interest rates, commodity prices or foreign currency exchange rates or by reason
of fees, indemnities and compensation payable thereunder; or
(g) representing
Disqualified Stock valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary maximum
fixed repurchase price plus accrued dividends;
if
and to
the extent that any of the preceding items (other than Hedging Obligations)
would appear as liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared
in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes (x) all
Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person
(whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person),
provided
that the
amount of such Indebtedness shall be the lesser of (A) the fair market value
of
such asset at such date of determination and (B) the amount of such
Indebtedness, and (y) to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by
the
specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person. For purposes hereof,
the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock which does not
have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms
of such Disqualified Stock as if such Disqualified Stock were purchased on
any
date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this
Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market
value of such Disqualified Stock, such fair market value shall be determined
in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the issuer of such Disqualified
Stock.
The
amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be the outstanding
balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and,
with respect to contingent obligations, the maximum liability upon the
occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation, and shall
be:
|
(A)
|
the
accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with
original issue discount; and
|
|
(B)
|
the
principal amount thereof, together with any interest thereon that
is more
than 30 days past due, in the case of any other
Indebtedness;
|
provided
that
Indebtedness shall not include:
(1) any
liability for federal, state, local or other taxes;
(2) performance,
surety or appeal bonds provided in the ordinary course of business;
or
(3) agreements
providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar
obligations, or Guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds or performance
bonds securing any obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries pursuant to such agreements, in any case incurred in connection
with the disposition of any business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary (other
than Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any
portion of such business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of
financing such acquisition), so long as the principal amount does not exceed
the
gross proceeds actually received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
in
connection with such disposition.
“Indenture”
means
this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Indirect
Participant”
means
a
Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a
Participant.
“Interest
Payment Date”
means
April 2 and October 2 of each year to Stated Maturity.
“Interest
Period”
means
the period commencing on and including an Interest Payment Date and ending
on
and including the day immediately preceding the next succeeding Interest Payment
Date.
“Investments”
means,
with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person
in
other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans or other extensions
of credit (including Guarantees, but excluding advances to customers or
suppliers in the ordinary course of business that are, in conformity with GAAP,
recorded as accounts receivable, prepaid expenses or deposits on the balance
sheet of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries and endorsements for
collection or deposit arising in the ordinary course of business), advances
(excluding commission, travel, payroll and similar advances to officers and
employees made consistent with past practices), capital contributions (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), purchases or other acquisitions
for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities,
together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a
balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.
If
the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes
of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of
the
Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such
Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall
be
deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition
equal to the fair market value of the Investment in such Restricted Subsidiary
not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07.
The
acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of a
Person that holds an Investment in a third Person shall be deemed to be an
Investment by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such third Person
only if such Investment was made in contemplation of, or in connection with,
the
acquisition of such Person by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary and
the
amount of any such Investment shall be determined as provided in the final
paragraph of Section 4.07.
“Legal
Holiday”
means
a
Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in The City of New York
or
at a place of payment are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive
order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of
payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that
is
not a Legal Holiday, and no interest on such payment shall accrue for the
intervening period.
“Lien”
means,
with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest
or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed,
recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional
sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any
option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing
of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial
Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.
“Market
Disruption Event”
means
the occurrence or existence for more than one continuous half hour period
in the aggregate on any scheduled Trading Day for the Company’s common stock of
any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in
price
exceeding limits permitted by the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise) in
the
Company’s common stock or in any options, contracts or future contracts relating
to such common stock, and such suspension or limitation occurs or exists at
any
time before 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such day.
“Maturity”
means,
with respect to any Indebtedness, the date on which any principal of such
Indebtedness 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.
“Minimum
Equity Condition”
means
(i) for Interest Periods commencing on April 2, 2007, October 2, 2007, April
2,
2008 and October 2, 2008, the closing price of the common stock of the Company
as reported on the New York Stock Exchange for each of the 10 consecutive
Trading Days prior to the applicable Interest Election Date shall be greater
than $3.00, (ii) for Interest Periods commencing on April 2, 2009 and October
2,
2009, the closing price of the common stock of the Company as reported on the
New York Stock Exchange for each of the 10 consecutive Trading Days prior to
the
applicable Interest Election Date shall be greater than $4.00, and (iii) for
the
Interest Period commencing on April 2, 2010, the closing price of the common
stock of the Company as reported on the New York Stock Exchange for each of
the
10 consecutive Trading Days prior to the applicable Interest Election Date
shall
be greater than $5.00. The closing prices in each case shall be adjusted
proportionately upward or downward after the date of initial issuance of the
Notes to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or recapitalization which
shall
increase or decrease the number of shares of Company common stock issued and
outstanding.
“Moody’s”
means
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business
thereof.
“Net
Income”
means,
with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person,
determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of
preferred stock dividends, excluding, however, (a) any gain or loss, together
with any related provision for taxes on such gain or loss, realized in
connection with (i) any sale of assets outside the ordinary course of business
of such Person; or (ii) the disposition of any securities by such Person or
any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of
such
Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and (b) any extraordinary gain
or
loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain
or loss.
“Net
Proceeds”
means
the aggregate cash proceeds, including payments in respect of deferred payment
obligations (to the extent corresponding to the principal, but not the interest
component, thereof) received by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any
cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration
received in any Asset Sale), net of (a) the direct costs relating to such Asset
Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking
fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result
thereof; (b) taxes paid or payable as a result thereof, in each case, after
taking into account any available tax credits or deductions arising therefrom
and any tax sharing arrangements in connection therewith; (c) amounts required
to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness or other liabilities, secured
by
a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale, or
required to be paid as a result of such sale; and (d) any reserve for adjustment
in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance
with GAAP.
“Note
Guarantee”
means
the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Company’s payment obligations under this
Indenture and on the Notes, executed pursuant to this Indenture.
“Notes”
means
the Variable Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 of the Company
issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any Additional Notes. The Notes and
any Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under
this Indenture.
“Notice
of Election”
means a
written notice of election of the Form of Interest Payment for any Interest
Period in substantially the form attached as Exhibit B hereto.
“Obligations”
means
any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements,
damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any
Indebtedness.
“Officer”
means,
with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial
Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary
or any Vice-President of such Person.
“Officers’
Certificate”
means
a
certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company,
one
of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial
officer, the treasurer, or the principal accounting officer of the Company,
that
meets the requirements of Section 12.05 hereof.
“Opinion
of Counsel”
means
an opinion from legal counsel that meets the requirements of Section 12.05
hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any
subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.
“Participant”
means,
with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has
an
account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with
respect to The Depository Trust Company, shall include Euroclear and
Clearstream).
“Permitted
Business”
means
any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of this Indenture and other businesses
similar or reasonably related, ancillary or incidental thereto or reasonable
extensions thereof.
“Permitted
Investments”
means:
(a) any
Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company;
(b) any
Investment in Cash Equivalents;
(c) any
Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a
Person, if as a result of such Investment:
(i) such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or
(ii) such
Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or
conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
(d) any
Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an
Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section
4.10;
(e) Investments
to the extent acquired in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other
than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;
(f) Hedging
Obligations that are incurred in the ordinary course of business for the purpose
of fixing, hedging or swapping interest rate, commodity price or foreign
currency exchange rate risk (or to reverse or amend any such agreements
previously made for such purposes), and not for speculative purposes, and that
do not increase the Indebtedness of the obligor outstanding at any time other
than as a result of fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or foreign
currency exchange rates or by reason of fees, indemnities and compensation
payable thereunder;
(g) stock,
obligations or securities received in satisfaction of judgments;
(h) Investments
in securities of trade debtors or customers received pursuant to any plan of
reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of
such
trade creditors or customers or in good faith settlement of delinquent
obligations of such trade debtors or customers or in compromise or resolution
of
litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates;
and
(i) other
Investments in any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company (other than
a
Restricted Subsidiary) having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the
date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent
changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant
to this clause (i) since the date of the Existing Indenture, not to exceed
$15.0
million.
“Permitted
Junior Securities”
means
(a) Equity Interests in the Company or any Guarantor or any other business
entity provided for by a plan of reorganization; and (b) debt securities of
the
Company or any Guarantor or any other business entity provided for by a plan
of
reorganization that are subordinated to the payment of all Senior Debt and
any
debt securities issued in exchange for Senior Debt to substantially the same
extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Notes and the Note Guarantees are
subordinated to Senior Debt under this Indenture.
“Permitted
Liens”
means:
(a) Liens
on the assets of the Company and any Guarantor securing Senior Debt that was
permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;
(b) Liens
in favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(c) Liens
on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or
into
or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
provided
that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger
or
consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person
merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Restricted
Subsidiary;
(d) Liens
on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided
that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition
and do not extend to any property other than the property so acquired by the
Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;
(e) Liens
existing on the date of this provided,
however,
that Liens existing prior to the date of this Indenture that continue in effect
shall have been permitted under the Existing Indenture;
and
(f) Liens
incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company with respect to obligations that do not exceed $5.0
million at any one time outstanding.
“Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness”
means
any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued
in
exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew,
replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided
that:
(a) the
principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted
value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued interest thereon and the amount
of any reasonably determined premium necessary to accomplish such refinancing
and such reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith);
(b) such
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the
final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to
or
greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;
(c) if
the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note
Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date
later than the final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment
to, the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those
contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;
(d) if
the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded is pari
passu
in right of payment with the Notes or any Note Guarantees, such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness is pari
passu
with, or subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes or such Note Guarantees;
and
(e) such
Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the Restricted Subsidiary
who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded.
“Person”
means
any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability
company or government or other entity.
“preferred
stock”
means,
with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person that has
preferential rights to any other Capital Stock of such Person with respect
to
dividends or redemption upon liquidation.
“Record
Date”
for
the
interest payable on any Interest Payment Date means March 15 or September 15
(whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such
Interest Payment Date.
“Remington”
means
Remington Products Company, L.L.C.
“Replacement
Assets”
means
(a) non-current assets that shall be used or useful in a Permitted Business
or
(b) all or substantially all of the assets of a Permitted Business or a majority
of the Voting Stock of any Person engaged in a Permitted Business that shall
become on the date of acquisition thereof a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company.
“Representative”
means
the Trustee, agent or representative for any Senior Debt.
“Responsible
Officer”
when
used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust
Administration of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any
other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those
performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect
to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter
is
referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject
and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this
Indenture.
“Restricted
Investment”
means
an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
“Restricted
Subsidiary”
of
a
Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
“S&P”
means
Standard and Poor’s Rating Services or any successor to the rating agency
business thereof and its successors.
“SEC”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Senior
Debt”
means:
(a) all
Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor outstanding under Credit Facilities
and all Hedging Obligations with respect thereto;
(b) any
other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor permitted to be incurred
under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such
Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Note Guarantee;
and
(c) all
Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (a) and
(b).
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the preceding paragraph, Senior Debt shall not
include:
(i) any
liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company
or any Guarantor;
(ii) any
Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor to any of their Subsidiaries or
other Affiliates;
(iii) any
trade payables;
(iv) the
portion of any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this
Indenture;
(v) any
Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that, when incurred, was without
recourse to the Company or such Guarantor;
(vi) any
repurchase, redemption or other obligation in respect of Disqualified Stock;
(vii) the
Company’s 7 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015; or
(viii) the
Company’s 8 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013.
“Significant
Subsidiary”
means
any Subsidiary that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” within the
meaning of Article 1 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act.
“Stated
Maturity”
means,
with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of
Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of interest or principal was
scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness,
and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase
any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the
payment thereof.
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any specified Person: (a) any corporation, association or other
business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares
of
Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency)
to
vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time
owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more
of
the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and any
partnership (i) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of
which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (ii) the only general
partners of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person
(or
any combination thereof).
“TIA”
means
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in
effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the
TIA.
“Trading
Day”
means
any day on which (i) there is no Market Disruption Event and (ii) the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading, or, if the Company’s common stock is not
listed on the New York Stock Exchange, any day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the Company’s common stock is listed is open for
trading, or, if the Company’s common stock is not listed on a national
securities exchange, any Business Day. A “Trading Day” only includes those days
that have a scheduled closing time of 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) or the
then
standard closing time for regular trading on the relevant exchange or trading
system.
“Trustee”
means
the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor
replaces it in accordance with this Indenture and thereafter means the successor
serving hereunder.
“Unrestricted
Subsidiary”
means
any Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors
of
the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board
of Directors in compliance with Section 4.16 and any Subsidiary of such
Subsidiary.
“U.S.
Person”
means
a
U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(o) under the Securities Act.
“VARTA”
means
Varta Geratebatterie GmbH and its successors or assignees.
“VARTA
Joint Venture Agreement”
means
the agreement among VARTA AG, the Company and ROV German Limited GmbH dated
July
28, 2002, as amended.
“Voting
Stock”
of
any
Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the
time
entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such
Person.
“Weighted
Average Life to Maturity”
means,
when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained
by
dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount
of
each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required
payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof,
by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that shall
elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then
outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
“Wholly
Owned Restricted Subsidiary”
of
any
specified Person means a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the
outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than
directors’ qualifying shares or Investments by foreign nationals mandated by
applicable law) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person and one or more Wholly
Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person.
Section
1.02 Other
Definitions.
|
|
|
Term
|
|
Defined
in Section
|
“Affiliate
Transaction”
|
|
4.11
|
“Asset
Sale Offer”
|
|
4.10
|
“Authentication
Order”
|
|
2.02
|
“Cash
Interest”
|
|
Exhibit
A
|
“Change
of Control Offer”
|
|
4.14
|
“Change
of Control Payment Date”
|
|
4.14
|
“Company”
|
|
Preamble
|
“Covenant
Defeasance”
|
|
8.03
|
“CPDI
Regulations”
|
|
2.17
|
“Event
of Default”
|
|
6.01
|
“Excess
Proceeds”
|
|
4.10
|
“Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio Test”
|
|
4.01
|
“Form
of Interest Payment”
|
|
Exhibit
A
|
“Issue
Date”
|
|
Exhibit
A
|
“Legal
Defeasance”
|
|
8.02
|
“Offer
Amount”
|
|
3.09
|
“Offer
Period”
|
|
3.09
|
“Paying
Agent”
|
|
2.03
|
“Payment
Blockage Notice”
|
|
10.03
|
“Permitted
Debt”
|
|
4.09(b)
|
“PIK
Interest”
|
|
Exhibit
A
|
“PIK
Payment”
|
|
Exhibit
A
|
“Purchase
Date”
|
|
3.09
|
“Registrar”
|
|
2.03
|
“Repurchase
Offer”
|
|
3.09
|
“Restricted
Payments”
|
|
4.07
|
“Scheduled
Rate”
|
|
Exhibit
A
|
Section
1.03
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
The
mandatory provisions of the TIA that are required to be a part of and govern
indentures qualified under the TIA are incorporated by reference in and are
a
part of this Indenture, whether or not this Indenture is so qualified. 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 Notes;
“indenture
security Holder”
means
a
Holder of a Note;
“indenture
to be qualified”
means
this Indenture;
“indenture
trustee”
or
“institutional
trustee”
means
the Trustee; and
“obligor”
on
the
Notes means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Notes.
All
other
terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA
reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the
meanings so assigned to them.
Section
1.04 Rules
of Construction.
Unless
the context otherwise requires:
|
(a)
|
a
term has the meaning assigned to
it;
|
|
(b)
|
“or”
is not exclusive;
|
|
(c)
|
“including”
or “include” means including or include without
limitation;
|
|
(d)
|
words
in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include
the
singular;
|
|
(e)
|
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, clause or other
subdivision;
|
|
(f)
|
“$,”
“U.S. Dollars” and “United States Dollars” each refer to United States
dollars, or such other money of the United States that at the time
of
payment is legal tender for payment of public and private
debts;
|
|
(g)
|
provisions
apply to successive events and
transactions;
|
|
(h)
|
references
to sections of or rules under the Securities Act shall be deemed
to
include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted
by
the SEC from time to time;
|
|
(i)
|
unless
the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a
“Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this
Indenture; and
|
|
(j)
|
all
accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned
to them in accordance with GAAP.
|
ARTICLE
II
THE
NOTES
Section
2.01 Form
and Dating.
(a)
General.
The
Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in
the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or
endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note shall
be
dated the date of its authentication. The Company will issue Notes in
registered, global form and in denominations of $1.00 and integral multiples
of
$1.00 in excess thereof.
The
terms
and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly
made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee,
by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such
terms
and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision
of
any Note conflicts with this Indenture, this Indenture shall govern and be
controlling. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company’s 7
3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 and the Company’s 8 1/2% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2013 shall be pari
passu
in right
of payment with the Notes.
(a) Global
Notes.
Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A
attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of
Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in
definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto
(but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of
Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note
shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein
and
each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to
time
be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.
Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or
decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented
thereby shall be made by the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given
by
the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.
Section
2.02 Execution
and Authentication.
One
Officer shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile
signature.
If
an
Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time
a
Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.
A
Note
shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.
The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated
under this Indenture.
The
aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture is $350.0 million plus any additional principal amount
of
Notes which may be issued in connection with any PIK Payment.
The
Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer (an
“Authentication
Order”),
authenticate Notes for original issue up to the aggregate principal amount
authorized pursuant to this Indenture.
The
Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to
authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever
the
Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the
Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has
the
same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the
Company.
Section
2.03 Registrar
and Paying Agent.
The
Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for
registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”)
and an
office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying
Agent”).
The
Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange.
The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional
paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term
“Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any
Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company shall
promptly notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent
not
a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another
entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company
or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The
Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary
with respect to the Global Notes.
The
Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent
and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
Section
2.04 Paying
Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The
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 Holders
or
the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal,
premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of
any
default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default
continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by
it to
the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all
money
held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent
(if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof) shall have no further
liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary thereof acts as Paying
Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit
of
the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or
reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve
as
Paying Agent for the Notes.
Section
2.05 Holder
Lists.
The
Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the
most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders
and
shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar,
the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven Business Days before
each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request
in
writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably
require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes and the Company
shall
otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).
Section
2.06 Transfer
and Exchange.
(a)
Transfer
and Exchange of Global Notes.
A
Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a
nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary
or
to another nominee of the Depositary, by the Depositary or any such nominee
to a
successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global
Notes
shall be exchanged by the Company for Certificated Notes if (i) the Company
delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or
unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing
agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor
Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the date of
such notice from the Depositary or (ii) the Company in its sole discretion
determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged
for Certificated Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the
Trustee; or (iii)
there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default with
respect to the Notes. Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in
(i),
(ii) or (iii) above, Certificated Notes shall be issued in such names as the
Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or
replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07, 2.10 and 2.11
hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu
of, a
Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section
2.07, 2.10 or 2.11 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form
of,
and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another
Note
other than as provided in this Section 2.06.
(b) Transfer
and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes.
The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall
be
effected through the Depositary, in accordance with this Indenture and the
Applicable Procedures. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes
also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as
applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as
applicable:
(i) Transfer
of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note.
Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take
delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note. No
written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the
Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section
2.06(b)(i).
(ii) All
Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global
Notes.
In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that
are
not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) above, the transferor of such beneficial
interest shall deliver to the Registrar either (A) a written order from a
Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance
with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause
to be
credited a beneficial interest in the Global Note in an amount equal to the
beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and instructions given in
accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding
the
Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) a written order
from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in
accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause
to
be issued a Certificated Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest
to
be transferred or exchanged and instructions given by the Depositary to the
Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such
Certificated Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange
referred to in (A) above. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for
transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this
Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the
Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s)
pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof.
(c) Transfer
or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Certificated Notes.
If any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note proposes to exchange
such beneficial interest for a Certificated Note or to transfer such beneficial
interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Certificated
Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii)
hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable
Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof, and
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to
the
Person designated in the instructions a Certificated Note in the appropriate
principal amount. Any Certificated Note issued in exchange for a beneficial
interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name
or
names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the Holder of
such
beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from
the
Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall
deliver such Certificated Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are
so
registered.
(d) Transfer
and Exchange of Certificated Notes for Beneficial Interests.
A Holder of a Certificated Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest
in a Global Note or transfer such Certificated Notes to a Person who takes
delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note at any
time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee
shall cancel the applicable Certificated Note and increase or cause to be
increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Global Notes pursuant
to
Section 2.06(g). If any such exchange or transfer from a Certificated Note
to a
beneficial interest is effected at a time when a Global Note has not yet been
issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order
in
accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or
more
Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount
of
Certificated Notes so transferred.
(e) Transfer
and Exchange of Certificated Notes for Certificated Notes.
A Holder of Certificated Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes
delivery thereof in the form of a Certificated Note. Upon receipt of a request
to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Certificated
Notes
pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof. Prior
to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall
present or surrender to the Registrar the Certificated Notes duly endorsed
or
accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by his attorney, duly authorized
in
writing.
(f) Global
Note Legend.
Each Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“THIS
GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING
THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS
HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT
THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN
WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS
GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION
2.12 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE
COMPANY.”
(g) Cancellation
and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.
At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been
exchanged for Certificated Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed,
repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall
be
returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section
2.12 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest
in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who shall take
delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note
or
for Certificated Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global
Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such
Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee
to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged
for
or transferred to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be
increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note
by
the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect
such
increase.
(h) General
Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall
execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Certificated Notes
upon the Company’s order or at the Registrar’s request.
(ii) No
service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global
Note or to a Holder of a Certificated Note for any registration of transfer
or
exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any
transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith
(other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable
upon
exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.14 and
9.05
hereof).
(iii) The
Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any
Note
selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion
of
any Note being redeemed in part.
(iv) All
Global Notes and Certificated Notes issued upon any registration of transfer
or
exchange of Global Notes or Certificated Notes shall be the valid and legally
binding obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled
to
the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Certificated
Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(v) The
Company shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or
to
exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15
days
before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02
hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to
register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption
in
whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed
in
part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record
date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
(vi) Prior
to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee,
any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note
is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving
payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes,
and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice
to
the contrary.
(vii) The
Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Certificated Notes in accordance
with Section 2.02 hereof.
(viii) All
certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted
to
the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer
or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.
Section
2.07 Replacement
Notes.
If any
mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee
receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of
any
Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication
Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are
met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be
supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and
the
Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating
agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The
Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.
Every
replacement Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.07 is an additional
obligation of the Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this
Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued
hereunder.
Section
2.08 Outstanding
Notes.
The
Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee
except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those
reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in
accordance with this Indenture, and those described in this Section as not
outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease
to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds
the
Note; however, Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall
not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07(b)
hereof.
If
a Note
is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless
the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held
by
a bona fide purchaser or protected purchaser.
If
the
principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof,
it
ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If
the
Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any of
the
foregoing) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to
pay
Notes payable on that date in full, then on and after that date such Notes
shall
be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue
interest.
Section
2.09 Treasury
Notes.
In
determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of the Notes
have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company,
any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company
shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes
of
determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such
direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned
shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith
shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of
the
Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent
with respect to the Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or any obligor
upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other
obligor.
Section
2.10 Certificated
Notes.
(a) A
Global Note deposited with the Depositary or other custodian for the Depositary
pursuant to Section 2.01 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof
in the form of certificated Notes only if such transfer complies with Section
2.06 and (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable
to continue as the Depositary for such Global Note, or if at any time the
Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act
and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of
the
earlier of such notice or the Company becoming aware of such cessation, or
(ii)
the Company, at its option, executes and delivers to the Trustee a notice that
such Global Note be so transferable, registrable and exchangeable, or (iii)
a
Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect
to
the Notes and the Registrar has received a request for such transfer from either
the Depositary or a Person with a beneficial interest in such Notes or (iv)
the
issuance of such certificated Notes is necessary in order for a Holder or
beneficial owner to present its Note or Notes to a Paying Agent in order to
avoid any tax that is imposed on or with respect to a payment made to such
Holder or beneficial owner and the Holder or beneficial owner (through the
Depositary) so certifies to the Company and the Trustee. Notice of any such
transfer shall be given by the Company in accordance with the provisions of
Section 12.02.
(b) Any
Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof in the form
of
certificated Notes pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be surrendered by the
Depositary to the Transfer Agent, 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 Notes of authorized denominations in the form of
certificated Notes.
(c) In
connection with the exchange of an entire Global Note for certificated Notes
pursuant to this Section 2.10, such Global Note shall be deemed to be
surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute,
and
the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified
by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Note,
an equal aggregate principal amount of certificated Notes. In the event that
such certificated Notes are not issued to each beneficial owner promptly after
the Registrar has received a request from the Depositary or (through the
Depositary) a beneficial owner to issue such certificated Notes, the Company
expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a
remedy pursuant to Article VI hereof, the right of any beneficial owner of
Notes
to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Note that
represents such beneficial owner’s Notes as if such certificated Notes had been
issued.
(d) Any
portion of a Global Note transferred or exchanged pursuant to this Section
2.10
shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in registered form in
denominations of $1.00 and any integral multiple thereof and registered in
such
names as the Depositary shall direct. Subject to the foregoing, a Global Note
is
not exchangeable except for a Global Note of like denomination to be registered
in the name of the Depositary or its nominee. In the event that a Global Note
becomes exchangeable for certificated Notes, payment of principal, premium,
if
any, and interest on the certificated Notes will be payable, and the transfer
of
the certificated Notes will be registrable, at the office or agency of the
Company maintained for such purposes in accordance with Section
2.03.
(e) In
the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.10(a),
the Company will promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply
of
certificated Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest
coupons.
Section
2.11 Temporary
Notes.
Until
certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare
and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate
temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of
certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers
appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee
shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Holders
of
temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this
Indenture.
Section
2.12 Cancellation.
The
Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The
Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered
to
them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no
one
else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange,
payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such canceled Notes
in
its customary manner (subject to record retention requirements of the Exchange
Act). Subject to Section 2.07, the Company may not issue new Notes to replace
Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation.
Section
2.13 Defaulted
Interest.
If the
Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, 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 Holders on a
subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes
and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing
of
the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date
of the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed each such
special record date and payment date, provided
that no
such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment
date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record
date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee
in
the name and at the expense of the Company) shall mail or cause to be mailed
to
Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date
and the amount of such interest to be paid.
Section
2.14 CUSIP
and ISIN Numbers.
The
Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers (if then
generally in use, and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided
that any
such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness
of
such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of
redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification
numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected
by
any defect in or omission of such numbers). The Company shall promptly notify
the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers.
Section
2.15 Deposit
of Moneys.
By or
before 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time on each due date of the principal,
premium, if any, and interest on any Notes, the Company shall deposit with
the
Paying Agent money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay such
principal, premium, if any, and interest so becoming due on the due date for
payment under the Notes and (unless the Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company
will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to
act.
Section
2.16 Computation
of Interest.
Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months.
Section
2.17 Characterization
of Notes for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes.
The
Company shall agree and, by acceptance of the Notes pursuant to the Exchange
Offer, each Holder shall be deemed to agree, to (in the absence of an
administrative determination or judicial ruling to the contrary), treat the
Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes as indebtedness that is subject
to
the Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments (the
“CPDI
Regulations”),
and to
be bound by the Company’s application of the CPDI Regulations to the Notes.
ARTICLE
III
REDEMPTION
AND PREPAYMENT
Section
3.01
Notices to Trustee.
If the
Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish
to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption
date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (a) the clause of this Indenture
pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (b) the redemption date, (c)
the
principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (d) the redemption
price.
Section
3.02 Selection
of Notes to Be Redeemed.
If less
than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, selection of Notes for
redemption shall be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements
of
the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are
listed, or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro
rata
basis,
by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate. In
the
event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall
be
selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than
60
days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes
not
previously called for redemption.
The
Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected
for
redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the
principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Except
as
provided in the preceding sentence, the provisions of this Indenture that apply
to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for
redemption.
Section
3.03 Notice
of Redemption.
Subject
to Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a
redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class
mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed
at
its registered address.
The
notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) the
redemption date;
(b) the
redemption price;
(c) if
any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of
such
Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such
Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion
of
the original Note shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon
cancellation of the original Note;
(d) the
name and address of the Paying Agent;
(e) that
Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect
the redemption price and become due on the date fixed for
redemption;
(f) that,
unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on
Notes
called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption
date;
(g) the
paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the
Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(h) that
no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number,
if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.
At
the
Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the
Company’s name and at its expense; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to
the
redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such
notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided
in the preceding paragraph. The notice, if mailed in the manner provided herein
shall be presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such
notice.
Section
3.04 Effect
of Notice of Redemption.
Once
notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes
called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption
date
at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be
conditional.
Section
3.05 Deposit
of Redemption Price.
Not
later than one Business Day prior to the redemption date, the Company shall
deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the
redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed
on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the
Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company
in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued
and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.
If
the
Company complies with the preceding paragraph of this Section 3.05, on and
after
the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions
of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after a record
date
but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and
unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was
registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called
for
redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the
failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall
accrue on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal
is
paid, and to the extent permitted by applicable law on any interest accrued
through the date of redemption but not paid on such unpaid principal, in each
case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.
Section
3.06 Notes
Redeemed in Part.
Upon
surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and,
upon
the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at
the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the
unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
Section
3.07 Optional
Redemption.
(a) At
any time on or prior to September 30, 2007, the Company may redeem all or a
part
of the Notes, from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
notice, at the redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount)
of 110% plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption
date.
(b) In
addition, at any time after September 30, 2007, the Company may redeem all
or a
part of the Notes, from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60
days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal
amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the
applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning
on October 1 of the years indicated below:
Year
|
|
Percentage
|
|
2007
|
|
|
109
|
%
|
2008
|
|
|
102
|
%
|
2009
|
|
|
101
|
%
|
2010
and thereafter
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c) Any
redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to Section
3.01
through 3.06 hereof.
Section
3.08 Mandatory
Redemption.
The
Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments
with respect to the Notes.
Section
3.09 Offer
to Purchase.
In the
event that, pursuant to Sections 4.10 and 4.14 hereof, the Company shall be
required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (a “Repurchase
Offer”),
it
shall follow the procedures specified below.
The
Repurchase Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following
its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is
required by applicable law (the “Offer
Period”).
No
later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the
“Purchase
Date”),
the
Company shall purchase the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased
pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 hereof (the “Offer
Amount”)
or, if
less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response
to
the Repurchase Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the
same manner as Cash Interest payments are made.
If
the
Purchase Date is on or after an interest Record Date and on or before the
related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid
to
the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such
Record Date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender
Notes pursuant to the Repurchase Offer.
Upon
the
commencement of a Repurchase Offer, the Company shall send, by first class
mail,
a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee.
The
notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such
Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Repurchase Offer. The Repurchase Offer
shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the
Repurchase Offer, shall state:
(a) that
the Repurchase Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section
4.10 or 4.14 hereof and the length of time the Repurchase Offer shall remain
open;
(b) the
Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;
(c) that
any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue
interest;
(d) that,
unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for
payment pursuant to the Repurchase Offer shall cease to accrue interest on
and
after the Purchase Date;
(e) that
Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to a Repurchase Offer
may
only elect to have all of such Note purchased or a portion of such Note in
denominations of $1.00 or an integral multiple thereof;
(f) that
Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Repurchase Offer
shall
be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to
Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, or transfer by book-entry
transfer, to the Company, the Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a
Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three Business
Days
before the Purchase Date;
(g) that
Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the
Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than
the
expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or
letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note
the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is
withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;
(h) that,
if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the
Offer Amount required pursuant to Section 4.10, the Company shall select the
Notes to be purchased pursuant to the terms of Section 3.02 (with such
adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustee so that only Notes
in
denominations of not less than $1.00 shall be purchased); and
(i) that
Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal
in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or
transferred by book-entry transfer); provided,
that such new Notes will be in a principal amount of $1.00 or an integral
multiple thereof.
On
or
before the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for
payment, on a pro
rata
basis to
the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered
pursuant to the Repurchase Offer; or if less than the Offer Amount has been
tendered, all Notes tendered, and shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’
Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for
payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The
Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly
(but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or
deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the
Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and
the
Company shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request
from the Company shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such
Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note
surrendered; provided
that
such new Note will be in a principal amount of $1.00 or an integral multiple
thereof. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by
the
Company to the Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results
of the Repurchase Offer on the Purchase Date.
Other
than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase pursuant
to
this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to Sections 3.01 through 3.06
hereof.
ARTICLE
IV
COVENANTS
Section
4.01 Payment
of Notes.
The
Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes
and
in this Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, and Cash Interest shall be
considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if a Person other than
the
Company, a Subsidiary or affiliate thereof, holds as of 12:00 p.m. (noon)
Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately
available funds and designated for and sufficient, to pay all principal,
premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest then due. PIK Interest shall
be
considered paid on the due date if the Company had previously delivered a valid
Notice of Election for PIK Interest for the corresponding Interest Period and
any applicable Additional Notes have been issued.
If
on any
Interest Election Date, the Exchange Act filings for the Company’s most recently
completed fiscal quarter to which such filings relate demonstrate that the
Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal
quarters ending on such fiscal quarter is above 2.0 to 1.0 (the “Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio Test”),
the
Company shall notify the Trustee on such Interest Election Date and the
applicable interest rate shall be 1% per annum in excess of the Scheduled Rate
for the next Interest Period. In addition, the Company shall pay interest
(including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law)
on
overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then
applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay
interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any
applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.
Section
4.02 Maintenance
of Office or Agency.
The
Company shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the
Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes
may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where
notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this
Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the
Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or
agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required,
office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof,
such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at
the
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
The
Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or
agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such
purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided,
however,
that no
such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its
obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes. The Company shall
give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission
and of any change in the location of any such other office or
agency.
The
Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one
such
office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03.
Section
4.03 Reports.
(a)
Whether or not required by the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the
Company shall prepare and furnish to the Holders of Notes with a copy to the
Trustee, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations,
(i) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to
be
contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were
required to file such Forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the
annual information only, a report on the annual financial statements by the
Company’s certified independent accountants; and (ii) all current reports that
would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were
required to file such reports. In addition, whether or not required by the
SEC,
the Company shall file a copy of all of the information and reports referred
to
in clauses (i) and (ii) above with the SEC for public availability within the
time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations (unless the SEC shall
not accept such a filing) and make such information available to securities
analysts and prospective investors upon request. In addition, the Company and
the Guarantors have agreed that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding,
they shall furnish to the Holders and to prospective investors, upon their
request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4)
under the Securities Act.
(b) If
the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries,
then the quarterly and annual financial information required by paragraph (a)
above shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face
of
the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” of
the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of
operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.
Section
4.04 Compliance
Certificate.
(a) The
Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required
under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of
each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that, to his or her knowledge
the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under
this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any
of
the, terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events
of
Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is
taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to his or her
knowledge no event has occurred and is continuing by reason of which payments
on
account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited
or
if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the
Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Company may
deliver an Officer's Certificate on behalf of any Guarantor.
(b) So
long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial statements
delivered pursuant to Section 4.03(a) above shall be accompanied by a written
statement of the Company’s independent public accountants (who shall be a firm
of established national reputation) that in making the examination necessary
for
certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to their attention
that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated Article IV
or
Article V hereof or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature
and period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants
shall
not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain
knowledge of any such violation.
(c) The
Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the
Trustee, forthwith, but in no event later than five Business Days, upon any
Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’
Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the
Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section
4.05 Taxes.
The
Company, shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior
to
delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except
such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where
the
failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the
Holders of the Notes.
Section
4.06 Stay,
Extension and Usury Laws.
Each of
the Company and the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it is permitted
by
applicable law) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any
manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension
or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that
may
affect the obligations of the Company and each of the Guarantors and the
performance of this Indenture by the Company and each of the Guarantors; and
each of the Company and the Guarantors (to the extent that it is permitted
by
applicable law) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such
law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay
or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall
suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has
been enacted.
Section
4.07 Restricted
Payments.
(a) The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to,
directly or indirectly:
(i) declare
or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of
the
Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including,
without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation
involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct
or
indirect holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity
Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends, payments or
distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of
the
Company or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary);
(ii) purchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation,
in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any
Equity
Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held
by
Persons other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other
than
the purchase, redemption or acquisition or retirement for value all of the
Equity Interests in VARTA not held by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of, the VARTA
Joint
Venture Agreement as in effect on the date of this Indenture to the extent
the
cash purchase price does not exceed €1.0 million;
(iii) make
any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise
acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes
or the Note Guarantees, except a payment of interest or principal on or after
the Stated Maturity thereof; or
(iv) make
any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in
clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted
Payments”),
unless,
at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:
(A) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would
occur
as a consequence thereof; and
(B) the
Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving
pro
forma
effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning
of
the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00
of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test
set
forth in Section 4.09; and
(C) such
Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted
Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the date
of
this Indenture (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (ii), (iii)
(iv) (to the extent such dividends are paid to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries) and (v) of Section 4.07(b)), is less than the sum,
without duplication, of:
(1) 50%
of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one
accounting period) from the beginning of the first fiscal quarter commencing
from September 30, 2003 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal
quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of
such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period
is
a deficit, less 100% of such deficit); plus
(2) 100%
of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company since September
30,
2003 as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale
of
Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the
issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible
or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into
or
exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or
Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company);
plus
(3) with
respect to Restricted Investments made by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries after the date of this Indenture, an amount equal to the net
reduction in Investments (other than reductions in Permitted Investments) in
any
Person resulting from repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of
assets, in each case to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or from the
net
cash proceeds from the sale of any such Investment (except, in each case, to
the
extent any such payment or proceeds are included in the calculation of
Consolidated Net Income, from the release of any Guarantee (except to the extent
any amounts are paid under such Guarantee) or from redesignations of
Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries, not to exceed, in each
case, the amount of Investments previously made by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary in such Person or Unrestricted Subsidiary; plus
(4) $20.0
million.
(b) So
long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby,
the preceding clauses of this Section 4.07 shall not prohibit:
(i) the
payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof,
if
at said date of declaration such payment would have complied with this
Indenture;
(ii) the
redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of any
subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor or of any Equity
Interests of the Company or any Guarantor in exchange for, or out of the net
cash proceeds of a contribution to the common equity of the Company or a
substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of
Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); provided
that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such
redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition shall be
excluded from clause (C)(2) of Section 4.07(a);
(iii) the
defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of subordinated
Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor with the net cash proceeds from
an
incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
(iv) the
payment of any dividend by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders
of its common Equity Interests on a pro
rata
basis;
(v) Investments
acquired as a capital contribution to, or in exchange for, or out of the net
cash proceeds of a substantially concurrent offering of, Equity Interests (other
than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; provided
that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such
acquisition or exchange shall be excluded from clause (C)(2) of Section
4.07(a);
(vi) the
repurchase of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of options or
warrants if such Capital Stock represents all or a portion of the exercise
price
thereof;
(vii) the
repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any
Equity Interests of the Company held by any employee, former employee, director
or former director of the Company (or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) upon
the death, disability or termination of employment of any of the foregoing
pursuant to the terms of any employee equity subscription agreement, stock
option agreement or similar agreement; provided
that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired
or
retired Equity Interests in any fiscal year shall not exceed the sum of (x)
$3.0
million and (y) the amount of Restricted Payments permitted but not made
pursuant to this clause (vii) in the immediately preceding fiscal year;
or
(viii) the
repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any
Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from the minority
stockholders (or other holders of minority interest, however designated) of
such
Restricted Subsidiary, for fair market value; provided
that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired
or
retired Equity Interests shall not exceed $15.0 million.
The
amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market
value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities
proposed to be transferred or issued to or by the Company or such Subsidiary,
as
the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value
of
any assets or securities that are required to be valued pursuant to this Section
4.07 shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company whose
resolution with respect thereto shall be delivered to the Trustee. Not later
than the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver to
the
Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is
permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required
by
this Section 4.07 were computed, together with a copy of any fairness opinion
or
appraisal required by this Indenture.
Section
4.08 Dividend
and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to,
directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any
consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted
Subsidiary to:
(a) pay
dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock (or with respect
to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits) to
the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or pay any liabilities owed to
the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(b) make
loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
or
(c) transfer
any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries.
However,
the preceding restrictions shall not apply to encumbrances or restrictions
existing under, by reason of, or with respect to:
(i) the
Credit Agreement, Existing Indebtedness or any other agreements in effect on
the
date of the Existing Indenture and any amendments, modifications,
restatements, renewals, extensions, supplements, refundings, replacements or
refinancings thereof, provided
that the encumbrances and restrictions in any such amendments, modifications,
restatements, renewals, extensions, supplements, refundings, replacement or
refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those in effect
on
the date of the Existing Indenture;
(ii) applicable
law, rule, regulation or order;
(iii) any
Person or the property or assets of a Person acquired by the Company or any
of
its Restricted Subsidiaries existing at the time of such acquisition and not
incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition, which
encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person or the properties
or
assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of such
Person, so acquired and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals,
extensions, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof,
provided
that the encumbrances and restrictions in any such amendments, modifications,
restatements, renewals, extensions, supplements, refundings, replacement or
refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained
in
the Credit Agreement, Existing Indebtedness or such other agreements as in
effect on the date of the acquisition;
(iv) in
the case of clause (c) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.08:
(A) provisions
that restrict in a customary manner the subletting, assignment or transfer
of
any property or asset that is a lease, license, conveyance or contract or
similar property or asset,
(B) restrictions
existing by virtue of any transfer of, agreement to transfer, option or right
with respect to, or Lien on, any property or assets of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture,
or
(C) restrictions
arising or agreed to in the ordinary course of business, not relating to any
Indebtedness, and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from
the value of property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
in
any manner material to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(v) provisions
with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint
venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary
course of business;
(vi) any
agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the
capital stock of, or property and assets of, a Restricted Subsidiary that
restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale or
other
disposition; and
(vii) Indebtedness
of a Foreign Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;
provided
that (A) such encumbrances or restrictions are ordinary and customary with
respect to the type of Indebtedness being incurred and (B) such encumbrances
or
restrictions will not affect the Company’s ability to make principal and
interest payments on the Notes, as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company.
Section
4.09 Incurrence
of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.
(a) The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to,
directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and
the Company shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any
preferred stock; provided,
however,
that the Company or any Guarantor of the Company may incur Indebtedness, if
the
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full
fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available
immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred
would have been at least 2.0 to 1, determined on a pro
forma
basis (including a pro
forma
application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness
had been incurred at the beginning of such four quarter period.
(b) So
long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would be caused
thereby, Section 4.09(a) shall not prohibit the incurrence of any of the
following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “Permitted
Debt”):
(i) the
incurrence by (A) the Company or any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company of
Indebtedness under Credit Facilities (and the incurrence by the Guarantors
of
Guarantees thereof) in an aggregate principal amount at any one time
outstanding, without duplication, pursuant to this clause (i) (with
letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum
potential liability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder)
not to exceed $1.6 billion, less the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds
of Asset Sales applied by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to
permanently repay any such Indebtedness (and, in the case of any revolving
credit Indebtedness, to effect a corresponding commitment reduction thereunder)
pursuant to Section 4.10 provided,
that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of all Foreign Subsidiaries
of the Company incurred pursuant to this clause (i) shall not exceed €60.0
million and (B) Foreign Subsidiaries of Guarantees of other Foreign
Subsidiaries’ Indebtedness under Credit Facilities;
(ii) the
incurrence of Existing Indebtedness;
(iii)
the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented
by
the Notes (including any Notes issued as PIK Interest) and the related Note
Guarantees to be issued on the date of this Indenture;
(iv) the
incurrence by the Company or any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by
Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations,
in
each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase
price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment
used in the business of the Company or such Guarantor, in an aggregate principal
amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund,
refinance or replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (iv),
not
to exceed $30.0 million at any time outstanding;
(v) the
incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of
which
are used to refund, refinance or replace Indebtedness (other than intercompany
Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under Section
4.09(a) or clauses (ii) (other than Indebtedness incurred in connection with
the
acquisition of Remington), (iii), (iv), (v), or (viii) of this Section
4.09(b);
(vi) the
incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany
Indebtedness owing to and held by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries; provided,
however,
that:
(x) if
the
Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness
must be unsecured and expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in
cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company,
or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Guarantor;
(y) Indebtedness
owed to the Company or any Guarantor must be evidenced by an unsubordinated
promissory note, unless the obligor under such Indebtedness is the Company
or a
Guarantor; and
(z) (A)
any
subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such
Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary thereof and (B) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness
to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof,
shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness
by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was
not
permitted by this clause (vi);
(vii) the
Guarantee by the Company or any Guarantors of Indebtedness of the Company or
a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was permitted to be incurred by
another provision of this Section 4.09;
(viii) the
incurrence by the Company or any Guarantor of additional Indebtedness in an
aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time
outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to
refund, refinance or replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause
(viii), not to exceed $50.0 million;
(ix) the
incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company or, any Restricted Subsidiary of
the
Company arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution
of a
check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight
overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;
provided
that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence;
and
(x) the
incurrence of Indebtedness by a Foreign Subsidiary in an aggregate principal
amount for all Foreign Subsidiaries at any one time outstanding pursuant
to this
clause (x) not to exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company;
provided
that after giving effect to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness, the
Company
would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant
to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section
4.09(a).
(c) For
purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that
any
proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories
of
Permitted Debt described in clauses (i) through (x) of Section 4.09(b) above,
or
is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a), the Company shall be
permitted to classify at the time of its incurrence such item of Indebtedness
in
any manner that complies with this Section 4.09. Indebtedness under Credit
Facilities outstanding on the date on which Notes are first issued under this
Indenture shall be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on
the
exception provided by clause (i) of Section 4.09(b). In addition, any
Indebtedness originally classified as incurred pursuant to clauses (i) through
(x) of Section 4.09(b) may later be reclassified by the Company such that it
shall be deemed as having been incurred pursuant to another of such clauses
to
the extent that such reclassified Indebtedness could be incurred pursuant to
such new clause at the time of such reclassification.
(d) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 4.09, (a) the maximum amount of Indebtedness
that may be incurred pursuant to this Section 4.09 shall not be deemed to be
exceeded, with respect to any outstanding Indebtedness due solely to the result
of fluctuations in the exchange rates of currencies and (b) Indebtedness
incurred under any letters of credit (the amount of such Indebtedness being
deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability
of
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder), including letters
of
credit under the Credit Agreement, that were outstanding on the date of this
Indenture or were first issued thereafter at a time when no Default had occurred
and was continuing shall be permitted to be incurred in reliance on the
exception provided by clause (viii) of the definition of Permitted Debt to
the
extent the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness at any time
outstanding does not exceed $50.0 million.
Section
4.10 Asset
Sales.
(a) The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to,
consummate an Asset Sale unless:
(i) the
Company (or the 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 assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed
of;
(ii) such
fair market value is determined by the Company’s Board of Directors and
evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’
Certificate delivered to the Trustee; and
(iii) at
least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Replacement Assets or a
combination of both. For purposes of this clause, each of the following shall
be
deemed to be cash:
(A) any
liabilities (as shown on the Company’s, or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most
recent balance sheet), of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than
contingent liabilities, Indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to the
Notes or any Note Guarantee and liabilities to the extent owed to the Company
or
any Affiliate of the Company) that are assumed by the transferee of any such
assets pursuant to a written novation agreement that releases the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability; and
(B) any
securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such
Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company
or
such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received in
that
conversion) within 90 days of the applicable Asset Sale.
(b) Within
360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company
may apply such Net Proceeds at its option:
(i) to
repay Senior Debt and, if the Senior Debt repaid is revolving credit
Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;
or
(ii) to
purchase Replacement Assets or make a capital expenditure in or that is used
or
useful in a Permitted Business.
Pending
the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily
reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in
any
manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.
(c) Any
Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided
in
the preceding paragraph shall constitute “Excess
Proceeds.”
Within 10 days after the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0
million, the Company shall make an offer (an “Asset
Sale Offer”)
to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is
pari
passu
with the Notes or any Note Guarantee containing provisions similar to those
set
forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase 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 Asset Sale Offer shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the
Notes and such other pari
passu
Indebtedness plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase, and
shall
be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an
Asset
Sale Offer, the Company may use such Excess Proceeds for any purpose not
otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of
Notes and such other pari
passu
Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess
Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes and the agent for such other
pari
passu
Indebtedness will select such other pari
passu
Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro
rata
basis (with such adjustments for authorized denominations) based on the
principal amount of Notes and such other pari
passu
Indebtedness tendered. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount
of
Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
(d) Any
Asset Sale Offer shall be made in accordance with Section 3.09. The Company
shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any
other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and
regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant
to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities
laws
or regulations conflict with this Section 4.10 or Section 3.09, the Company
shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall
not
be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.10 or Section
3.09 by virtue of such compliance.
Section
4.11 Transactions
with Affiliates.
(a) The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to,
make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of
its
properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter
into,
make, amend, renew or extend any transaction, contract, agreement,
understanding, loan, advance or Guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any
Affiliate (each, an “Affiliate Transaction”), unless:
(i) such
Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company
or
the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained
in a
comparable arm’s-length transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company; and
(ii) the
Company delivers to the Trustee:
(A) with
respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions
involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5.0 million, a resolution of
the
Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an Officers’ Certificate
certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate
Transactions complies with this Section 4.11 and that such Affiliate Transaction
or series of related Affiliate Transactions has been approved by a majority
of
the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company;
and
(B) with
respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions
involving aggregate consideration in excess of $15.0 million, an opinion as
to
the fairness to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Affiliate
Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions from a financial point
of view issued by an independent accounting, appraisal or investment banking
firm of national standing.
(b) The
following items shall not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore,
shall not be subject to Section 4.11(a):
(i) transactions
between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(ii) payment
of reasonable and customary fees and compensation to, and reasonable and
customary indemnification arrangements and similar payments on behalf of,
directors of the Company;
(iii) Restricted
Payments that are permitted by the Existing Indenture;
(iv) any
sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the
Company;
(v) loans
and advances to officers and employees of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries for bona fide business purposes in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice;
(vi) any
employment, consulting, service or termination agreement, or reasonable and
customary indemnification arrangements, entered into by the Company or any
of
its Restricted Subsidiaries, with officers and employees of the Company or
any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the payment of compensation to officers
and
employees of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including
amounts paid pursuant to employee benefit plans, employee stock option or
similar plans), in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent
with past practice; and
(vii) any
agreements or arrangements in effect on the date of this Indenture, or any
amendment, modification, or supplement thereto or any replacement thereof,
as
long as such agreement or arrangement, as so amended, modified, supplemented
or
replaced, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the Company and
its
Restricted Subsidiaries than the original agreement as in effect on the date
of
the Existing Indenture, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of
Directors, and any transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing agreements
or arrangements.
Section
4.12 Liens.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to,
create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective
any Lien of any kind securing Indebtedness (other than Permitted Liens) upon
any
of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless all
payments due under this Indenture and the Notes are secured on an equal and
ratable basis with the obligations so secured until such time as such
obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.
Section
4.13 Corporate
Existence.
Subject
to Article V hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things
reasonably necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (a) its
corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each
of its subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents
(as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such
subsidiary and (b) the material rights (charter and statutory), licenses and
franchises of the Company and its subsidiaries; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or
franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its
subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation
thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company
and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse
in
any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.
Section
4.14 Offer
to Repurchase upon Change of Control.
(a) At
any time on or prior to September 30, 2007, if a Change of Control occurs,
each
Holder of Notes shall have the right pursuant to a Change of Control Offer
to
require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1.00 or an integral
multiple thereof) of such Holder’s Notes at an offer price in cash (expressed as
a percentage of principal amount) of 110% plus accrued and unpaid interest,
if
any, to the Change of Control Payment Date.
(b) In
addition, at any time after September 30, 2007, if a Change of Control occurs,
each Holder of Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase
all or any part (equal to $1.00 or an integral multiple thereof) of such
Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change
of Control Offer”)
at an offer price in cash (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set
forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Change of Control
Payment Date, if purchased during the twelve-month period beginning on October
1
of the years indicated below:
Year
|
|
Percentage
|
|
2007
|
|
|
109
|
%
|
2008
|
|
|
102
|
%
|
2009
|
|
|
101
|
%
|
2010
and thereafter
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c) Within
30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to
each
Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change
of
Control and which shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days
from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change
of Control Payment Date”)
and stating that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this
Section 4.14 and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of
Control Offer will be accepted for payment.
(d) Any
Change of Control Offer shall be made in accordance with Section 3.09. The
Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange
Act
and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such
laws
and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes
as
a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any
securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 4.14, the Company
shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall
not
be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.14 by virtue
of
such compliance.
(e) Prior
to complying with this Section 4.14, but in any event within 30 days following
a
Change of Control, the Company shall either repay all outstanding Senior Debt
or
obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all agreements governing
outstanding Senior Debt to permit the repurchase of Notes required by this
Section 4.14.
(f) Clause
(b) of this Section 4.14 shall be applicable regardless of whether any other
Sections of this Indenture are applicable. Except as described above with
respect to a Change of Control, this Indenture does not contain provisions
that
permit the Holders of the Notes to require that the Company repurchase or redeem
the Notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar
transaction.
(g) The
Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change
of
Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at
the
times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this
Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and
purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of
Control Offer.
Section
4.15 Limitation
on Senior Subordinated Debt.
The
Company shall not incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right
of payment to any Senior Debt of the Company unless it is pari
passu
or
subordinate in right of payment to the Notes to the same extent. No Guarantor
shall incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment
to the Senior Debt of such Guarantor unless it is pari
passu
or
subordinate in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee to the same
extent.
Section
4.16 Designation
of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
(a) The
Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary of
the
Company to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided
that:
(i) any
Guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness of
the
Subsidiary being so designated shall be deemed to be an incurrence of
Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (or both, if
applicable) at the time of such designation, and such incurrence of Indebtedness
would be permitted under Section 4.09;
(ii) the
aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary being so designated (including
any Guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness
of
such Subsidiary) shall be deemed to be a Restricted Investment made as of
the
time of such designation and that such Investment would be permitted under
Section 4.07;
(iii) such
Subsidiary does not own any Equity Interests of, or hold any Liens on any
Property of, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(iv) the
Subsidiary being so designated:
(A) is
not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any
such
agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to
the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at
the
time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;
(B) is
a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (x) to subscribe for
additional Equity Interests or (y) to maintain or preserve such Person’s
financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels
of
operating results;
(C) has
not Guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support
for
any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except
to
the extent such Guarantee or credit support would be released upon such
designation; and
(D) has
at least one director on its Board of Directors that is not a director or
officer of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and has at least
one executive officer that is not a director or officer of the Company or any
of
its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
(v) no
Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such
designation.
(b) Any
designation of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a
certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to
such
designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation
complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by this Indenture.
If,
at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet any of the preceding
requirements described in clause (iv) above, it shall thereafter cease to be
an
Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness,
Investments, or Liens on the property, of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to
be
incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if
such
Indebtedness, Investments or Liens are not permitted to be incurred as of such
date under this Indenture, the Company shall be in default under this
Indenture.
(c) The
Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted
Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided
that:
(i) such
designation shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted
Subsidiary and such designation shall only be permitted if such Indebtedness
is
permitted under Section 4.09, calculated on a pro
forma
basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter
reference period;
(ii) all
outstanding Investments owned by such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed
to
be made as of the time of such designation and such Investments shall only
be
permitted if such Investments would be permitted under Section
4.07;
(iii) all
Liens upon property or assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary existing at the
time of such designation would be permitted under Section 4.12; and
(iv) no
Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such
designation.
Section
4.17 Payments
for Consent.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to,
directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for
the
benefit of any Holder of Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver
or
amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes
unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders
of
the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth
in
the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or
agreement.
Section
4.18 Business
Activities.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to,
engage in any business other than Permitted Businesses, except to such extent
as
would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken
as a
whole.
Section
4.19 Limitation
on Issuances and Sales of Equity Interests in Restricted
Subsidiaries.
The
Company shall not transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of, and
shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, issue, transfer, convey,
sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any Equity Interests in any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company to any Person (other than the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company or, if necessary, shares of its Capital Stock
constituting directors’ qualifying shares or issuances of shares of Capital
Stock of foreign Restricted Subsidiaries to foreign nationals, to the extent
required by applicable law), except:
(a) if,
immediately after giving effect to such issuance, transfer, conveyance, sale,
lease or other disposition, such Restricted Subsidiary would no longer
constitute a Restricted Subsidiary and any Investment in such Person remaining
after giving effect to such issuance or sale would have been permitted to be
made under Section 4.07 if made on the date of such issuance or sale and the
cash Net Proceeds from such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other;
disposition are applied in accordance with Section 4.10; or
(b) other
sales of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary by the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary, provided
that the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary complies with Section
4.10.
Section
4.20 Additional
Note Guarantees.
(a) If
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates another
Domestic Subsidiary on or after the date of this Indenture, then that newly
acquired or created Domestic Subsidiary must become a Guarantor and execute
a
supplemental indenture and deliver an Opinion of Counsel to the
Trustee.
(b) The
Company shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or
indirectly, to Guarantee or pledge any assets to secure the payment of any
other
Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof, other than
Foreign Subsidiaries, unless such Restricted Subsidiary is a Guarantor or
simultaneously executes and delivers a supplemental indenture providing for
the
Guarantee of the payment of the Notes by such Restricted Subsidiary, which
Guarantee shall be senior to or pari
passu
with such Subsidiary’s Guarantee of such other Indebtedness unless such other
Indebtedness is Senior Debt, in which case the Guarantee of the Notes may be
subordinated to the Guarantee of such Senior Debt to the same extent as the
Notes are subordinated to such Senior Debt. The form of the Note Guarantee
is
attached as Exhibit C hereto.
(c) A
Guarantor may not sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of
its
assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such
Guarantor is the surviving Person), another Person, other than the Company
or
another Guarantor, unless:
(i) immediately
after giving effect to that transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists;
and
(A) the
Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person
formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the
Guarantor) is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United
States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and assumes all the
obligations of that Guarantor under this Indenture and its Note Guarantee
pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee;
or
(B) such
sale or other disposition or consolidation or merger complies with Section
4.10.
(d) The
Note Guarantee of a Guarantor will be released:
(i) in
connection with any sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of
a
Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to
such
transaction) an Affiliate of the Company, if the sale of all such Capital Stock
of that Guarantor complies with Section 4.10;
(ii) if
the Company properly designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor
as
an Unrestricted Subsidiary under this Indenture; or
(iii) solely
in the case of a Note Guarantee created pursuant to Section 4.20(a), upon the
release or discharge of the Guarantee which resulted in the creation of such
Note Guarantee pursuant to this Section 4.20, except a discharge or release
by
or as a result of payment under such Guarantee.
ARTICLE
V
SUCCESSORS
Section
5.01
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.
(a) The
Company shall not, directly or indirectly consolidate or merge with or into
another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) or
sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially
all
of the properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person or
Persons, unless:
(i) either:
(A) the Company is the surviving corporation; or (B) the Person formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition shall
have been made (x) is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of
the
United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and (y) assumes
all
the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant
to
agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;
(ii) immediately
after giving effect to such transaction no Default or Event of Default
exists;
(iii) immediately
after giving effect to such transaction on a pro
forma
basis, the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation
or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment,
transfer, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made, shall, on the
date of such transaction after giving pro
forma
effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had
occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted
to
incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a);
(iv) each
Guarantor, unless such Guarantor is the Person with which the Company has
entered into a transaction under this Section 5.01, shall have by amendment
to
its Note Guarantee confirmed that its Note Guarantee shall apply to the
obligations of the Company or the surviving Person in accordance with the Notes
and this Indenture; and
(v) the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income
tax purposes as a result of such transaction and, will be subject to U.S.
federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same
times
as would have been the case if such transaction had not occurred.
(b) Neither
the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary may, directly or indirectly, lease
all
or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related
transactions, to any other Person. Clause (iii) above of this Section 5.01
shall
not apply to any merger, consolidation or sale, assignment, transfer, lease,
conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and
any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Section
5.02 Successor
Corporation Substituted.
Upon
any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance
or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
in
accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such
consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such
sale,
assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed
to,
and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation,
merger, sale, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture
referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the successor corporation and
not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company
under
this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named
as the Company herein; provided,
however,
that
the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the
principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all
of
the Company’s assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01
hereof.
ARTICLE
VI
DEFAULTS
AND REMEDIES
Section
6.01 Events
of Default.
Each of
the following is an “Event
of Default”:
(i) default
for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes whether or not
prohibited by Article X of this Indenture;
(ii) default
in payment when due (whether at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or
otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes, whether or
not
prohibited by Article X of this Indenture;
(iii) failure
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with Section
4.10, Section 4.14, Section 4.20(c) or Section 5.01;
(iv) failure
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after written
notice by the Trustee or Holders representing 25% or more of the aggregate
principal amount of Notes outstanding to comply with any of the other agreements
in this Indenture;
(v) default
under any, mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued
or
by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which
is
Guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether such
Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this
Indenture, if that default:
(A) is
caused by a failure to make any payment when due at the final maturity of such
Indebtedness (a “Payment
Default”);
or
(B) results
in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express
maturity
and,
in
each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the
principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been
a
Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates
$10.0 million or more;
(vi) failure
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments
(to
the extent such judgments are not paid or covered by insurance provided by
a
carrier that has acknowledged coverage in writing and has the ability to
perform) aggregating in excess of $10.0 million, which judgments are not paid,
discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;
(vii) except
as permitted by this Indenture, any Note Guarantee shall be held in any judicial
proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to
be in
full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any
Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Note Guarantee;
and
(viii) the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary
(or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together would constitute a
Significant Subsidiary of the Company), pursuant to or within the meaning of
Bankruptcy Law:
(A) commences
a voluntary case;
(B) consents
to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary
case;
(C) makes
a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(D) generally
is not paying its debts as they become due; and
(ix) a
court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy
Law that:
(A) is
for relief against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is
a
Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company), in an involuntary
case;
(B) appoints
a custodian of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is
a
Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company) or for all or
substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted
Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the
Company); or
(C) orders
the liquidation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is
a
Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company);
and
the
order or decree remains undismissed or unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive
days.
Section
6.02 Acceleration.
In the
case of an Event of Default specified in clause (viii) or (ix) of Section 6.01
with respect to the Company, any Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary (or
any
group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary of the Company), all outstanding Notes will become due and payable
immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default
occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to
be
due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company specifying
the
Event of Default.
In
the
event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes because an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing as a result of the acceleration of any
Indebtedness described in clause (v) of Section 6.01 hereof, the declaration
of
acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically annulled if the holders of
any
Indebtedness described in clause (v) of Section 6.01 hereof have rescinded
the
declaration of acceleration in respect of the Indebtedness if:
(i) the
annulment of the acceleration of Notes would not conflict with any judgment
or
decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and
(ii) all
existing Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal or interest on the
Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Notes, have
been
cured or waived.
In
the
case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any willful action or
inaction taken or not taken by or on behalf of the Company with the intention
of
avoiding payment of the premium that the Company would have had to pay if the
Company then had elected to redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof,
an
equivalent premium shall also become and be immediately due and payable to
the
extent permitted by law upon the acceleration of the Notes.
Section
6.03 Other
Remedies.
If an
Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available
remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest,
if
any, on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes
or
this Indenture.
The
Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes
or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the
Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing
upon
an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver
of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to
the
extent permitted by law.
Section
6.04 Waiver
of Past Defaults.
Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by
notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive
any
existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder (including
rescinding any related acceleration of the payment of the Notes), except a
continuing Default or Event of Default (and any related acceleration of the
payment of the Notes) in the payment of the principal of, premium or interest
on, the Notes. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate
stating that the requisite percentage of Holders have consented to such waiver
and attaching copies of such consents. In case of any such waiver, the Company,
the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored to their former positions and
rights hereunder and under the Notes, respectively. This Section 6.04 shall
be
in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the TIA and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of
the
TIA is hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture and the Notes, as permitted
by the TIA. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any
Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every
purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent
or
other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section
6.05 Control
by Majority.
Subject
to Section 2.09, holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising
any
trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any
direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture, that may involve the
Trustee in personal liability or that the Trustee determines in good faith
may
be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders of Notes not joining in the
giving of such direction, and the Trustee shall have the right to decline to
follow any such direction, if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines
that such action so directed may not be lawfully taken or if the Trustee, in
good faith shall by a Responsible Officer, determine that the proceedings so
directed may involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided
that the
Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not
inconsistent with such direction. In the event the Trustee takes any action
or
follows any direction pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled
to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against any loss
or
expense caused by taking such action or following such direction. This Section
6.05 shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(A) of the TIA, and such Section
316(a)(1)(A) of the TIA is hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture and
the
Notes, as permitted by the TIA.
Section
6.06 Limitation
on Suits.
A
Holder of a Note may not pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture,
the
Notes or, the Note Guarantees unless:
(a) the
Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event
of
Default;
(b) the
Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) such
Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the
Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or
expense;
(d) the
Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the
request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity;
and
(e) during
such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the
request.
A
Holder
of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder
of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a
Note.
Section
6.07 Rights
of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder
of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on
the
Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including
in
connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement
of
any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or
affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section
6.08 Collection
Suit by Trustee.
If an
Event of Default specified in Section 6.01 occurs and is continuing, the Trustee
is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express
trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if
any,
and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal
and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be
sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee,
its agents and counsel.
Section
6.09 Trustee
May File Proofs of Claim.
The
Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents
as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee
(including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements
and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the
Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any
Guarantor (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property
and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any
money
or other securities or property payable or deliverable on any such claims
and
any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each
Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee
shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to
pay to
the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any
other
amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the
payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied
for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall
be
paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and
other
properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding
whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement
or
otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee
to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan
of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes
or
the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect
of the
claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section
6.10 Priorities.
If the
Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article, it shall
pay
out the money in the following order:
First:
to the
Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof,
including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and
all
advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of
collection;
Second:
to
Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium,
if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind,
according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium,
if
any, and interest, respectively; and
Third:
to the
Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall
direct.
The
Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of
Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.
Section
6.11 Undertaking
for Costs.
In any
suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in
any
suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee,
a
court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the
suit
of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion
may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any
party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith
of
the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply
to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section
6.07
hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes.
Section
6.12 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, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders
shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder
and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall
continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section
6.13 Rights
and Remedies Cumulative.
Except
as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07, 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 of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall
not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate
right or remedy.
Section
6.14 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 VI 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
6.15 Record
Date.
The
Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of
Holders entitled to vote or to consent to any action by vote or consent
authorized or permitted by Sections 6.04, 6.05 and 9.02. Unless the Company
provides otherwise, such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to
the
first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of
Holders furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.05 prior to such
solicitation.
ARTICLE
VII
TRUSTEE
Section
7.01 Duties
of Trustee.
(a) If
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise
such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same
degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise
or
use under the circumstances in the conduct of its own affairs.
(b) Except
during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the
duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by this Indenture and the
Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in
this
Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be
read
into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in
the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as
to
the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed
therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming
to the form required of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine
the
certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the
requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy
of mathematical calculations or other facts purported to be stated
therein).
(c) The
Trustee may not be relieved from, liabilities for its own negligent action,
its
own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except
that:
(i) this
paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this
Section;
(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
6.05 hereof.
(d) Whether
or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that
in
any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of
this Section.
(e) No
provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its
own
funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of
any
Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and
indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense.
(f) The
Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except
as
the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money or assets held in
trust
by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds or assets except to
the
extent required by law.
Section
7.02 Rights
of Trustee.
(a) The
Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document (whether in its original
or
facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or
presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact
or
matter stated in the document.
(b) Before
the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may consult with counsel and may
require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee
shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith
in
reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may
consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel
shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith
and in reliance thereon.
(c) The
Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible
for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due
care.
(d) The
Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good
faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred
upon it by this Indenture.
(e) Unless
otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request,
direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer
of the Company.
(f) 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
unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or
indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that
might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or
direction.
(g) The
Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default
except (i) any Event of Default occurring pursuant to Section 6.01 or (ii)
any
Event of Default of which the Trustee shall have received written notification
or otherwise obtained actual knowledge.
Section
7.03 Individual
Rights of Trustee.
The
Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee
of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company
with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the
event
that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest that would require the
Trustee to resign, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to
the
SEC for permission to continue as trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same
with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and
7.11 hereof.
Section
7.04 Trustee’s
Disclaimer.
The
Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the
validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable
for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the
Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture,
it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received
by
any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible
for any
statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document
in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other
than its certificate of authentication.
Section
7.05 Notice
of Defaults.
If a
Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to
the
Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a notice of the
Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case
of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any,
or
interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as
a
Responsible Officer or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith
determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of
the
Notes.
Section
7.06 Reports
by Trustee to the Holders of the Notes.
Within
60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date the
Notes
were first issued, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee
shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting
date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a)
has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report
need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b)(2). The
Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA §
313(c).
A
copy of
each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of the Notes shall be
mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which
the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA § 313(d). The Company shall promptly
notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any securities exchange or
of
any delisting thereof.
Section
7.07 Compensation
and Indemnity.
The
Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation
for
its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The Trustee’s
compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of
an
express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request
for
all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it
in
addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include
the
reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and
counsel and any taxes or other expenses incurred by a trust created pursuant
to
Section 8.04 hereof.
The
Company shall indemnify the Trustee and its agents against any and
all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (including compensation,
fees, disbursements and expenses of Trustee’s agents and counsel) incurred by it
arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its
duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing
this
Indenture against the Company (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself
against any claim (whether asserted by the Company or any Holder or any other
person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any
of
its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability
or
expense is judicially determined to have been caused by to its own negligence
or
bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which
it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall
not
relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend
the
claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have
separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses
of
such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The
obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall survive the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
To
secure
the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a
Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the
Trustee. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture. The Trustee’s right to receive payment of any amounts due under this
Section 7.07 shall not be subordinated to any other liability or Indebtedness
of
the Company.
When
the
Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified
in Section 6.01(viii) or (ix) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation
for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel)
are
intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy
Law.
The
Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 313(b)(2) to the extent
applicable.
Section
7.08 Replacement
of Trustee.
A
resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee
shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of
appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.
The
Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust
hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so
notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the
Trustee if:
(a) the
Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(b) the
Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered
with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a
custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property;
or
(d) the
Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If
the
Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee
for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within
one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority
in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee
to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If
a
successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee
resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of
Notes of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may
petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction
for
the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If
the
Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Note who has been a Holder
of
a Note for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder
of a Note may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal
of
the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
A
successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to
the
retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal
of
the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall
have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture.
The
successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of the Notes.
The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee
to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder
have
been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof.
Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the
Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit
of the retiring Trustee.
Section
7.09 Successor
Trustee by Merger, Etc.
If the
Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially
all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor
corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
Section
7.10 Eligibility;
Disqualification.
There
shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state
thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power,
that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities
and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set
forth
in its most recent published annual report of condition.
This
Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA
§§
310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b); provided,
however,
that
there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA § 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 § 310(b)(1) are
met.
Section
7.11 Preferential
Collection of Claims Against Company.
The
Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed
in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to
TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein. The Trustee hereby waives any
right to set off any claim that it may have against the Company in any capacity
(other than as Trustee and Paying Agent) against any of the assets of the
Company held by the Trustee; provided,
however,
that if
the Trustee is or becomes a lender of any other Indebtedness permitted hereunder
to be pari
passu
with the
Notes, then such waiver shall not apply to the extent of such
Indebtedness.
ARTICLE
VIII
LEGAL
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE; SATISFACTION AND
DISCHARGE
Section
8.01 Option
to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The
Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution
set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, elect to have either Section
8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance
with the conditions set forth below in this Article VIII.
Section
8.02 Legal
Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon
the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to
this Section 8.01, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged
from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and all obligations
of the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged with respect to their
obligations under the Note Guarantees on the date the conditions set forth
below
are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal
Defeasance”).
For
this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors shall
be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by
the
outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees, respectively, which shall thereafter
be
deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.08 hereof and the
other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have
satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and
the
Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper
instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following clauses, 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 8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments
in
respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when
such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes
under Article II and Section 4.02 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties
and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in
connection therewith and (d) this Article VIII. Subject to compliance with
this
Article VIII, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02
notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03
hereof.
Section
8.03 Covenant
Defeasance.
Upon
the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to
this Section 8.03, the Company and each of the Guarantors shall, subject to
the
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released
from their respective obligations under the covenants set forth in Sections
4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19
and
4.20, hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the
conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant
Defeasance”),
and
the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any
direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the
consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall
continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being
understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting
purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to
the
outstanding Notes, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no
liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any
such
covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere
herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant
to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to
comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section
6.01
hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and
such
Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise
under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject
to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, clauses
(i) through (iii) of Section 6.01 and clauses (v) through (vii) of Section
6.01
hereof shall cease to operate and not constitute Events of Default.
Section
8.04 Conditions
to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The
following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02,
or
8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:
In
order
to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(a) the
Company shall irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit
of
the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non callable Government
Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as shall be sufficient,
in
the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants,
to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes
on the Stated Maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may
be,
and the Company shall specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity
or to a particular redemption date;
(b) in
the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company shall have
delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee confirming 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 U.S. federal income
tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion
of
Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes shall not
recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result
of such Legal Defeasance and shall be subject to U.S. federal income tax on
the
same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the
case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(c) in
the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company shall have
delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes shall not recognize
income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of
such
Covenant Defeasance and shall be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the
same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the
case if
such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(d) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing either (i)
in
the case of Covenant Defeasance or Legal Defeasance, on the date of such
deposit, or (ii) in the case of Legal Defeasance, insofar as an Event of Default
set forth in Section 6.01(viii) shall have occurred and be continuing, at any
time in the period ending on the 123rd
day after the date of deposit;
(e) such
Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or
violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument
(other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is a
party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
(f) the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
that, (i) assuming no intervening bankruptcy of the Company or any Guarantor
between the date of deposit and the 123rd
day following the deposit and assuming that no Holder is an “insider” of the
Company under applicable bankruptcy law, after the 123rd
day
following the deposit, the trust funds shall not be subject to the effect of
Section 547 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or Section 15 of the New York
Debtor and Creditor Law and (ii) the creation of the defeasance trust does
not
violate the Investment Company Act of 1940;
(g) the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating
that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring
the
Holders of Notes over any other creditors of the Company with the intent of
defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company
or others;
(h) if
the Notes are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, the Company shall
have delivered to the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem all of the
Notes on the specified redemption date; and
(i) the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent, including,
without limitation, the conditions set forth in this Section 8.04, provided
for
or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been
complied with.
Section
8.05 Satisfaction
and Discharge of Indenture.
This
Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as
to all
Notes issued hereunder when:
(i) either:
(A) all
Notes that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes
that
have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore
been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company) have been
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(B) all
Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become
due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise
or will become due and payable within one year and the Company or any Guarantor
has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust
funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars,
non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts
as
will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to
pay
and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the
date of maturity or redemption;
(ii) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date
of
such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will
not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any
other
instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the
Company or any Guarantor is bound;
(iii) the
Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by
it
under this Indenture; and
(iv) the
Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this
Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at
maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.
In
addition, the Company must deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction
and
discharge have been satisfied.
Section
8.06 Survival
of Certain Obligations.
Notwithstanding Sections 8.02, 8.03 and 8.05, any obligations of the Company
and
the Guarantors in Sections 2.03 through 2.16 (excluding Sections 2.08 and
2.14),
6.07, 7.07, 7.08, and 8.07 through 8.11 shall survive until the Notes have
been
paid in full. Thereafter, any obligations of the Company and the Guarantors
in
Sections 7.07, 8.07, 8.08 and 8.10 shall survive such satisfaction and
discharge. Nothing contained in this Article VIII shall abrogate any of the
obligations or duties of the Trustee under this Indenture.
Section
8.07 Acknowledgment
of Discharge by Trustee.
After
the conditions of Section 8.02, 8.03 or 8.05 have been satisfied, the Trustee
upon written request shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of all of
the
Company’s obligations under this Indenture except for those surviving
obligations specified in this Article VIII.
Section
8.08 Deposited
Money and Cash Equivalents to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous
Provisions.
Subject
to Section 8.09 hereof, all money and non-callable Cash Equivalents (including
the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee,
collectively for purposes of this Section 8.08, the “Trustee”)
pursuant to Section 8.04 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 Paying Agent) as the Trustee
may
determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due
thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money
need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by
law.
The
Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge
imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Cash Equivalents
deposited pursuant to Section 8.04(a) 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 VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver
or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any
money or non-callable Cash Equivalents held by it as provided in Section 8.04
hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent
public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to
the
Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04 hereof), are
in
excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to
effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Section
8.09 Repayment
to Company.
Subject
to any applicable abandoned property law, 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, premium, if any, and interest on any Note and remaining
unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, and interest
has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if
then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder
of
such Note shall thereafter, as a secured 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; provided,
however,
that
the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such
repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in
the
New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that
such
money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall
not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication,
any
unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the
Company.
Section
8.10 Indemnity
for Government Securities.
The
Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or
other
charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations
or
the principal and interest, if any, received on such U.S. Government
Obligations.
Section
8.11 Reinstatement.
If the
Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or
non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03
hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court
or
governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such
application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes
shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant
to
Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent
is
permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03
hereof, as the case may be; provided,
however,
that,
if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest
on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall
be
subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment
from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE
IX
AMENDMENT,
SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section
9.01 Without
Consent of Holders of Notes.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, without the consent of any
Holder of Notes, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or
supplement this Indenture, or the Notes or the Note Guarantees:
(a) to
cure any ambiguity, defect, error or inconsistency;
(b) to
provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated
Notes;
(c) to
provide for the assumption of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to
Holders of Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company or of such
Guarantor;
(d) to
make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the
Holders of Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under
this
Indenture of any such Holder;
(e) to
comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the
qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(f) to
comply with the requirements of Section 4.20;
(g) to
evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee;
or
(h) to
provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with this
Indenture.
Upon
the
request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors
authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and
upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02(b) hereof
stating that such amended or supplemental Indenture complies with this Section
9.01, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any amended
or
supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture
and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be
therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such
amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section
9.02 With
Consent of Holders of Notes.
Except
as provided below in this Section 9.02, this Indenture (including Sections
3.09,
4.10 and 4.14 hereof), the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or
supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal
amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents
obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer
for, Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default
or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the
Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, consents
obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes).
Without the consent of the Holders of at least 75% in principal amount of the
Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including, without limitation,
consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange
offer for, the Notes), an amendment or waiver may not amend or modify any of
the
provisions of this Indenture or the related definitions affecting the
subordination or ranking of the Notes or any Note Guarantee in any manner
adverse to the holders of the Notes or any Note Guarantee. Section 2.08 hereof
shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for purposes of
this Section 9.02.
Upon
the
request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors
authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture,
and
upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee
of the
consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee
of
the documents described in Section 7.02(b) hereof stating that any such amended
or supplemental Indenture complies with this Section 9.02, the Trustee shall
join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture
unless such amended or supplemental Indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own
rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which
case
the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into
such amended or supplemental Indenture.
It
shall
not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section
9.02
to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it
shall
be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
After
an
amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective,
the
Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly
describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company
to
mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair
or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental Indenture or
waiver.
Subject
to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class may
waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision
of
this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent of each Holder
affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect
to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
(a) reduce
the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment,
supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce
the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the
provisions, or waive any payment, with respect to the redemption of the
Notes;
(c) reduce
the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;
(d) waive
a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if
any,
or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes
by
the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes
and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such
acceleration);
(e) make
any Note payable in money other than U.S. dollars;
(f) make
any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past
Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal
of,
or interest or premium, if any, on the Notes;
(g) release
any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee of these
Notes or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this
Indenture;
(h) impair
the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with
respect to the Notes or the Note Guarantees;
(i) amend,
change or modify the obligation of the Company to make and consummate an Asset
Sale Offer with respect to any Asset Sale in accordance with Section 4.10 after
the obligation to make such an Asset Sale Offer has arisen, or the obligation
of
the Company to make and consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event of
a
Change of Control in accordance with Section 4.14 after such Change of Control
has occurred, including, in each case, amending, changing or modifying any
definition relating thereto;
(j) except
as otherwise permitted under Section 5.01 and Article XI, consent to the
assignment or transfer by the Company or any Guarantor of any of their rights
or
obligations under this Indenture; or
(k) make
any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 hereof or in the foregoing amendment and
waiver provisions.
Section
9.03 Compliance
with Trust Indenture Act.
Every
amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in
a
amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then in
effect.
Section
9.04 Revocation
and Effect of Consents.
Until
an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a
Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by such Holder of a Note and every
subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt
as
the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any
Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may
revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of
revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes
effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance
with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
Section
9.05 Notation
on or Exchange of Notes.
The
Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or
waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all
Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order,
authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or
waiver.
Failure
to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the
validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section
9.06 Trustee
to Sign Amendments, Etc.
The
Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture or Note authorized
pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment or supplement does not adversely
affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The
Company
may not sign an amendment or supplemental indenture or Note until the Board
of
Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture
or
Note, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01
hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents
required by Section 11.04 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture
is
authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not
be
obligated to, execute any such amendment, supplement or waiver which affects
the
Trustee’s rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. In
signing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee shall be entitled
to
receive an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it.
ARTICLE
X
SUBORDINATION
Section
10.01 Agreement
to Subordinate.
The
Company agrees, and each Holder by accepting a Note agrees, that the
Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes is subordinated in right of payment, to
the
extent and in the manner provided in this Article X, to the prior payment in
full in cash or Cash Equivalents of all Senior Debt (whether outstanding on
the
date of this Indenture or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed),
and that the subordination is for the benefit of the holders of Senior
Debt.
Section
10.02 Liquidation;
Dissolution; Bankruptcy.
The
holders of Senior Debt of the Company shall be entitled to receive payment
in
full in cash or Cash Equivalents of all Obligations due in respect of Senior
Debt of the Company (including interest after the commencement of any bankruptcy
proceeding at the rate specified in the applicable Senior Debt of the Company
whether or not an allowed claim) before the Holders of Notes shall be entitled
to receive any payment with respect to the Notes (except that Holders of Notes
may receive and retain Permitted Junior Securities and payments made from the
trust pursuant to Article VIII hereof), in the event of any distribution to
creditors of the Company in connection with (a) any liquidation or dissolution
of the Company; (b) any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership
or
similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property; (c) any assignment
by the Company for the benefit of its creditors; or (d) any marshaling of the
Company’s assets and liabilities.
Section
10.03 Default
on Designated Senior Debt.
The
Company shall not make any payment in respect of the Notes (except in Permitted
Junior Securities or from the trust pursuant to Article VIII hereof)
if:
(a) a
payment default on Designated Senior Debt of the Company occurs and is
continuing; or
(b) any
other default (a “nonpayment default”) occurs and is continuing on any series of
Designated Senior Debt of the Company that permits holders of that series
of
Designated Senior Debt of the Company to accelerate its maturity and the
Trustee
receives a written notice of such default (a “Payment
Blockage Notice”)
from the Company or (i) with respect to Designated Senior Debt incurred pursuant
to the Credit Agreement, the agent for the lenders thereunder and (ii) with
respect to any other Designated Senior Debt, the holders of such Designated
Senior Debt.
(c) Payments
on the Notes may and shall be resumed:
(i) in
the case of a payment default on Designated Senior Debt of the Company, upon
the
date on which such default is cured or waived; and
(ii) in
case of a nonpayment default of the Company, the earlier of the date on which
such default is cured or waived or 179 days after the date on which the
applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received, unless the maturity of such
Designated Senior Debt of the Company has been accelerated.
(d) No
new Payment Blockage Notice may be delivered unless and until:
(i) 360
days have elapsed since the delivery of the immediately prior Payment Blockage
Notice; and
(ii) all
scheduled payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, on the Notes
that
have come due have been paid in full in cash.
(e) No
nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of
any
Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for
a
subsequent Payment Blockage Notice.
Section
10.04 Acceleration
of Securities.
If
payment of the Notes is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Company
shall promptly notify holders of Senior Debt of the acceleration.
Section
10.05 When
Distribution Must Be Paid Over.
In the
event that the Trustee or any Holder receives any payment of any Obligations
with respect to the Notes (except in Permitted Junior Securities or from the
trust pursuant to Article VIII hereof) at a time when the payment is prohibited
by this Article and the Trustee or such Holder, as applicable, has actual
knowledge that such payment is prohibited by Article X hereof, such payment
shall be held by the Trustee or such Holder, as applicable, in trust for the
benefit of the holders of the Senior Debt of the Company, upon written request
of the holders of the Senior Debt of the Company shall be paid forthwith over
and delivered, to the holders of Senior Debt as their interests may appear
or
their proper Representative, for application to the payment of all Obligations
with respect to Senior Debt remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay
such
Obligations in full in accordance with their terms, after giving effect to
any
concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior
Debt.
With
respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform
only
such obligations on the part of the Trustee as are specifically set forth
in
this Article X, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the
holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.
The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders
of
Senior Debt, and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall
pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders or the Company or any other
Person money or assets to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled
by
virtue of this Article X, except if such payment is made as a result of the
willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Trustee.
Section
10.06 Notice
by the Company.
The
Company shall promptly notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent in writing of
any
facts known to the Company that would cause a payment of any Obligations with
respect to the Notes to violate this Article X, but failure to give such notice
shall not affect the subordination of the Notes to the Senior Debt as provided
in this Article X.
Section
10.07 Subrogation.
After
all Senior Debt is paid in full and until the Notes are paid in full, Holders
of
Notes shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with all other Indebtedness
pari
passu
with the
Notes) to the rights of holders of Senior Debt to receive distributions
applicable to Senior Debt to the extent that distributions otherwise payable
to
the Holders of Notes have been applied to the payment of Senior Debt. A
distribution made under this Article X to holders of Senior Debt that otherwise
would have been made to Holders of Notes is not, as between the Company and
Holders, a payment by the Company on the Notes.
Section
10.08 Relative
Rights.
This
Article X defines the relative rights of Holders of Notes and holders of Senior
Debt. Nothing in this Indenture shall:
(a) impair,
as between, the Company and Holders of Notes, the obligation of the Company,
which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of and interest on the
Notes in accordance with their terms;
(b) affect
the relative rights of Holders of Notes and creditors of the Company other
than
their rights in relation to holders of Senior Debt; or
(c) prevent
the Trustee or any Holder of Notes from exercising its available remedies upon
a
Default or Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders and owners of
Senior Debt to receive distributions and payments otherwise payable to Holders
of Notes.
If
the
Company fails because of this Article X to pay principal of or interest on
a
Note on the due date, the failure is still a Default or Event of
Default.
Section
10.09 Subordination
May Not Be Impaired by the Company.
No
right of any holder of Senior Debt to enforce the subordination of the
Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes shall be impaired by any act or failure
to
act by the Company or any Holder or by the failure of the Company or any
Holder
to comply with this Indenture.
Section
10.10 Distribution
or Notice to Representative.
Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of Senior
Debt, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their
Representative.
Upon
any
payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article
X,
the Trustee and the Holders of Notes shall be entitled to rely upon any order
or
decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction or upon any certificate
of
such Representative or of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person
making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders of Notes for the
purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such
distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt 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
X.
Section
10.11 Rights
of Trustee and Paying Agent.
Notwithstanding this Article X or any other provision of this Indenture, the
Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that
would prohibit the making of any payment or distribution by the Trustee, and
the
Trustee and the Paying Agent may continue to make payments on the Notes, unless
the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office at least five
Business Days prior to the date of such payment written notice of facts that
would cause the payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes to violate
this Article X. Only the Company or a Representative may give the notice.
Nothing in this Article X shall impair the claims of, or payments to, the
Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof.
The
Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Debt with the
same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same
with
like rights.
Section
10.12 Authorization
to Effect Subordination.
Each
Holder of Notes, by the Holder’s acceptance thereof, authorizes and directs the
Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or
appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article X,
and
appoints the Trustee to act as such Holder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all
such purposes. If the Trustee does not file a proper proof of claim or proof
of
debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to in Section 6.09 hereof
before the expiration of the time to file such claim, the lenders under the
Credit Agreement are hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and
on
behalf of the Holders of the Notes; provided
that, in
the event the Trustee files a proper proof of claim prior to expiration, the
Trustee’s proof of claim shall supersede that of the lenders under the Credit
Agreement in respect of the Holders of the Notes.
ARTICLE
XI
NOTE
GUARANTEES
Section
11.01 Guarantee.
Subject
to this Article XI each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally,
unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered
by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective
of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the
obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:
(a) (i)
the principal of 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, if lawful
(subject in all cases to any applicable grace period provided herein), 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 (ii) in case of any extension of time of
payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same
will
be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms
of
the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any
performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly
and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees
that
this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.
(b) The
Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional,
irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or
this
Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent
by any Holder of the Notes with respect to this Indenture, 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. Subject to Section 6.06 hereof and to the extent
permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives diligence,
presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event
of
insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding
first
against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant
that this Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance
of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.
(c) If
any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to
the
Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar
official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount
paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent
theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and
effect.
(d) Each
Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation
in
relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until
payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further
agrees that, as between the Guarantors, 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 VI hereof for the purposes
of
this Note 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 declaration of acceleration of such obligations
as
provided in Article VI hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable)
shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose
of this
Note Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution
from
any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair
the rights of the Holders under the Note Guarantee.
Section
11.02 Subordination
of Note Guarantee.
The
Obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee pursuant to this Article
XI shall be subordinated to the Guarantee of any Senior Debt of such Guarantor
on the same basis as the Notes are subordinated to Senior Debt of the Company.
For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Trustee and the Holders shall
have the right to receive and/or retain payments by any of the Guarantors
only
at such times as they may receive and/or retain payments in respect of the
Notes
pursuant to this Indenture, including Article X hereof.
Section
11.03 Limitation
on Guarantor Liability.
Each
Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that
it
is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor
not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy
Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer
Act
or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Note
Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders
and
the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor
shall, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent
and
fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and
after
giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from
or
payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the
obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article XI, result in the
obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a
fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
Section
11.04 Execution
and Delivery of Note Guarantee.
To
evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01, each Guarantor hereby
agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee substantially in the form included
in Exhibit C attached hereto shall be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor
on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture
shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by its President or one of its
Vice Presidents.
Each
Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01
shall
remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each
Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.
If
an
Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Note Guarantee no
longer
holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which
a Note
Guarantee is endorsed, the Note Guarantee shall be valid
nevertheless.
The
delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder,
shall constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this Indenture
on behalf of the Guarantors.
Section
11.05 Releases
Following Sale of Assets.
Any
Guarantor shall be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note
Guarantee, (a) in connection with any sale of all of the Capital Stock of
that
Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that
is not
(either before or after giving effect to such transaction) an Affiliate of
the
Company, if the sale of all of such Capital Stock of that Guarantor complies
with Section 4.10 hereof, including the application of the Net Proceeds
therefrom; (b) if the Company designated such Subsidiary Guarantor as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with this Indenture; or (c) solely
in the
case of a Note Guarantee created pursuant to Section 4.20(a), upon the release
or discharge of the Guarantee which resulted in the creation of such Note
Guarantee pursuant to Section 4.20, except a discharge or release by or as
a
result of payment under such Guarantee.
Any
Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee shall
remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes
and
for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided
in
this Article XI.
Section
11.06 Additional
Guarantors.
The
Company covenants and agrees that it shall cause any Person which becomes
obligated to become a Guarantor, pursuant to the terms of Section 4.20, to
execute a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto
and any other documentation requested by the Trustee satisfactory in form to
the
Trustee in accordance with Section 4.20 pursuant to which such Restricted
Subsidiary shall guarantee the obligations of the Company under the Notes and
this Indenture in accordance with this Article XI with the same effect and
to
the same extent as if such Person had been named herein as a Subsidiary
Guarantor.
Section
11.07 Notation
Not Required.
Neither
the Company nor the Guarantors shall be required to make a notation on the
Notes
to reflect any Note Guarantee or any release, termination or discharge
thereof.
Section
11.08 Successors
and Assigns.
This
Article XI shall be binding upon the Guarantors and each of their successors
and
assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the
Trustee and the Holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of
rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon
that party in this Indenture and in the Notes shall automatically extend to
and
be vested in such transferee or assigns, all subject to the terms and conditions
of this Indenture.
Except
as
set forth in Article IV and V hereof, and notwithstanding the provisions of
this
Section, nothing contained in this Indenture shall prevent any consolidation
or
merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or will
prevent the sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety
or
substantially as an entirety to the Company or another Guarantor.
Section
11.09 No
Waiver.
Neither
a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the Holders in
exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article XI shall operate
as
a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude
any
other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies
and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders herein expressly specified are
cumulative and are not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits
which
either may have under this Article XI at law, in equity, by statute or
otherwise.
Section
11.10 Modification.
No
modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article XI, nor
the
consent to any departure by the Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be
effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee,
and
then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance
and
for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on the Guarantor
in any
case shall entitle the Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand
in the
same, similar or other circumstance.
ARTICLE
XII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
12.01 Trust
Indenture Act Controls.
This
Indenture is subject to the provisions of the TIA that are required to be a
part
of this Indenture, and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such
provisions. If any provision of this Indenture modifies any TIA provision that
may be so modified, such TIA provision shall be deemed to apply to this
Indenture as so modified. If any provision of this Indenture excludes any TIA
provision that may be so excluded, such TIA provision shall be excluded from
this Indenture.
The
provisions of TIA §§ 310 through 317 that impose duties on any Person (including
the provisions automatically deemed included unless expressly excluded by this
Indenture) are a part of and govern this Indenture, whether or not physically
contained herein.
Section
12.02 Notices.
Any
notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the
others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first
class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex,
telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the
others’ address.
If
to the
Company and/or any Guarantor:
Spectrum
Brands, Inc.
Six
Concourse Parkway, Suite 3300
Atlanta,
Georgia 30328
Facsimile:
770-829-6298
Attention:
General Counsel
with
a
copy to:
Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
One
Beacon Street
Boston,
Massachusetts 02108-3194
Facsimile:
617-305-4822
Attention:
Margaret A. Brown, Esq.
If
to the
Trustee:
Wells
Fargo Bank, N.A.
Corporate
Trust Services
6th
Street and Marquette Avenue
MAC
N
9303-120
Minneapolis,
MN 55479
Facsimile:
612-667-9825
Attention:
Spectrum Brands Administrator
The
Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
All
notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed
to
have been duly given: (i) at the time delivered by hand, if personally
delivered; (ii) five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage
prepaid, if mailed; (iii) when answered back, (iv) if telexed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and (v) the next Business Day after timely delivery
to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day
delivery.
Any
notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail,
certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by
the
Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person
described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a
notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its
sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If
a
notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time
prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives
it.
If
the
Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to
the
Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Section
12.03 Communication
by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.
Holders
may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to
their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee,
the
Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA §
312(c).
Section
12.04 Certificate
and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon
any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action
under this Indenture (other than under Section 2.02 hereof unless required
by
the TIA), the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an
Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof)
stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and
covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action have been satisfied;
(b) an
Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee
(which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating
that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and
covenants have been satisfied; and
(c) where
applicable, a certificate or opinion by an independent certified public
accountant satisfactory to the Trustee that complies with TIA §
314(c).
Section
12.05 Statements
Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each
certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant
to
TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall
include:
(a) a
statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such
covenant or condition;
(b) 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;
(c)
a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she 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
satisfied; and
(d) a
statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition
or
covenant has been satisfied.
Section
12.06 Rules
by Trustee and Agents.
The
Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders.
The
Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable
requirements for its functions.
Section
12.07 No
Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders.
No
director, officer, employee, agent, manager, member, incorporator, stockholder
or other equityholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have
any
liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the
Notes,
the Note Guarantees, this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect
of, or
by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by
accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release
are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may
not be
effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
Section
12.08 Governing
Law.
THE
INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE
THIS
INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES.
Section
12.09 No
Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This
Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt
agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any
such
indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its
successors.
Section
12.10 Successors.
All
agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its
successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its
successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its
successors.
Section
12.11 Severability.
In case
any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section
12.12 Counterpart
Originals.
The
parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall
be an original, but all of them together represent the same
agreement.
Section
12.13 Table
of Contents, Headings, Etc.
The
Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and
Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference
only,
are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify
or
restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
[Signatures
on following page]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Indenture as of the date first
written above.
SPECTRUM
BRANDS, INC.
|
|
|
By:__________________________________
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
[GUARANTORS]
|
|
|
By:__________________________________
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
WELLS
FARGO BANK, N.A., as trustee
|
|
|
By:__________________________________
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
EXHIBIT
A
[Face
of Note]
[THIS
GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING
THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS
HEREOF; AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT
THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE; (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN
WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS
GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION
2.12 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE
COMPANY.]
No.
____
|
**$___________**
|
CUSIP:
84762L AB1
ISIN:
S84762LAB18
SPECTRUM
BRANDS, INC.
Variable
Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2013
Spectrum
Brands, Inc. (the “Company”),
for
value received, promises to pay to CEDE & Co., or its registered assigns,
the principal sum of $[Amount
of Note],
_________ Dollars or such other amount as indicated on the Schedule of Exchanges
of Interests in the Global Notes attached hereto on October 2,
2013.
Interest
Payment Dates: April 2 and October 2 of each year, starting on October 2,
2007.
Record
Dates: March 15 and September 15.
Reference
is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse
hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect
as
if set forth at this place.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or
by
facsimile by its duly authorized officers.
SPECTRUM
BRANDS, INC.
|
|
|
By:__________________________________
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
(Trustee’s
Certificate of Authentication)
This
is
one of the Variable
Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2013 referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
WELLS
FARGO BANK, N.A.
as
Trustee
By:
Authorized
Signatory
[Reverse
Side of Note]
SPECTRUM
BRANDS, INC.
Variable
Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2013
Capitalized
terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture
referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. Interest.
The
Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount and premium, if any,
of
this Note, at its option, (i) entirely in cash (“Cash
Interest”)
or (ii)
subject to the Minimum Equity Condition, entirely by increasing the principal
amount of the outstanding Notes (“PIK
Interest,”
and
together with Cash Interest, “Forms
of Interest Payment”
and each
individually, a “Form
of Interest Payment”).
With
respect to any Interest Period, interest shall accrue on the Notes at the
Scheduled Rate per annum for the then current Form of Interest Payment from
the
date Notes were first issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer (the “Issue
Date”)
until
Maturity. The Company shall pay interest semi-annually
on April 2 and October 2 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business
Day,
on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest
Payment Date”).
Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest
has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date;
provided
that if
there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is
authenticated between a Record Date referred to on the face hereof and the
next
succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next
succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further
that the
first Interest Payment Date shall be October 2, 2007. If
on any
Interest Election Date, the Exchange Act filings for the Company’s most recently
completed fiscal quarter to which such filings relate demonstrate that the
Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal
quarters ending on such fiscal quarter is above 2.0 to 1.0 (the“Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio Test”),
the
Company shall notify the Trustee on such Interest Election Date and the
applicable interest rate shall be 1% per annum in excess of the Scheduled Rate
for the next Interest Period.
The
following is the schedule of Cash Interest rates (the “Scheduled
Cash Interest Rates”):
Interest
Period
|
|
Percentage
|
|
Date
of this Indenture through April 1, 2007
|
|
|
11.00
|
%
|
April
2, 2007 through October 1, 2007
|
|
|
11.25
|
%
|
October
2, 2007 through April 1, 2008
|
|
|
11.50
|
%
|
April
2, 2008 through October 1, 2008
|
|
|
12.00
|
%
|
October
2, 2008 through April 1, 2009
|
|
|
12.50
|
%
|
April
2, 2009 through October 1, 2009
|
|
|
12.75
|
%
|
October
2, 2009 through April 1, 2010
|
|
|
13.50
|
%
|
April
2, 2010 through October 1, 2010
|
|
|
13.75
|
%
|
October
2, 2010 through April 1, 2011
|
|
|
14.00
|
%
|
April
2, 2011 through October 1, 2011
|
|
|
14.25
|
%
|
October
2, 2011 through April 1, 2012
|
|
|
14.50
|
%
|
April
2, 2012 through October 1, 2012
|
|
|
14.75
|
%
|
October
2, 2012 through April 1, 2013
|
|
|
15.00
|
%
|
April
2, 2013 through October 1, 2013
|
|
|
15.25
|
%
|
The
following is the schedule of PIK Interest rates (together with the Scheduled
Cash Interest Rates, the “Scheduled
Rates” and
each
individually, a “Scheduled
Rate”):
Interest
Period
|
|
Percentage
|
|
Date
of this Indenture through April 1, 2007
|
|
|
11.50
|
%
|
April
2, 2007 through October 1, 2007
|
|
|
11.75
|
%
|
October
2, 2007 through April 1, 2008
|
|
|
12.00
|
%
|
April
2, 2008 through October 1, 2008
|
|
|
12.50
|
%
|
October
2, 2008 through April 1, 2009
|
|
|
13.00
|
%
|
April
2, 2009 through October 1, 2009
|
|
|
13.25
|
%
|
October
2, 2009 through April 1, 2010
|
|
|
14.00
|
%
|
April
2, 2010 through October 1, 2010
|
|
|
14.25
|
%
|
In
addition, the Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest
in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium,
if
any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of
the
rate then in effect; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest
in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest
(without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand
at
the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest shall be computed on the basis
of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
To
elect
the Form of Interest Payment with respect to each Interest Period, the Company
will give the Trustee irrevocable Notice of Election on the second Trading
Day
preceding the first day of the applicable Interest Period (the “Interest
Election Date”).
The
Trustee will promptly deliver a corresponding notice to the Holders.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the initial interest payment
shall be a Cash Interest payment and any interest payments after October 1,
2010
shall also be in Cash Interest payments. In the absence of an election for
any
Interest Period, interest on the Notes shall be payable entirely as a cash
payment.
2. Method
of Payment.
The
Company shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the
Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the
Record Date immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes
are canceled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment
Date,
except as provided in Section 2.13 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted
interest. The Notes shall be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and
Cash
Interest at the office or agency of the Company, or, at the option of the
Company, payment of Cash Interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders
at
their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided
that
payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with
respect to principal of, and Cash Interest and premium on, all Global Notes
and
all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer
instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such
coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment
is
legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
PIK
Interest shall be payable by increasing the principal amount of the outstanding
Notes by an amount equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the applicable
interest period (a “PIK
Payment”).
Following an increase in the principal amount of the outstanding Notes as a
result of a PIK Payment, the Notes will accrue interest on such increased
principal amount from and after the related interest payment date of such PIK
Payment. The Company will not issue Notes in principal amount of less than
$1.00. In the event that PIK Interest due to any Holder on an Interest Payment
Date is not a round dollar amount, any fractional PIK Interest, if $ 0.50 or
more, will be rounded up to the nearest dollar or, if $ 0.49 or less, will
be
rounded down to the nearest dollar. In connection with the payment of PIK
Interest, the Company is entitled, without the consent of the Holders, to
increase the outstanding principal amount of the Global Notes representing
the
Notes. References herein and in the Indenture to the “principal amount” of the
Notes include any increase in the principal amount of the outstanding Notes
as a
result of a PIK Payment.
3. Paying
Agent and Registrar.
Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., the Trustee under the Indenture, shall act
as
Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar
without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act
in
any such capacity.
4. Indenture.
The
Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of
[ ],
2007 (the “Indenture”)
among
the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include
those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference
to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The Notes are subject to all
such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a
statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts
with
the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall
govern and be controlling.
5. Guarantees.
Subject
to Article XI of the Indenture, the Notes will be guaranteed, jointly and
severally, by all of the Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company.
6. Optional
Redemption.
(a) At
any time on or prior to September 30, 2007, the Company may redeem all or a
part
of the Notes, from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
notice, at the redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount)
of 110% plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption
date.
(b) In
addition, at any time after September 30, 2007, the Company may redeem all
or a
part of the Notes, from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60
days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal
amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the
applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning
on October 1 of the years indicated below:
Year
|
|
Percentage
|
|
2007
|
|
|
109
|
%
|
2008
|
|
|
102
|
%
|
2009
|
|
|
101
|
%
|
2010
and thereafter
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
7. Repurchase
at Option of Holder.
(a) At
any time on or prior to September 30, 2007, if a Change of Control occurs,
each
Holder of Notes shall have the right pursuant to the offer described below
(the
“Change
of Control Offer”)
to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1.00 or an
integral multiple thereof) of such Holder’s Notes at an offer price in cash
(expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 110% plus accrued and unpaid
interest, if any, to the Change of Control Payment Date.
(b) In
addition, at any time after September 30, 2007, if a Change of Control occurs,
each Holder of Notes shall have the right pursuant to a Change of Control Offer
to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of such Holder’s Notes at
an offer price in cash (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth
below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Change of Control Payment
Date, if purchased during the twelve-month period beginning on October 2 of
the
years indicated below:
Year
|
|
Percentage
|
|
2007
|
|
|
109
|
%
|
2008
|
|
|
102
|
%
|
2009
|
|
|
101
|
%
|
2010
and thereafter
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c) Within
30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to
each
Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change
of
Control and which shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days
from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change
of Control Payment Date”),
pursuant to the procedures required by the Indenture and described in such
notice.
8. Asset
Sale Offers.
Within
360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company
may apply such Net Proceeds at its option: (i) to repay Senior Debt and, if
the
Senior Debt being repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly
reduce commitments with respect thereto; or (ii) to purchase Replacement Assets
or make a capital expenditure in or that is used or useful in a Permitted
Business. Pending the final applications of any such Net Proceeds, the Company
may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest such
Net
Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by the Indenture. Any Net Proceeds
from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the preceding
paragraph will constitute “Excess Proceeds.” Within 10 days after the aggregate
amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the Company will make an offer
(an “Asset
Sale Offer”)
to all
Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari
passu
with the
Notes or any Note Guarantee containing provisions similar to those set forth
in
the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase 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 at an offer price
in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof of the Notes and such
other pari
passu
Indebtedness plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase, and
will
be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an
Asset
Sale Offer, the Company may use such Excess Proceeds for any purpose not
otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of
Notes and such other pari
passu
Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess
Proceeds, the Trustee will select Notes and the agent for such other
pari
passu
Indebtedness will such other pari
passu
Indebedness to be purchased on a pro
rata
basis
(with such adjustments for authorized denominations) based on the principal
amount of Notes and such other pari
passu
Indebtedness tendered. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount
of
Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
9. Selection
and Notice of Redemption.
If less
than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase
at
any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased among
the Holders in compliance with the requirements of the principal national
securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed, or, if the Notes
are
not so listed, on a pro
rata
basis,
by lot or in accordance with any other method the Trustee shall deem fair and
appropriate. At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption
date, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a
notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its
registered address. The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and
shall
state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the redemption price; (iii) if any Note
is
being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to
be
redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a
new
Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the
original Note shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon
cancellation of the original Note; (iv) the name and address of the Paying
Agent; (v) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying
Agent to collect the redemption price and become due on the date fixed for
redemption; (vi) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption
payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after
the redemption date; (vii) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of the
Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;
and (viii) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy
of
the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the
Notes.
10. Denominations,
Transfer, Exchange.
The
Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1.00 or
integral multiples thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes
may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee
may
require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and
transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and
fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not
exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected
for
redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in
part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes
for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during
the
period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment
Date.
11. Persons
Deemed Owners.
The
registered Holder of a Note will be treated as its owner for all
purposes.
12. Amendment,
Supplement and Waiver.
Subject
to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Note Guarantees, or the Notes may
be
amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority
in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class,
and
any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the
Note
Guarantees, or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, if any, voting
as a
single class. Without the consent of the Holders of at least 75% in principal
amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including,
without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or
tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes), an amendment or waiver may
not
amend or modify any, of the provisions of the Indenture or the related
definitions affecting the subordination or ranking of the Notes or any Note
Guarantee in any manner adverse to the holders of the Notes or any Note
Guarantee. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the
Note
Guarantees, or the Notes may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity,
defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to
or
in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s
obligations to Holders of the Notes in case of a merger or consolidation or
sale
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, to make any change
that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the
Notes
or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any
such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect
or
maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or
to
allow any Subsidiary to guarantee the Notes, to provide for the issuance of
Additional Notes in accordance with the Indenture, or to allow any Guarantor
to
execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture with respect to the
Notes.
13. Defaults
and Remedies.
In the
case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or
insolvency, with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
that is a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and
payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of
Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25%
in
principal amount of the Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable
immediately by notice in writing to the Company specifying the Event of Default.
Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as
provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority
in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in
its
exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the
Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default
or
Event of Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or
interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of
the
Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under
the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment
of
interest or premium, if any, on, or the principal of, the Notes.
In
the
case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any willful action or
inaction taken or not taken by or on behalf of the Company with the intention
of
avoiding payment of the premium that the Company would have had to pay if the
Company then had elected to redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 of the
Indenture concerning optional redemption, an equivalent premium shall also
become and be immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon
the acceleration of the Notes.
14. Trustee
Dealings with Company.
The
Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept
deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and
may
otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the
Trustee.
15. Subordination.
The
Company agrees, and each Holder by accepting a Note agrees, that the
Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes is subordinated in right of payment, to
the
extent and in the manner provided in Article X of the Indenture, to the prior
payment in full in cash or Cash Equivalents of all Senior Debt (whether
outstanding on the date of the Indenture or hereafter created, incurred, assumed
or guaranteed), and that the subordination is for the benefit of the holders
of
Senior Debt.
16. No
Recourse Against Others.
No
past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder
or agent of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability
for
any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Notes, any Note
Guarantees, the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason
of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting
a
Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part
of
the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective
to
waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
17. Authentication.
This
Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the
Trustee or an authenticating agent.
18. 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 the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as
a
convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such
numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any, notice of
redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers
placed thereon.
19. The
Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request, and without charge
a
copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:
If
to the
Company and/or any Guarantor:
Spectrum
Brands, Inc.
Six
Concourse Parkway, Suite 3300
Atlanta,
Georgia 30328
Facsimile:
(770) 829-6298
Attention:
General Counsel
with
a
copy to:
Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
One
Beacon Street
Boston,
Massachusetts 02108-3194
Facsimile:
617-305-4822
Attention:
Margaret A. Brown, Esq.
ASSIGNMENT
FORM
To
assign
this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note
to
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(Insert
Assignee’s Legal Name)
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(Insert
Assignee’s Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification
Number.)
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(Print
or Type Assignee’s Name, Address and Zip Code)
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and
irrevocably appoint 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
Signature: ________________________________
(Sign
exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
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Signature
Guarantee.*
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* Participant
is recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature
guarantor
acceptable to the Trustee).
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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
4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the box below:
G
Section
4.10
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G
Section
4.14
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If
you
want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant
to
Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to
have purchased: $________
Date:
__________
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Your
Signature: _______________________________________
(Sign
exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
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Signature
Guarantee.*
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Tax
Identification No: __________________________________
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* Participant
is recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature
guarantor
acceptable to the Trustee).
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SCHEDULE
OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE
The
following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another
Global Note or of another Global Note for an interest in this Global Note,
have
been made:
Date
of Exchange
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Amount
of Decrease in Principal
of
this Global Note
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Amount
of Increase in Principal
of
this Global Note
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Principal
Amount of this Global Note Following such decrease (or
increase)
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Signature
of Authorized Officer of Trustee or
Note
Custodian
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EXHIBIT
B
FORM
OF NOTICE OF ELECTION
[insert
date]
Wells
Fargo Bank, N.A.
Corporate
Trust Services
6th
Street and Marquette Avenue
MAC
N
9303-120
Minneapolis,
MN 55479
Facsimile:
612-667-9825
Attention:
Spectrum Brands Administrator
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
The
undersigned, SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC., a Wisconsin corporation (the “Company”),
refers
to the Indenture, dated as of ___, 2007, among the Company, the Guarantors
and
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (“Trustee”).
Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and the Notes, the Company hereby gives
you, as Trustee, irrevocable notice that the Company requests the following
Form
of Interest Payment for the Interest Period specified below:
(i) Form
of
Interest Payment: [Cash Interest][PIK Interest]
(ii) Interest
Period beginning on: _____________________.
Very truly
yours, |
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SPECTRUM
BRANDS, INC.
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By:__________________________________
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Name:
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Title:
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EXHIBIT
C
FORM
OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
For
value
received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the
Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent
set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture dated
as of [ ], 2007 (the “Indenture”)
among
Spectrum Brands, Inc. (the “Company”),
the
Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (the
“Trustee”),
(a)
the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest
on the Notes (as defined in the Indenture), whether at maturity, by
acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest
on overdue principal and premium, and, to the extent permitted by law, interest,
and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company
to
the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture
and
(b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or
any
of such other obligations, that the same shall be promptly paid in full when
due
or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether
at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the
Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Note
Guarantee and, the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XI of the
Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms
of
the Note Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees
to
and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee,
on behalf of such Holder, to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate
to effectuate the subordination as provided in the Indenture and (c) appoints
the Trustee attorney-in fact of such Holder for such purpose; provided,
however,
that
the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note Guarantee shall cease to be so
subordinated and subject in right of payment upon any defeasance of this Note
in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. Capitalized terms used herein
but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
Indenture.
IN
WITNESS HEREOF, the Guarantors have caused this Notation of Guarantee to be
executed by a duly authorized officer.
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[Name
of
Guarantor] |
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By: |
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Name:
Title:
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EXHIBIT
D
FORM
OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
TO
BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS
Supplemental
Indenture (this “Supplemental
Indenture”),
dated
as of ____________, among _______________ (the “Guaranteeing
Subsidiary”),
Spectrum Brands, Inc., a Wisconsin Corporation (the “Company”),
the
Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and Wells Fargo
Bank, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee”).
W
I T N E
S S E T H
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the
Trustee an indenture (the “Indenture”),
dated
as of
[ ],
2007 providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount
of
Variable Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2013 (the “Notes”);
WHEREAS,
the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing
Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture
pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee
all of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms
and conditions set forth herein (the “Note
Guarantee”);
and
WHEREAS,
pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute
and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing
Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable
benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:
1. Capitalized
Terms.
Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings
assigned to them in the Indenture.
2. Agreement
to Guarantee.
The
Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees as follows:
(a) Along
with all other Guarantors, to jointly and severally Guarantee to each Holder
of
a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its
successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of
the
Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder,
that:
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(i)
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the
principal of and interest on the Notes shall 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, if
lawful (subject in all cases to any applicable grace period provided
in
the Indenture), and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders
or
the Trustee hereunder or thereunder shall be promptly paid in full
or
performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof;
and
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(ii)
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in
case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes
or any of
such other obligations, the same shall be promptly paid in full when
due
or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal,
whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing
payment
when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed
for
whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated
to pay the same immediately.
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(b) The
obligations hereunder shall 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
that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of
a
guarantor.
(c) Subject
to Section 6.06 of the Indenture and to the extent permitted by applicable
law,
each Guarantor hereby waives: diligence presentment, demand of payment, filing
of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company,
any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice
and
all demands whatsoever.
(d) Subject
to Section 6.06 of the Indenture and to the extent permitted by applicable
law,
this Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance
of
the obligations contained in the Notes and the Indenture.
(e) If
any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to
the
Company, the Guarantors, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar
official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount
paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent
theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and
effect.
(f) The
Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in
relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until
payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby.
(g) As
between the Guarantors, 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 VI of the Indenture for the purposes of
this
Note 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 declaration of acceleration of such obligations
as
provided in Article VI of the Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due
and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the
purpose of this Note Guarantee.
(h) The
Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying
Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights
of
the Holders under the Note Guarantee.
(j) Pursuant
to Section 11.03 of the Indenture, after giving effect to any maximum amount
and
any other contingent and fixed liabilities of the Guarantor that are relevant
under any applicable Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act,
the
Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the
extent applicable, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights
to
receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other
Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under Article
XI
of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantor irrevocably agree
that the obligation of such Guarantor shall result in the obligations of such
Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or
conveyance.
3. Subordination.
The
Obligations of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary under its Note Guarantee pursuant
to
this Supplemental Indenture shall be junior and subordinated to the Senior
Debt
of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary on the same basis as the Notes are junior and
subordinated to the Senior Debt of the Company. For the purposes of the
foregoing sentence, the Trustee and the Holders shall have the right to receive
and/or retain payments by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary only at such time as
they
may receive and/or retain payments in respect of the Notes pursuant to the
Indenture, including Article X thereof.
4. Execution
and Delivery.
Each
Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the Note Guarantees shall remain in full
force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation
of such Note Guarantee.
5. Guaranteeing
Subsidiary May Consolidate, Etc., on Certain Terms.
Except
as otherwise provided in Section 11.05 of the Indenture; a Guarantor may not
sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, or
consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the
surviving Person) another Person unless:
(a) immediately
after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists;
and
(b) either:
(i) the
Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person
formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger is a corporation,
organized or existing under (i) the laws of the United States, any state thereof
or the District of Columbia or (ii) the laws of the same jurisdiction as that
Guarantor and, in each case, assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor
under
the Indenture, its Note Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture
satisfactory to the Trustee; or
(ii) in
the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor, such sale or other disposition (A) complies
with Section 4.10 of the Indenture, including the application of the Net
Proceeds therefrom and (B) is to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary
of
the Company.
In
case
of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption
by
the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to
the
Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee endorsed
upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the obligations
and conditions of the Indenture to be performed by a Guarantor, such successor
Person shall succeed to and be substituted for a Guarantor with the same effect
as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon
may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon
all
of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed
by
the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note Guarantees so issued
shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under the Indenture
as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with
the
terms of the Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued
at
the date of the execution hereof.
Except
as
set forth in Articles IV and V of the Indenture, and notwithstanding clauses
(a)
and (b) above, nothing contained in the Indenture or in any of the Notes shall
prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company
or
another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property
of a
Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or
another Guarantor.
6. Releases.
(a) Any
Guarantor shall be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note
Guarantee, (i) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of that Guarantor (including by way of merger
or
consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect
to
such transaction) a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of that Guarantor complies
with Section 4.10 of the Indenture, including the application of the Net
Proceeds therefrom; (ii) in connection with any sale of all of the Capital
Stock
of a Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect
to
such transaction) a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale of all
such Capital Stock of that Guarantor complies with Section 4.10 of the
Indenture, including the application of the Net Proceeds therefrom; (iii) if
the
Company designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms hereof; or (iv) in
connection with any sale of Capital Stock of a Guarantor to a Person that
results in the Guarantor no longer being a Subsidiary of the Company, if the
sale of such Capital Stock of that Guarantor complies with Section 4.10,
including the application of the Net Proceeds therefrom. Upon delivery by the
Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to
the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, including without limitation
Section 4.10 hereof, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably required
in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under
its
Note Guarantee.
(b) Any
Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee shall
remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes
and
for the other obligations of any Guarantor under the Indenture as provided
in
Article X of the Indenture.
7. No
Recourse Against Others.
No
past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder
or agent of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability
for
any obligations of the Company or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes,
any Note Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any
claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their
creation. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases
all
such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for
issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities
under the federal securities laws.
8. NEW
YORK LAW TO GOVERN.
THE
INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE
THIS
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.
9. Counterparts.
The
parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each
signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same
agreement.
10. Effect
of Headings.
The
Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.
11. Trustee.
The
Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect
of
the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect
of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by
the
Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture
to
be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above
written.
Dated:
___________________
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[Guaranteeing
Subsidiary]
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By: |
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Name:
Title:
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[Name
of
Guarantor] |
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By: |
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Name:
Title:
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SPECTRUM
BRANDS,
INC. |
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By: |
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Name:
Title:
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WELLS
FARGO BANK,
N.A., AS TRUSTEE |
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By: |
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Name:
Title:
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SCHEDULE
I
GUARANTORS
Tetra
Holding (US), Inc.
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ROV
Holding, Inc.
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ROVCAL,
Inc.
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United Industries Corporation
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Schultz
Company
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Spectrum
Neptune US Holdco Corporation,
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United
Pet Group, Inc.
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DB
Online, LLC
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Southern
California Foam, Inc.
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Aquaria,
Inc.
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Aquarium
Systems, Inc.
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Perfecto
Manufacturing, Inc.
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Unassociated Document
OFFERING
CIRCULAR AND CONSENT SOLICITATION STATEMENT
SPECTRUM
BRANDS, INC.
Offer
to Exchange
Variable
Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013
(CUSIP
No. 84762LAB1)
for
all of our
8
1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013
(CUSIP
No. 755081AD8)
and
Solicitation of Consents to Amendments and Waiver to the Related
Indenture
Spectrum
Brands, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (formerly Rayovac Corporation) (the
“Company,”
“we,”
“us”
or
“our”),
hereby offers (this “Offer”)
to
Holders (as hereinafter defined) to exchange new Variable Rate Toggle Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the “New
Notes”)
for
any and all of the outstanding 8 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 issued
by the Company (such notes, the “Existing
Notes”).
In
connection with this Offer, we are also soliciting (the “Consent
Solicitation”)
consents (the “Consents”)
of
Holders to the Proposed Amendments (as hereinafter defined) (including, if
applicable, the Proposed Additional Amendments (as hereinafter defined)) and
the
Waiver (as hereinafter defined) (and related execution of the Supplemental
Indenture (as hereinafter defined)), which Proposed Amendments would eliminate
substantially all of the restrictive covenants and certain of the default
provisions contained in the Indenture dated as of September 30, 2003, among
the
Company, the subsidiaries of the Company party thereto as guarantors and U.S.
Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”),
governing the Existing Notes (such indenture, as supplemented from time to
time,
the “Indenture”)
and
which waiver would waive certain alleged or existing defaults or events of
default under the Indenture and certain rights under other debt agreements
or
instruments of the Company, in each case upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Offering Circular and Consent Solicitation
Statement (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Offering
Circular”)
and
the accompanying letter of transmittal and consent (as it may be amended from
time to time, the “Letter
of Transmittal and Consent”
and,
together with this Offering Circular, the “Offer
Documents”).
THIS
OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK CITY TIME ON APRIL
13, 2007,
UNLESS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE
CONSENT SOLICITATION WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME,
ON
MARCH
29, 2007,
UNLESS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE
TIME AND DATE OF EXPIRATION OF THIS OFFER IS HEREIN REFERRED TO AS
THE
“OFFER
EXPIRATION DATE.”
THE TIME AND DATE OF EXPIRATION OF THE CONSENT SOLICITATION IS HEREIN
REFERRED TO AS THE “CONSENT
EXPIRATION DATE.”
EXISTING NOTES VALIDLY TENDERED AND CONSENTS VALIDLY DELIVERED MAY
BE
WITHDRAWN AND REVOKED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE CONSENT DATE (AS
HEREINAFTER DEFINED). SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH
IN THE
OFFER DOCUMENTS, THE EXCHANGE OF THE EXISTING NOTES FOR THE EXCHANGE
CONSIDERATION (AS HEREINAFTER DEFINED) AND THE CONSENT PAYMENT (AS
HEREINAFTER DEFINED) WILL BE MADE ON THE EARLY EXCHANGE DATE (AS
HEREINAFTER DEFINED) AND, IF APPLICABLE, THE FINAL EXCHANGE DATE.
YOU WILL
BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THE CONSENT PAYMENT IN ADDITION TO THE EXCHANGE
CONSIDERATION, ONLY IF YOU VALIDLY TENDER NOTES AND, CONSEQUENTLY,
CONSENT
(AND DO NOT VALIDLY WITHDRAW AND, CONSEQUENTLY, REVOKE) PRIOR TO
THE
CONSENT EXPIRATION DATE.
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Upon
the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer Documents, we hereby
offer to issue $950 principal amount of New Notes plus
accrued
and unpaid interest in cash on such principal amount of Existing Notes up to,
but not including, April 1, 2007 (the “Exchange
Consideration”)
for
each $1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes tendered prior to the Offer
Expiration Date, and not validly withdrawn prior to the Consent Date. Holders
who tender Existing Notes in the Offer prior to the Consent Expiration Date
are
obligated to consent to the Proposed Amendments and Waiver, and Holders who
submit Consents to such Proposed Amendments and Waiver are obligated to tender
their Existing Notes. If the Requisite Consents (as hereinafter defined) are
received (and not revoked) prior to the Consent Expiration Date and the other
conditions set forth herein are satisfied or waived, the Company will pay to
each Holder who has validly delivered (and not revoked) a Consent prior to
the
Consent Expiration Date a consent payment in the amount of $50 in principal
amount of New Notes for each $1,000 in principal amount of Existing Notes in
respect of which such Consent has been validly delivered (the “Consent
Payment”).
Existing
Notes tendered and Consents delivered may be withdrawn and revoked,
respectively, at any time prior to the Consent Date, but not thereafter unless
this Offer is terminated without any Existing Notes being exchanged or as
required by applicable law.
YOU
SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE STATEMENTS MADE IN THE OFFER DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING
IN THE SECTION ENTITLED “CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS” HEREIN, BEFORE DECIDING TO
EXCHANGE YOUR EXISTING NOTES AND PROVIDE CONSENTS TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
AND
WAIVER.
The
date
of this Offering Circular is March 16, 2007.
THE
OFFER DOCUMENTS (INCLUDING THE INFORMATION INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE)
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE READ AND CONSIDERED CAREFULLY
BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THIS OFFER OR THE CONSENT
SOLICITATION.
Holders
must validly deliver (and not validly revoke) Consents in respect of at least
a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Existing Notes outstanding and
not
owned by the Company, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company or any
Affiliate of the Company (the “Requisite
Consents”)
in
order to approve the Proposed Amendments and Waiver prior to the Consent
Expiration Date; provided,
however,
in the
event that we
obtain Consents from holders of at least 75 % in principal amount of the
Existing Notes, Proposed Amendments shall also include the Proposed Additional
Amendments. As
further described herein, holders of an aggregate amount of Existing Notes
sufficient to deliver the Requisite Consents have agreed to provide their
Consents and exchange their Existing Notes for New Notes. See “BACKGROUND OF
THIS OFFER AND CONSENT SOLICITATION” below.
Any
Holder who tenders Existing Notes pursuant to this Offer prior to the Consent
Expiration Date must also deliver a Consent to the Proposed Amendments and
Waiver. Holders who validly tender (and do not validly withdraw prior to the
Consent Date) their Existing Notes pursuant to this Offer prior to the Consent
Expiration Date will
be
deemed to have delivered their Consents by such tender (including the consent
to
the execution of the Supplemental Indenture (as hereinafter defined)). Such
Holders may not deliver Consents without tendering Existing Notes. Such Holder
may not revoke a Consent without withdrawing the previously tendered Existing
Notes to which such Consent relates. Tenders of Existing Notes may be validly
withdrawn and Consents may be validly revoked at any time prior to the Consent
Date. Existing Notes validly tendered on or after the Consent Date may not
be
withdrawn, subject to the limited circumstances described in “WITHDRAWAL OF
TENDERS AND REVOCATION OF CONSENTS” below. A valid withdrawal of tendered
Existing Notes prior to the Consent Date will constitute the concurrent valid
revocation of such Holder’s related Consent. A Letter of Transmittal and Consent
delivered prior to the Consent Expiration Date that purports to tender and
not
consent to the Proposed Amendments and Waiver will not be valid.
Holders
who validly tender Existing Notes to U.S. Bank National Association, as the
exchange agent (the “Exchange
Agent”),
prior
to the Offer Expiration Date and do not validly withdraw such Existing Notes
prior to the Consent Date, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions herein, will receive the Exchange Consideration and the Consent
Payment if such Existing Notes are accepted for exchange. Holders who validly
tender Existing Notes after the Consent Date, but prior to the Offer Expiration
Date will receive the Exchange Consideration, but not the Consent Payment with
respect to such Existing Notes accepted for exchange.
Upon
the
terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer and Consent Solicitation,
including, without limitation, the New Indenture Qualification Condition (as
defined in “CONDITIONS OF THIS OFFER AND THE CONSENT SOLICITATION” below), the
Company will, promptly after the Consent Date, accept for exchange all Existing
Notes (the “Early
Acceptance Time”)
validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) prior to the Consent Expiration
Date. The Company will issue the Exchange Consideration and the Consent Payment
for the Existing Notes accepted for exchange at the Early Acceptance Time on
such date (the “Early
Exchange Date”)
promptly following the Early Acceptance Time. If we accept Existing Notes for
exchange at the Early Acceptance Time, we agree to waive all conditions to
the
Offer that we are legally permitted to waive (other than a proper tender) for
Existing Notes tendered on or after the Consent Expiration Date and prior to
the
Offer Expiration Date.
If
applicable and upon the terms and subject to the conditions, if any, of the
Offer and Consent Solicitation that have not been waived, the Company will,
at
such time after the Offer Expiration Date, accept for exchange all Existing
Notes (the “Final
Acceptance Time”)
validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) prior to the Offer Expiration
Date
that the Company had not accepted for exchange at the Early Acceptance Time.
The
Company will issue the Exchange Consideration to the Holders in exchange for
the
Existing Notes accepted for exchange at the Final Acceptance Time on such date
(the “Final
Exchange Date”)
promptly following the Final Acceptance Time.
In
conjunction with this Offer and the Consent Solicitation, we have received
commitments from Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P. and Banc of America Bridge
LLC, and Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P. and Banc of America Securities
LLC,
acting as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, to provide us with a
new
senior secured credit facility (including a synthetic letter of credit facility)
of $1.6 billion, which would replace the facility existing under the Credit
Agreement. We plan to enter into the new senior secured credit facility (the
“Proposed
New Credit Facility”)
to
repay outstanding indebtedness under our Fourth Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2005 (the “Credit
Agreement”)
and
increase the size of the facility to $1.6 billion. We may use certain of the
proceeds of the borrowings under the Proposed New Credit Facility to finance
payments of accrued interest on the Existing Notes payable as Exchange
Consideration pursuant to the terms of the Offer. The entering into of
the Proposed
New Credit Facility shall be referred to herein as the “Financing
Condition.”
For
purposes of this Offer, tendered Existing Notes will be deemed to have been
accepted for exchange if, as and when the Company gives oral notice (confirmed
in writing) or written notice to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Early
Exchange Date or Final Exchange Date, as the case may be. In the event that
this
Offer or the Consent Solicitation is withdrawn or otherwise not completed,
as
the case may be, the Exchange Consideration and the Consent Payment will not
be
issued.
All
completed and executed Letters of Transmittal and Consent should be directed
to
the Exchange Agent at the address or facsimile number set forth on the back
cover of this Offering Circular and on the Letter of Transmittal and Consent
in
accordance with the instructions set forth herein and
therein.
The Letter of Transmittal and Consent should not be delivered to the Company,
the Trustee or the Information Agent (as hereinafter defined). The Company,
however, reserves the right to accept any Letter of Transmittal and Consent
received by it, the Trustee or the Information Agent.
Promptly
following receipt of the Requisite Consents, the Company will request that
the
Trustee execute a supplemental indenture (the “Supplemental
Indenture”)
embodying the Proposed Amendments and Waiver. The Supplemental Indenture will
become effective upon the execution by the Company, the Guarantors and the
Trustee (the date and time of such execution being referred to herein as the
“Consent
Date”),
and
the Proposed Amendments and Waiver will become operative upon the Early Exchange
Date.
Only
Holders will be eligible to tender their Existing Notes and to consent to the
Proposed Amendments and the Waiver. The term “Holder”
means
each person or entity in whose name any Note is registered. Any
beneficial owner of Existing Notes who is not a Holder of such Existing Notes
must arrange with the person or entity who is the Holder, or such Holder’s
assignee or nominee, to execute and deliver a Letter of Transmittal and Consent
on behalf of such beneficial owner.
Capitalized
terms used in this document that are not otherwise defined will have the
meanings set forth in the Indenture.
Our
obligation to accept for exchange Existing Notes validly tendered and not
withdrawn is conditioned upon, among other things, obtaining the Requisite
Consents, the execution of the Supplemental Indenture by the Trustee, the
satisfaction of the Financing Condition and the satisfaction of the other
conditions set forth herein. See “CONDITIONS
OF THIS OFFER AND THE CONSENT SOLICITATION” below.
In
making
an investment decision in connection with this Offer or a decision in connection
with the Consent Solicitation, recipients of the Offer Documents must rely
on
their own examination of the Company and the terms of this Offer and the Consent
Solicitation, including the merits and risks involved. Recipients of the Offer
Documents are not to construe the contents therein as legal, business or tax
advice. Each recipient should consult its own attorney, business advisor and
tax
advisor as to legal, business, tax and related matters concerning this Offer
and
the Consent Solicitation.
If
the
Requisite Consents are received and the Proposed Amendments and Waiver become
operative, the Proposed Amendments and the Waiver will be binding on all
non-tendering Holders. Existing Notes that are not tendered and accepted for
exchange pursuant to the Offer will remain obligations of the Company and the
Guarantors.
We
reserve the right to waive certain conditions to this Offer or the Consent
Solicitation and to accept for exchange any Existing Notes tendered pursuant
to
this Offer. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws and the terms
set forth in the Offer Documents, we reserve the right, but will not be
obligated, to extend this Offer or the Consent Solicitation. Any waiver,
extension or amendment may be made by press release or another means of
announcement that we deem appropriate. We reserve the right to terminate this
Offer at any time prior to the Offer Expiration Date and the Consent
Solicitation under circumstances where the conditions to the Offer and Consent
Solicitation are not satisfied.
IMPORTANT
NO
PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS
OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE OFFER DOCUMENTS
AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY. THIS OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE
TO,
AND NO CONSENTS ARE BEING SOLICITED FROM, THE HOLDERS IN ANY JURISDICTION IN
WHICH IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH SOLICITATION OR GRANT SUCH CONSENT. THE
DELIVERY OF THE OFFER DOCUMENTS AT ANY TIME DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE INFORMATION
HEREIN OR THEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS
DATE.
NONE
OF THE OFFER, THE CONSENT SOLICITATION, THE EXCHANGE CONSIDERATION, THE CONSENT
PAYMENT, THE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE OR ANY OTHER STATEMENTS OR ACTIONS WE MAKE
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFER OR THE CONSENT SOLICITATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
IN ANY WAY AN ADMISSION ON OUR PART THAT THE ALLEGED DEFAULTS (AS HEREINAFTER
DEFINED) CONSTITUTE EXISTING DEFAULTS OR EVENTS OF DEFAULT UNDER THE
INDENTURE.
NONE
OF THE COMPANY, THE INFORMATION AGENT OR THE EXCHANGE AGENT MAKES ANY
RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT HOLDERS SHOULD TENDER EXISTING NOTES IN
RESPONSE TO THE OFFER OR PROVIDE CONSENTS TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND
WAIVER.
WE
ARE RELYING ON SECTION 3(a)(9) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
“SECURITIES
ACT”)
TO EXEMPT THE OFFER FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.
WE
ARE ALSO RELYING ON SECTION 18(b)(4)(C) OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO EXEMPT THE
OFFER AND THE CONSENT SOLICITATION FROM STATE LAW SECURITIES REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS.
NEITHER
THIS OFFERING CIRCULAR NOR THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CONSENT NOR ANY RELATED
DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED OR REVIEWED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION (THE “COMMISSION”)
OR ANY FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY
COUNTRY. NO AUTHORITY HAS PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS STATEMENT
OR ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS, AND IT IS UNLAWFUL, AND MAY BE A CRIMINAL OFFENSE
TO
MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
|
SUMMARY
|
2
|
The
Company
|
2
|
Summary
Description of the Offer and the Consent Solicitation
|
2
|
Summary
Description of the New Notes
|
6
|
CERTAIN
CONSIDERATIONS
|
8
|
USE
OF PROCEEDS
|
11
|
BACKGROUND
OF THIS OFFER AND CONSENT SOLICITATION
|
12
|
The
Alleged Defaults
|
12
|
The
Company’s Position Concerning this Offer
|
12
|
Note
Purchases by the Company
|
12
|
GENERAL
TERMS OF THIS OFFER AND THE CONSENT SOLICITATION
|
13
|
Exchange
Offer
|
13
|
Consent
Solicitation
|
13
|
Extension,
Termination or Amendment
|
13
|
Announcements
|
14
|
Beneficial
Owners
|
14
|
ACCEPTANCE
OF EXISTING NOTES FOR EXCHANGE; ACCRUAL OF INTEREST
|
15
|
Acceptance
of Existing Notes for Exchange
|
15
|
Accrued
Interest
|
16
|
SOLICITATION
OF CONSENTS
|
16
|
PROCEDURES
FOR TENDERING EXISTING NOTES AND DELIVERING CONSENTS
|
16
|
General
|
16
|
Valid
Tender
|
16
|
Valid
Consent
|
17
|
Tender
of Existing Notes Held in Physical Form
|
17
|
Tender
of Existing Notes Held Through a Custodian.
|
17
|
Book-Entry
Transfer
|
18
|
Tender
of Existing Notes Through ATOP
|
18
|
Effect
of Letter of Transmittal and Consent
|
18
|
Signature
Guarantees
|
19
|
Determination
of Validity
|
19
|
WITHDRAWAL
OF TENDERS AND REVOCATION OF CONSENTS
|
20
|
CONDITIONS
OF THIS OFFER AND THE CONSENT SOLICITATION
|
21
|
DESCRIPTION
OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND WAIVER
|
23
|
The
Proposed Amendments
|
23
|
The
Waiver
|
24
|
Consequences
to Non-Consenting Holders
|
24
|
INFORMATION
AGENT
|
25
|
FEES
AND EXPENSES
|
25
|
CERTAIN
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
|
25
|
Characterization
of New Notes
|
26
|
U.S.
Holders
|
26
|
Non-U.S.
Holders
|
29
|
DESCRIPTION
OF CERTAIN OTHER INDEBTEDNESS
|
29
|
Senior
Debt
|
29
|
Senior
Subordinated Debt
|
30
|
DESCRIPTION
OF NEW NOTES
|
30
|
Brief
Description of the Notes
|
30
|
Principal,
Maturity and Interest
|
31
|
Methods
of Receiving Payments on the Notes
|
32
|
Paying
Agent and Registrar for the Notes
|
32
|
Transfer
and Exchange
|
32
|
Note
Guarantees
|
33
|
Subordination
|
33
|
Optional
Redemption
|
35
|
Mandatory
Redemption
|
36
|
Repurchase
at the Option of Holders
|
36
|
Certain
Covenants
|
38
|
Events
of Default and Remedies
|
48
|
No
Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders
|
50
|
Legal
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
|
50
|
Amendment,
Supplement and Waiver
|
52
|
Satisfaction
and Discharge
|
53
|
Concerning
the Trustee
|
53
|
Book-Entry,
Delivery and Form
|
54
|
Depository
Procedures
|
54
|
Exchange
of Global Notes for Certificated Notes
|
56
|
Exchange
of Certificated Notes for Global Notes
|
56
|
Redemption
of the Global Note
|
56
|
Same
Day Settlement and Payment
|
57
|
Certain
Definitions
|
57
|
|
|
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
Certain
statements set forth or incorporated by reference in the Offer Documents
constitute “forward-looking statements.” The words “believe,” “expect,”
“anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate” and other expressions that are predictions of
or indicate future events and trends and that do not relate to historical
matters identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on
management’s expectations, assumptions and projections about our business as of
the time the statements are made. These forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially
from our past performance and our current expectations, assumptions and
projections. Differences may result from actions taken by us as well as from
risks and uncertainties beyond our control. These risks and uncertainties
include, among others, the risks associated with currency fluctuations, changes
in the economic, political and competitive environments, and the risks
associated complying with the terms of our existing indebtedness and other
risks
described in “CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS” below. The foregoing list of risks and
uncertainties is illustrative, but by no means exhaustive. For more information
on factors that may affect future performance, please review the reports filed
by us with the Commission, in particular our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for
the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006 and our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006. Except as required by law, we
do
not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether
as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
The
Company is currently subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”),
and,
in accordance therewith, files reports and other information with the
Commission. Such reports and other information filed by the Company with the
Commission may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission at Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington,
D.C.
20549. Copies of such material can be obtained upon written request addressed
to
the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Commission maintains a web
site
that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding issuers that file electronically. The address of that web site is
http://www.sec.gov.
Questions
and requests for assistance or additional copies of any Offer Document may
be
directed to the Information Agent at its address and telephone numbers set
forth
on the back cover of this Offering Circular.
INCORPORATION
OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The
following documents filed by the Company with the Commission are hereby
incorporated by reference:
|
(1)
|
Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006;
|
|
(2)
|
Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006;
and
|
|
(3)
|
Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on March 12,
2007.
|
All
documents filed by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Act on or subsequent
to
the date of this Offering Circular and prior to the termination of this Offer
will also be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference from the date of
filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated
or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified
or
superseded for purposes of this Offering Circular to the extent that a statement
contained herein, or in any other subsequently filed document which also is
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modified or
superseded such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not
be
deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Offering Circular. The Company will provide without charge to each person to
whom the Offer Documents are delivered, on the written request of such person,
a
copy of any of the documents incorporated herein by reference. Written requests
should be directed to: Spectrum Brands, Inc., Six Concourse Parkway, Suite
3300,
Atlanta, Georgia 30328, Attention: General Counsel.
SUMMARY
The
following is a summary of certain information contained elsewhere in this
Offering Circular and is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information contained elsewhere in this Offering Circular or incorporated herein
by reference. Certain descriptions in this Offering Circular of provisions
of
the Indenture are summaries of such provisions and are qualified herein by
reference to the Indenture. The Indenture has been previously filed with the
Commission. Copies of the Indenture will be provided upon request to the
Information Agent.
The
Company
Spectrum
Brands, Inc. (and its subsidiaries) is a global branded consumer products
company with leading market positions in seven major product categories:
consumer batteries; lawn and garden; pet supplies; electric shaving and
grooming; household insect control; electric personal care products; and
portable lighting. We are a leading worldwide manufacturer and marketer of
alkaline, zinc carbon and hearing aid batteries, as well as aquariums and
aquatic health supplies and a leading worldwide designer and marketer of
rechargeable batteries, battery-powered lighting products, electric shavers
and
accessories, grooming products and hair care appliances.
The
corporate headquarters of the Company are located at Six Concourse Parkway,
Suite 3300, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, and its telephone number is (770) 829-6200.
Summary
Description of the Offer
and the
Consent Solicitation
The
Offer
|
We
are offering to exchange any and all of our outstanding Existing
Notes
validly tendered prior to the Offer Expiration Date and not
validly
withdrawn for Variable Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2013,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Offer
Documents.
The
New Notes will have scheduled interest rates which vary based
on the time
until maturity and the form of consideration in which interest
is payable,
increased optional redemption and change of control premiums
and, among
other things, will provide more availability under the credit
facility
basket in the indebtedness covenant, all as set forth under
“Description
of New Notes.” Our domestic subsidiaries will guarantee the Company’s
performance of its obligations under the New Notes and the
New Indenture
(as hereinafter defined).
|
The
Consent Solicitation
|
Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer
Documents,
we are also soliciting Consents from the Holders to the Proposed
Amendments and Waiver. Prior to the Consent Expiration Date,
by agreeing
to tender your Existing Notes for exchange, you will be deemed
to have
consented to the Proposed Amendments and Waiver, which Proposed
Amendments
will eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants
and certain
of the default provisions contained in such Indenture and which
Waiver
will waive (i) any alleged or existing default or event of
default under
the Indenture which has been asserted by certain holders of
the Existing
Notes who previously delivered a purported notice of default
to the
Company relating to the incurrence of indebtedness, limitations
on senior
subordinated debt, incurrence of liens and delivery of notices
under the
Indenture (such defaults, the “Alleged
Defaults”)
and (ii) any and all rights to take certain actions under any
other debt
agreement or instrument of the Company. Holders may not deliver
Consents
without tendering their Existing Notes. Prior to the Consent
Expiration
Date, Holders may not tender their Existing Notes without delivering
Consents.
|
Offer
Expiration Date
|
The
Offer will expire at 12:00 MIDNIGHT, New York City time on April
13, 2007, unless extended or earlier terminated at our sole
discretion.
|
Consent
Expiration Date
|
The
Consent Solicitation will expire at 5:00 P.M., New York City
time, on
March 29, 2007, unless extended or earlier terminated at our
sole
discretion.
|
Early
Exchange Date
|
Subject
to the terms and conditions of the Offer and the Consent Solicitation,
if
the Requisite Consents are received prior to the Consent Expiration
Date
(and not revoked prior to the Consent Date), the Company will
accept for
exchange and will exchange all Existing Notes tendered prior
to the
Consent Expiration Date (and not validly withdrawn prior to
the Consent
Date) promptly after the Consent Date.
|
Consent
Vote Required
|
The
Exchange Agent must receive unrevoked Consents representing
at least a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Existing Notes
outstanding
and not owned by the Company, any direct or indirect Subsidiary
of the
Company or any Affiliate of the Company.
|
Consideration
for Consents and Tenders
|
Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer
Documents,
the Company will issue, for each $1,000 principal amount of
Existing Notes
tendered prior to the Offer Expiration Date, and not validly
withdrawn
prior to the Consent Date, $950 principal amount of New Notes
plus
accrued and unpaid interest in cash on such principal amount
of Existing
Notes up to, but not including, April 1, 2007. If the Requisite
Consents
are received (and not revoked prior to the Consent Date) prior
to the
Consent Expiration Date and the other conditions set forth
herein are
satisfied or waived, the Company will pay on the Early Exchange
Date to
each Holder who has validly delivered (and not revoked) a Consent
prior to
the Consent Expiration Date a consent payment in the amount
of $50 in
principal amount of New Notes for each $1,000 in principal
amount of
Existing Notes in respect of which such a Consent has been
validly
delivered.
The
Exchange Consideration or the Consent Payments will not be
issued if any
of the conditions precedent have not been satisfied, including,
without
limitation, if the Requisite Consents are not received, if
the
Supplemental Indenture is not executed by the Trustee or the
Financing
Condition is not satisfied.
|
|
Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer and Consent
Solicitation, Holders who have validly tendered (and not validly
withdrawn) their Existing Notes prior to the Offer Expiration
Date will be
entitled to receive the Exchange Consideration. Upon the terms
and subject
to the conditions of the Offer and Consent Solicitation, Holders
who have
validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) their Existing
Notes prior to
the Consent Expiration Date will be entitled to receive the
Consent
Payment in addition to the Exchange Consideration.
Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer and Consent
Solicitation, the Company will, promptly after the Consent
Date but prior
to the Offer Expiration Date, accept for exchange all Existing
Notes
validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) prior to the Consent
Expiration Date. The Company will issue the Exchange Consideration
and the
Consent Payment for the Existing Notes accepted for exchange
at the Early
Acceptance Time on the Early Exchange Date promptly following
the Early
Acceptance Time. If we accept Existing Notes for exchange at
the Early
Acceptance Time, we agree to waive all conditions to the Offer
that we are
legally permitted to waive (other than a proper tender) for
Existing Notes
tendered on or after the Consent Expiration Date and prior
to the Offer
Expiration Date. If applicable and upon the terms and subject
to the
conditions, if any, that have not been waived, the Company
will, at such
time after the Offer Expiration Date, accept for exchange all
Existing
Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) prior to
the Offer
Expiration Date that the Company had not accepted for exchange
at the
Early Acceptance Time.
|
Acceptance
of Tenders and Consents
|
All
properly completed, executed and delivered Letters of Transmittal
and
Consent prior to the Offer Expiration Date may be accepted.
If the
Requisite Consents are not received by 5:00 P.M. on March 29,
2007, the
Company may extend the Consent Solicitation for any length
of time and in
any manner it deems appropriate.
|
Procedure
for Tenders and Consents
|
To
be effective, Letters of Transmittal and Consent must be properly
completed and executed in accordance with the instructions
contained in
the Offer Documents. Only Holders are entitled to tender their
Existing
Notes and consent.
|
Revocation
of Tenders and Consents
|
You
may withdraw the tender of your Existing Notes and revoke the
delivery of
your Consent to the Proposed Amendments and Waiver at any time
prior to
the Consent Date by submitting a notice of withdrawal to the
Exchange
Agent using ATOP procedures and/or upon compliance with the
other
procedures described herein. Proper withdrawal of your Existing
Notes will
be deemed to revoke the related Consent to the Proposed Amendments
and
Waiver, if applicable. You
may not validly revoke your Consent unless you validly withdraw
your
previously tendered Existing Notes. Any Existing Notes tendered
prior to
the Consent Expiration Date that are not validly withdrawn
prior to the
Consent Date may not be withdrawn on or after the Consent Date,
and
Existing Notes validly tendered on or after the Consent Date
may not be
withdrawn, in each case subject to the limited circumstances
described in
“WITHDRAWAL OF TENDERS AND REVOCATION OF CONSENTS”
below.
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
We
will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the
New Notes in
this Offer.
|
Delivery
of Letters of Transmittal and Consent
|
Completed
and executed Letters of Transmittal and Consent should be sent
by mail,
first class postage prepaid, overnight courier or hand delivery
to the
Exchange Agent at the address, or faxed to the Exchange Agent
at the
facsimile number, set forth below:
|
|
By
Mail, By Hand or By Courier or By Facsimile:
U.S.
Bank National Association
60
Livingston Avenue
St.
Paul, MN 55107
Attn:
Specialized Finance
Facsimile:
(651) 495-8158
Phone:
(800) 934-6802
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In
lieu of physically completing and signing the Letter of Transmittal
and
Consent and delivering it to the Exchange Agent, DTC participants
may
electronically transmit their acceptance of the Offer and their
Consent to
the Proposed Amendments and Waiver through the ATOP procedures
described
below.
Letters
of Transmittal and Consent should not be delivered directly
to the
Company.
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Additional
Information
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Questions
or requests for assistance in completing and delivering Letters
of
Transmittal and Consent or tendering Existing Notes or for
additional
copies of any Offer Document or other related documents should
be directed
to Global Bondholder Services Corporation, the Information
Agent, at the
addresses and telephone numbers set forth on the back cover
of this
Offering
Circular.
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[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
Summary
Description of the New Notes
The
Variable Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 will be governed by
a
new indenture (a “New
Indenture”)
under which we expect that Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. will serve as trustee. The
following is a summary of certain terms of the New Indenture and the New Notes
and is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information contained
elsewhere in this Offering Circular. Certain descriptions in this Offering
Circular of provisions of the New Indenture are summaries of such provisions
and
are qualified herein by reference to the New Indenture. Copies of the proposed
New Indenture will be provided upon request to the Information
Agent.
Issuer
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Spectrum
Brands, Inc.
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New
Notes
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Up
to $350,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of Variable Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes
due
2013, plus any increased principal amount of New Notes that may
be issued
in satisfaction of our interest payment obligations as described
under
“—Interest” below.
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Interest
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The
interest rates will vary depending on whether the fixed charge
coverage
ratio test set forth in the New Indenture is satisfied, the time
until
maturity of the New Notes and how interest is paid. Subject to
certain
conditions, the Company will also have the option to pay interest
entirely
in cash or entirely by increasing the principal amount of the New
Notes.
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Guarantees
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Our
obligations under the New Notes will be guaranteed on a senior
subordinated basis by our domestic subsidiaries. See “Description of New
Notes.”
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Maturity
Date
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October
2, 2013.
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Ranking
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The
New Notes will be subordinate to the Proposed New Credit Facility
and
other senior debt of the Company and expressly pari
passu
in
right of payment to the 2005 Notes (as hereinafter defined), any
unexchanged Existing Notes and any other senior subordinated
debt.
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Optional
Redemption
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Unlimited
optional redemption at the scheduled redemption premiums listed
on
Annex
A
attached hereto.
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Change
of Control
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Scheduled
premiums will be payable in the event of a change of control offer
as
listed on Annex
A
attached hereto.
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Indebtedness
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The
indebtedness restrictive covenant will be substantially similar
to that in
the Indenture, except the credit facility basket under the debt
incurrence
covenant will be increased from $700 million to $1.6 billion and
the
general basket will be increased from $30 million to $50
million.
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Permitted
Liens
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The
definition of permitted liens will be substantially similar to
that in the
Indenture.
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Covenants
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Except
with respect to the above described interest rate provisions, the
debt
incurrence covenant and optional redemption and change of control
provisions, the New Notes will be subject to substantially the
same
restrictive covenants as those set forth in the Indenture.
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Events
of Default
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The
New Notes will be subject to substantially the same events of default
as
those set forth in the Indenture.
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Listing
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The
New Notes will not be listed on any exchange.
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Registration
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The
Offer is being made in reliance on the exemption from registration
provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and has not been
registered with the Commission. The Offer also is being made in
reliance
on exemptions under applicable state securities laws. Generally,
the New
Notes that you receive in the Offer will be freely tradeable, unless
you
are considered an affiliate of ours, as that term is defined in
the
Securities Act, or if you hold Existing Notes that were previously
held by
an affiliate of ours.
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[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
CERTAIN
CONSIDERATIONS
Set
forth
below are important risks and uncertainties that you should carefully consider
in deciding whether to participate in this Offer and the Consent Solicitation.
There
may be a limited market for the unexchanged Existing
Notes.
The
Existing Notes are not listed on any securities exchange. To the extent that
Existing Notes are tendered and accepted in the Offer, the market for the
remainder of the Existing Notes may become more limited. A debt security with
a
smaller outstanding principal amount available for trading (a smaller “float”)
may command a lower price than a comparable debt security with a larger float.
Therefore, the market price for the Existing Notes which are not tendered or
not
exchanged may be affected adversely to the extent that the principal amount
of
Existing Notes tendered pursuant to the Offer reduces the float. The reduced
float may also tend to make the trading price more volatile. The extent of
the
public market for the Existing Notes following consummation of the Offer will
depend upon, among other things, the remaining outstanding principal amount
of
the Existing Notes after the Offer, the number of Holders or beneficial owners
of such Existing Notes remaining at such time, the interest in maintaining
a
market in the Existing Notes on the part of securities firms and other factors.
We do not intend to create or sustain a market for any Existing Notes that
remain outstanding following consummation of the Offer. We cannot assure you
that a market for any Existing Notes that remain outstanding following
consummation of the Offer will exist or be sustained.
The
Proposed Amendments, if they become operative, would have an adverse effect
on
any unexchanged Existing Notes.
If
this
Offer and the Consent Solicitation are consummated and the Proposed Amendments
become operative, any Existing Notes that are not tendered or exchanged pursuant
to this Offer will no longer be entitled to the benefits of most of the
restrictive covenants, certain event of default provisions and certain other
provisions that will have been amended or eliminated from the Indenture by the
Proposed Amendments. The Proposed Amendments would delete most restrictive
provisions, including, without limitation, covenants relating to our ability
to
incur indebtedness, pay dividends, make payments or other distributions to
affiliates and take other actions that would otherwise be restricted under
the
Indenture. The elimination or modification of the foregoing provisions would
permit us to take actions that could increase the credit risks faced by the
holders of any remaining Note, adversely affect the market price of such
Existing Notes, or otherwise be adverse to the interests of the holders of
such
remaining Existing Notes.
If
the Alleged Defaults are found to have occurred, the holders of Existing Notes
could have the right to call for accelerated
payment of the Existing Notes.
As
discussed below, certain entities have alleged certain defaults under the
Indenture. If an “Event of Default” were found to have occurred with respect to
the Alleged Defaults (as hereinafter defined) in a final judgment by a court
of
competent jurisdiction, absent the Waiver, the Trustee or Holders (as defined
in
the Indenture) of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Existing
Notes then outstanding would have the contractual right to declare all unpaid
principal, and any accrued, default or additional interest, on the Existing
Notes then outstanding to be due and payable.
An
“Event
of Default” could also result in the acceleration of indebtedness under (i) the
Company’s 7 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 (the “2005
Notes”)
by
action of the trustee under the indenture, as supplemented, governing those
notes (the “2005
Indenture”)
or the
respective holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of those notes
outstanding and (ii) the Credit Agreement, by action of the lenders holding
greater than 50% of the outstanding commitments and indebtedness thereunder.
In
the event of the bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of the Company, our
assets would be available to pay obligations under the Existing Notes only
after
all payments had been made on our senior indebtedness, including Indebtedness
under the Credit Agreement.
We
may not be able to borrow under our Credit Agreement, and our lenders may
terminate their respective commitments and declare all outstanding amounts
immediately due and payable.
There
can
be no assurance that we will be able to consummate the refinancing of the Credit
Agreement. Failure to resolve any uncertainty around the Alleged Defaults in
a
manner satisfactory to the Company and the proposed lenders under the Proposed
New Credit Facility may prevent the Company from entering into the Proposed
New
Credit Facility and would leave the Company obligated under the Credit
Agreement. In order for us to borrow under our Credit Agreement, no default
or
event of default may exist at the time of such borrowing. If an Event of Default
were found to have occurred under the Indenture, an event of default would
exist
under our Credit Agreement, and, as a result of such event of default, we would
not be able to borrow additional amounts under the Credit Agreement and, absent
a waiver, the lenders under the Credit Agreement may terminate their commitments
under the revolving credit facility and declare all amounts owing under the
Credit Agreement due and payable, which may give rise to payment blockage with
respect to further payments under the Indenture and the 2005 Indenture. In
addition, if the lenders under the Credit Agreement refuse to lend under the
revolving credit facility pending resolution of the validity of the Alleged
Defaults, certain trade creditors may refuse to extend us credit or may impose
additional conditions on the extension of such credit.
As
of
January 30, 2007, there was approximately $197 million under the revolving
credit facility and approximately $1.202 million in other indebtedness
outstanding (including letters of credit) under the Credit
Agreement.
In
the event the Alleging Noteholders seek to enforce any claims in respect of
the
Alleged Defaults, we could be subject to litigation.
There
can
be no assurance that the Alleging Noteholders (as hereinafter defined), any
other Holders or the Trustee will not pursue litigation strategies to enforce
any claims in respect of the Alleged Defaults or that we will not commence
litigation against the Alleging Noteholders in connection with their
allegations. Litigation is by its nature uncertain and there can be no assurance
of the ultimate resolution of such claims. Any litigation may be expensive,
lengthy, and disruptive to the Company’s normal business operations, and a
resolution of any such strategies that is unfavorable to the Company could
have
a material adverse affect on our business, results of operations, financial
condition, liquidity, or cash flow.
Pending
resolution of the Alleged Defaults, we may be unable to successfully consummate
any possible sales of our assets.
We
continue to explore all possible strategic options, including divesting certain
of our assets, to help us sharpen our focus on strategic growth businesses,
maximize long-term shareholder value and reduce our outstanding debt balances.
Pending resolution of the Alleged Defaults, we may be unable to successfully
divest of any such assets or may be unable to do so on terms and conditions
and
in a timeframe favorable to the Company. Additionally, if any Event of Default
is found to exist or in the event of an acceleration of the Existing Notes,
we
will be unable to successfully divest any such assets.
We
may incur significant costs as a result of the Offer and Consent Solicitation
and the refinancing of the Credit Agreement.
Assuming
all of the Existing Notes are exchanged in the Offer and we enter into the
Proposed New Credit Facility, we expect to incur costs which may exceed $55
million in bank, legal, accounting and other fees associated with the Offer
and
Consent Solicitation and the consummation of the Proposed New Credit Facility.
Some of these costs may be paid through borrowings under the Proposed New Credit
Facility.
Indebtedness
under the Proposed New Credit Facility will rank ahead of indebtedness under
the
New Notes. If we default under the Proposed New Credit Facility, then we may
not
be able to pay principal and interest on the New
Notes.
The
New
Notes will be junior in right of payment to all existing and future senior
debt
including amounts outstanding under the Proposed New Credit Facility. In
addition, the guarantees of the New Notes will be junior to all senior debt
of
each of the respective guarantors, which will be the domestic subsidiaries
of
the Company. We and our subsidiaries may incur additional indebtedness,
including senior debt, from time to time, subject to the terms of the 2005
Indenture, the New Indenture, the Proposed New Credit Facility and our other
outstanding indebtedness. If indebtedness is incurred by a subsidiary that
is
not a guarantor, the New Notes will be structurally subordinated to such
indebtedness with respect to the assets of such subsidiary. In the event of
the
bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, the assets of the
Company will be available to pay obligations under the New Notes only after
all
of our senior debt has been paid in full and, in any event, such obligations
will be pari
passu
with the
obligations under the 2005 Notes. There may not be sufficient assets remaining
to pay amounts due on any or all of the New Notes then outstanding. See
“Description of the New Notes.”
The
terms of the agreements governing our indebtedness contain significant
restrictions on our operations.
The
New
Indenture contains and we expect that the Proposed New Credit Facility will
contain covenants that, among other things, will limit our ability
to:
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·
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incur
additional indebtedness;
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·
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pay
dividends on, redeem or repurchase our capital
stock;
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·
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issue
or sell capital stock of our restricted
subsidiaries;
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·
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transfer
assets and dispose of proceeds of such
sales;
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·
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enter
into agreements that restrict our restricted subsidiaries from paying
dividends, making loans or otherwise transferring assets to us or
to any
of our other restricted subsidiaries;
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·
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engage
in transactions with affiliates; or
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·
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merge,
consolidate or sell all or substantially all of our
assets.
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In
addition, under the Proposed New Credit Facility we will be required to meet
a
number of financial ratios and tests.
Our
ability to comply with such agreements may be affected by events beyond our
control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions.
The
breach of any such covenants or restrictions could result in a default under
the
2005 Indenture, the New Indenture or the Proposed New Credit Facility. Such
an
event of default under our debt agreements would permit lenders or noteholders,
as the case may be, to declare all amounts borrowed from them to be due and
payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, and the commitments of
senior lenders to make further extensions of credit under the Proposed New
Credit Facility could be terminated. If we were unable to repay debt to our
senior lenders, such lenders could proceed against the collateral securing
such
debt.
We
expect a limited trading market for the New Notes, which may make it difficult
for you to sell the New Notes.
The
New
Notes will constitute a new issue of securities with no established market.
The
New Notes are being issued pursuant to 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and,
therefore, will be freely tradeable securities under the federal securities
laws. No assurance can be given, however, that an active public or other market
will develop for the New Notes or as to the liquidity of or the market for
the
New Notes. If a market does not develop or is not maintained, holders of the
New
Notes may experience difficulty in reselling the New Notes or may be unable
to
sell them at all. If a market for the New Notes develops, any such market may
cease to continue at any time. If a public market develops for the New Notes,
future prices of the New Notes will depend on many factors, including, among
other things, prevailing interest rates, our results of operations and the
markets for similar securities and other factors, including our financial
condition. The New Notes may trade at a discount from their principal
amount.
A
court could avoid the guarantees of the New Notes under fraudulent transfer
law.
Our
domestic subsidiaries will guarantee our obligations under the New Notes. If
any
guarantor becomes a debtor in a case under the United States Bankruptcy Code
or
suffers other financial difficulty, a court might avoid (that is, cancel) its
guarantee under federal or state fraudulent transfer law. The court might do
so
if it found that when the guarantor entered into its guarantee (or, in some
jurisdictions, when it became obligated to make payments thereunder), it
received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for its
guarantee and (1) was or was rendered insolvent, (2) was left with inadequate
capital to conduct its business, (3) believed or should have believed that
it
would incur debts beyond its ability to pay or (4) was a defendant in an action
for money damages or had a judgment for money damages docketed against it and,
in either case, the judgment went unsatisfied. The court also might avoid a
guarantee, without regard to these factors, if it found that the guarantor
entered into its guarantee with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud its
creditors.
A
court
would likely find that a guarantor did not receive reasonably equivalent value
or fair consideration for its guarantee unless the guarantor benefited directly
or indirectly from the New Notes. If a court avoided a guarantee, you would
no
longer have a claim against the guarantor. In addition, the court might order
you to repay any amounts received from the guarantor.
Courts
in
different jurisdictions measure solvency differently. In general, however,
a
court would consider an entity insolvent either if the sum of its existing
debts
exceeds the fair value of all its property, or if the present fair saleable
value of its assets is less than the amount required to pay the probable
liability on its existing debts as those debts become due. For this analysis,
“debts” includes contingent and unliquidated debts.
We
may be unable to repurchase the New Notes upon a change of
control.
Upon
the
occurrence of specific change of control events, we will be required to offer
to
repurchase your New Notes at redemption premiums which vary based upon time
to
maturity of the New Notes. We expect that the lenders under our Proposed New
Credit Facility will have a similar right to be repaid upon a change of control.
Any of our future debt agreements also may contain a similar provision. Our
ability to pay cash to the holders of the New Notes in connection with such
repurchase will be limited by our then existing financial resources.
Accordingly, it is possible that we will not have sufficient funds at the time
of the change of control to make the required repurchase of New
Notes.
We
expect
that the terms of our Proposed New Credit Facility also will limit our ability
to purchase your New Notes until all debt under our Proposed New Credit Facility
is paid in full. Any of our future debt agreements may contain similar
restrictions. Accordingly, it is possible that restrictions in our Proposed
New
Credit Facility will not allow such repurchases.
If
we
fail to repurchase any New Notes submitted in a change of control offer, it
would constitute an event of default under the New Indenture which would, in
turn, constitute an event of default under our Proposed New Credit Facility
and
could constitute an event of default under our other indebtedness, even if
the
change of control itself would not cause a default. This would allow some of
our
lenders to proceed against our assets.
USE
OF
PROCEEDS
We
will
receive no cash proceeds from the issuance of the New Notes in the Offer. Upon
the expiration of the Offer, we will cancel all Existing Notes that are validly
tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Offer.
BACKGROUND
OF THIS OFFER AND CONSENT SOLICITATION
We
are
undertaking the Offer and Consent Solicitation, together with the refinancing
of
the Credit Agreement, as part of the restructuring of our existing indebtedness.
The principal purpose of this Offer and the Consent Solicitation is to exchange
all outstanding Existing Notes and eliminate substantially all of the
restrictive covenants in the Indenture.
The
total
principal amount of New Notes that would be issued pursuant to the Offer would
be approximately $332.5 million in Exchange Consideration and approximately
$17.5 million in Consent Payments, assuming all outstanding Existing Notes
are
validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) prior to the Consent Expiration
Date. The Company will not be required to accept for exchange the Existing
Notes
or transfer the Exchange Consideration and/or Consent Payment pursuant to the
Offer if it does not meet the Financing Condition. See “CONDITIONS
OF THIS OFFER AND THE CONSENT SOLICITATION.”
The
Alleged Defaults
On
January 16, 2007, we announced that we had received a
notice of default (the “Purported
Notice”)
from
entities claiming to be the holders of or to have discretionary authority in
respect of more than 25% of the amount outstanding under the Existing Notes
(such entities, the “Alleging
Noteholders”).
The
Purported Notice asserted that the Company’s incurrence of indebtedness under
the Credit Agreement gave rise to certain defaults relating to the incurrence
of
indebtedness, limitations on senior subordinated debt, incurrence of liens
and
delivery of notices under the Indenture.
On
March
12, 2007, we entered into an Exchange and Forbearance Agreement with the
Alleging Noteholders representing a majority of the aggregate principal amount
outstanding of the Existing Notes (the “Exchange
and Forbearance Agreement”),
pursuant to which such entities have agreed to provide Consents and exchange
their Existing Notes for New Notes pursuant to this Offer. Such entities have
agreed that they will not exercise, or seek to exercise, whether individually
or
jointly with any other holder of Existing Notes, any rights or remedies in
connection with the Alleged Defaults under the Indenture, including any rights
to declare the Existing Notes any and all amounts outstanding under the Existing
Notes to be due and payable.
We
are
also seeking a waiver with
respect to (i)
any
Alleged Default and (ii) any and all rights to take certain actions under
any other debt agreement or instrument of the Company. This Offer and the
Consent Solicitation are intended to provide the Company certainty as to any
questions surrounding the Alleged Defaults as it continues to operate its
business and pursue its strategic plan.
The
Company’s Position Concerning this Offer
We
are
not making any recommendation to the Holders as to whether to tender or refrain
from tendering all or any portion of Existing Notes or as to whether they should
furnish the requested Consent or withhold such Consent with respect to all
or
any portion of their Existing Notes. You must decide whether to tender Existing
Notes and furnish or withhold Consents, and if tendering, the amount of Existing
Notes to tender. You are urged to review carefully all of the information
contained or incorporated by reference in the Offer Documents before making
a
decision as to whether to tender Existing Notes or provide your Consent to
the
Proposed Amendments and Waiver.
Note
Purchases by the Company
From
time
to time after the Offer, the Company may acquire Existing Notes, if any, that
remain outstanding, whether or not the Offer is consummated, through open market
purchases, privately negotiated transactions, tender offers, exchange offers
or
otherwise, upon such terms and at such prices as it may determine, or by
redeeming such Existing Notes in accordance with their terms and the terms
of
the Indenture. In each such case, the total consideration may be more or less
than the price to be paid pursuant to the Offer and could be for cash or other
consideration. There can be no assurance as to which, if any, of these
alternatives (or combinations thereof) the Company will pursue.
GENERAL
TERMS OF THIS OFFER AND THE CONSENT SOLICITATION
Exchange
Offer
We
are
offering to exchange Existing Notes for Variable Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2013, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Offer Documents, all Existing Notes validly tendered prior to the Offer
Expiration Date, and not validly withdrawn prior to the Consent Date, for the
Exchange Consideration, which is equal to $950 principal amount of New Notes
for
each $1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes validly tendered (and not validly
withdrawn). Our obligation to accept Existing Notes that are tendered is subject
to the conditions described below under “CONDITIONS
OF THIS OFFER AND THE CONSENT SOLICITATION”
below.
Consent
Solicitation
We
are
also soliciting, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
the
Offer Documents, Consents from the Holders with respect to the Proposed
Amendments and Waiver. If Requisite Consents are received (and not revoked)
prior to the Consent Expiration Date and the other conditions set forth herein
are satisfied or waived, the Company will pay to each Holder who has validly
delivered (and not revoked prior to the Consent Date) a Consent prior to the
Consent Expiration Date (and has not revoked such Consent prior to the Consent
Date) the Consent Payment, consisting of $50 in principal amount of New Notes
for each $1,000 in principal amount of Existing Notes in respect of which such
Consent has been validly delivered.
Any
Holder who tenders Existing Notes pursuant to this Offer prior to the Consent
Expiration Date must also deliver a Consent to the Proposed Amendments and
Waiver. Holders who validly tender (and do not validly withdraw) their Existing
Notes pursuant to this Offer prior to the Consent Expiration Date will
be
deemed to have delivered their Consents by such tender. Holders may not deliver
Consents without tendering Existing Notes. A Holder may not revoke a Consent
without withdrawing the previously tendered Existing Notes to which such Consent
relates. Tenders of Existing Notes may be validly withdrawn and, concurrently,
the related Consent may be validly revoked at any time prior to the Consent
Date. Existing Notes validly tendered on or after the Consent Date may not
be
withdrawn, subject to the limited circumstances described in “WITHDRAWAL OF
TENDERS AND REVOCATION OF CONSENTS” below. A valid withdrawal of tendered
Existing Notes prior to the Consent Date will constitute the concurrent valid
revocation of such Holder’s related Consent. A Holder who validly withdraws
previously tendered Existing Notes prior to the Consent Date and does not
validly re-tender Existing Notes prior to the Offer Expiration Date will not
receive the Exchange Consideration or the Consent Payment. Upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of the Offer and the Consent Solicitation, a Holder
who validly withdraws previously tendered Existing Notes prior to the Consent
Date and validly re-tenders Existing Notes prior to the Consent Expiration
Date
will receive the Exchange Consideration and the Consent Payment. Upon the terms
and subject to the conditions of the Offer and the Consent Solicitation, a
Holder who validly withdraws previously tendered Existing Notes prior to the
Consent Date and validly re-tenders Existing Notes prior to the Offer Expiration
Date will receive the Exchange Consideration, but not the Consent Payment.
A
Letter of Transmittal and Consent delivered prior to the Consent Expiration
Date
purporting to tender and not consent to the Proposed Amendments and Waiver
will
not be valid.
Extension,
Termination or Amendment
During
any extension of the Offer, all Existing Notes previously tendered and not
accepted for exchange will remain subject to the Offer and may, subject to
the
terms and conditions of the Offer, be accepted for exchange by us. During any
extension of the Consent Solicitation, all Consents to the Proposed Amendments
and Waiver validly delivered to the Exchange Agent will remain effective unless
validly revoked prior to the Consent Date.
Any
waiver, amendment or modification of the Offer or the Consent Solicitation
will
apply to all Existing Notes tendered pursuant to the Offer. If we make a change
we determine to be material in any terms of the Offer or waive a condition
of
the Offer we determine to be material, we will give oral (to be confirmed in
writing) or written notice of such amendment or such waiver to the Exchange
Agent and will disseminate additional Offer documents and extend the Offer
and
withdrawal rights as we determine necessary and to the extent required by law.
If the Consent Solicitation is amended prior to the Consent Expiration Date
in a
manner determined by us to constitute a material change to Holders, we will
promptly give oral (to be confirmed in writing) or written notice of such
amendment to the Exchange Agent, disseminate additional Consent Solicitation
materials and, if necessary, extend the Consent Solicitation for a period that
we deem to be adequate to permit Holders to deliver or revoke their Consents.
In
addition, we may terminate the Offer and the Consent Solicitation if any
condition is not satisfied on or after the Offer Expiration Date. Any such
extension, amendment, waiver or decrease or change will not result in the
reinstatement of any withdrawal rights if those rights had previously expired,
except as specifically provided above.
Subject
to the applicable regulations of the Commission, we expressly reserve the right,
in our sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, and regardless of
whether any events preventing satisfaction of the conditions to this Offer
shall
have occurred or shall have been determined by us to have occurred, to extend
the period during which this Offer is open by giving oral or written notice
of
such extension to the Exchange Agent and by making public disclosure by press
release or other appropriate means of such extension to the extent required
by
law.
There
can
be no assurance that we will exercise our right to extend, terminate or amend
this Offer. During any extension and irrespective of any amendment to this
Offer, all Existing Notes previously tendered and not accepted for exchange
or
withdrawn will remain subject to this Offer and may be accepted thereafter
for
exchange by us, subject to compliance with applicable law. In addition, we
may
waive conditions without extending this Offer in accordance with applicable
law.
Announcements
Any
extension, termination or amendment of this Offer will be followed as promptly
as practicable by announcement thereof, such announcement in the case of an
extension to be issued no later than 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the
next
business day following the previously scheduled Offer Expiration Date. We will
also announce when we have received the Requisite Consents. Without limiting
the
manner in which we may choose to make such announcement, we will not, unless
otherwise required by law, have any obligation to publish, advertise or
otherwise communicate any such announcement other than by making a release
to an
appropriate news agency or another means of announcement that we deem
appropriate.
Beneficial
Owners
If
you are a beneficial owner of Existing Notes, but are not a Holder, and you
seek
to tender Existing Notes and deliver Consents to the Proposed Amendments and
Waiver, you must:
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contact
the Holder of the Existing Notes and instruct the Holder to tender
and
consent on your behalf;
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obtain
and include with the accompanying Letter of Transmittal and Consent,
Existing Notes properly endorsed for transfer by the Holder or accompanied
by a properly completed bond power from the Holder, together with
a
properly completed irrevocable proxy that authorizes you to consent
to the
Proposed Amendments on behalf of the Holder, with signatures on the
endorsement or bond power guaranteed by a Medallion
Signature Guarantor
(as hereinafter defined); or
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effect
a record transfer of the Existing Notes from the Holder to you and
comply
with the requirements applicable to Holders for tendering Existing
Notes
and delivering Consents prior to the Offer Expiration Date or prior
to the
Consent Expiration Date, as the case may
be.
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Neither
we nor the Exchange Agent have any obligation to effect the transfer of any
Existing Notes from the name of the Holder if we do not accept for exchange
any
of the principal amount of those Existing Notes.
ACCEPTANCE
OF EXISTING NOTES FOR EXCHANGE; ACCRUAL OF INTEREST
Acceptance
of Existing Notes for Exchange
If
the
conditions to the Offer and Consent Solicitation are satisfied, or if we waive
all of the conditions that have not been satisfied, we will accept, at the
Early
Acceptance Time and, if applicable, at the Final Acceptance Time and after
we
receive validly completed and duly executed Letters of Transmittal and Consent
or Agent’s Messages with respect to any and all of the Existing Notes tendered
for exchange at such time. We will accept the Existing Notes for exchange by
notifying the Exchange Agent of our acceptance. The notice may be oral if we
promptly confirm it in writing.
We
expressly reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to delay acceptance for
exchange of, or exchange of, Existing Notes tendered under this Offer (subject
to Rule 14e-1c under the Exchange Act, which requires that we issue the offered
consideration or return the Existing Notes deposited pursuant to this Offer
promptly after termination or withdrawal of this Offer), or to terminate this
Offer and not accept for exchange any Existing Notes not previously accepted
for
exchange, (1) if any of the conditions to this Offer shall not have been
satisfied or validly waived by us, or (2) in order to comply in whole or in
part
with any applicable law.
In
all
cases, the Exchange Consideration and Consent Payments, if applicable, for
Existing Notes exchanged pursuant to this Offer will be made only after timely
receipt by the Exchange Agent of (1) certificates representing the Existing
Notes, or timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer (a “Book-Entry
Confirmation”)
of the
Existing Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC, (2) the properly
completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal and Consent (or a facsimile
thereof) or an Agent’s Message (as defined in “PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING EXISTING
NOTES AND DELIVERING CONSENTS -- Tender of Existing Notes Through ATOP” below)
in lieu thereof, and (3) any other documents required by the Letter of
Transmittal and Consent.
This
Offer is scheduled to expire at 12:00 MIDNIGHT, New York City time, on April
13,
2007, unless extended by us at our sole discretion.
For
purposes of this Offer, we will have accepted for exchange validly tendered
(and
not validly withdrawn) Existing Notes, if, as and when we give oral or written
notice to the Exchange Agent of our acceptance of the Existing Notes for
exchange pursuant to this Offer. In all cases, exchange of Existing Notes
pursuant to this Offer will be made by deposit of the Exchange Consideration
and
the Consent Payment in immediately available funds with the Exchange Agent,
which will act as your agent for the purpose of receiving payments and New
Notes
from us, and transmitting payments and delivering New Notes to you. If, for
any
reason whatsoever, acceptance for exchange of, or exchange of, any Existing
Notes tendered pursuant to this Offer is delayed (whether before or after our
acceptance for exchange of, or exchange of, the Existing Notes) or we extend
this Offer or are unable to accept for exchange the Existing Notes tendered
pursuant to this Offer, then, without prejudice to our rights set forth herein,
we may instruct the Exchange Agent to retain tendered Existing Notes and those
Existing Notes may not be withdrawn, subject to the limited circumstances
described in “WITHDRAWAL OF TENDERS AND REVOCATION OF CONSENTS”
below.
Tender
of
Existing Notes and delivery of Consents pursuant to the Offer and Consent
Solicitation will be accepted only in principal amounts equal to $1,000 or
any
integral multiple thereof; provided
that any
Holder may tender all Existing Notes held by such Holder, even if the aggregate
principal amount of those Existing Notes is not an integral multiple of $1,000.
We
will
pay or cause to be paid all transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of
any
Existing Notes unless the box titled “Special Issuance/Delivery Instructions” or
the box titled “Special Payment/Delivery Instructions” on the Letter of
Transmittal and Consent has been completed, as described in the Instructions
thereto.
If
we
accept Existing Notes for exchange at the Early Acceptance Time, we agree to
waive all conditions to the Offer that we are legally permitted to waive (other
than a proper tender) for Existing Notes tendered (and not validly withdrawn)
on
or after the Consent Expiration Date and prior to the Offer Expiration
Date.
Accrued
Interest
If
your
Existing Notes are tendered and accepted for exchange pursuant to this Offer,
you will be entitled to accrued and unpaid interest in cash on those Existing
Notes up to, but not including, April 1, 2007.
Under
no circumstances will any additional interest be payable because of any delay
in
the transmission of funds to you with respect to exchanged Existing Notes or
otherwise.
We
will
pay all fees and expenses of the Exchange Agent and the Information Agent in
connection with this Offer.
SOLICITATION
OF CONSENTS
You
may
not revoke a Consent on or after the Consent Date, subject to the limited
circumstances described in “WITHDRAWAL OF TENDERS AND REVOCATION OF CONSENTS”
below.
In
order
to amend the Indenture, the Requisite Consents must be received and the Trustee,
the Company and the Guarantors must execute the Supplemental Indenture.
We
intend to cause the Exchange Agent to deliver the Requisite Consents to the
Trustee promptly after they have been obtained. We
anticipate that the Supplemental Indenture will be executed and delivered as
soon as practicable thereafter. The Supplemental Indenture will become effective
as soon as it is fully executed, and the Proposed Amendments and Waiver will
become operative upon the Early Exchange Date.
Only
Holders of the Existing Notes are entitled to deliver Consents. Pursuant to
the
Indenture, the transfer of Existing Notes on the register for the Existing
Notes
will not have the effect of revoking any Consent previously given by the Holder
of those Existing Notes and that Consent will remain valid unless revoked by
the
person in whose name such Existing Notes are then on the register for the
Existing Notes. Revocation will be effective only if the Exchange Agent receives
the notice of revocation prior to the Consent Date.
PROCEDURES
FOR TENDERING EXISTING NOTES AND DELIVERING CONSENTS
General
In
order
to participate in the Offer or the Consent Solicitation, you must validly tender
your Existing Notes to the Exchange Agent as described below. It is your
responsibility to validly tender your Existing Notes. We have the right to
waive
any defects. However, we are not required to waive defects and are not required
to notify you of defects in your tender.
If
you
have any questions or need help in tendering your Existing Notes, please contact
the Information Agent or the Exchange Agent whose addresses and telephone
numbers are listed on the back cover page of this Offering Circular.
Valid
Tender
Except
as
set forth below with respect to ATOP (as hereinafter defined) procedures, for
a
Holder to validly tender Existing Notes pursuant to this Offer, a properly
completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal and Consent (or a facsimile
thereof), together with any signature guarantees and any other documents
required by the Instructions to the Letter of Transmittal and Consent, or an
Agent’s Message in lieu thereof, must be received by the Exchange Agent at the
address or facsimile number set forth on the back cover of this Offering
Circular prior to the Offer Expiration Date, and either (1) certificates
representing the Existing Notes must be received by the Exchange Agent at such
address, or (2) the Existing Notes must be transferred pursuant to the
procedures for book-entry transfer described below and a Book-Entry Confirmation
must be received by the Exchange Agent, in each case prior to the Offer
Expiration Date.
In
all
cases, the exchange of Existing Notes tendered and accepted for exchange
pursuant to this Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Exchange
Agent of:
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certificates
representing such Existing Notes or a Book-Entry Confirmation with
respect
to such Existing Notes;
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the
Letter of Transmittal and Consent (or a facsimile thereof) properly
completed and duly executed, or an Agent’s Message in lieu thereof;
and
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any
required signature guarantees and other documents required by the
Letter
of Transmittal and Consent.
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Valid
Consent
The
tender of Existing Notes pursuant to the Offer and in accordance with the
procedures described in the Offer Documents, to the extent such Existing Notes
have been tendered prior to the Consent Expiration Date and not withdrawn prior
to the Consent Date, will be deemed to constitute delivery of a Consent to
the
Proposed Amendments and Waiver with respect to the Existing Notes tendered.
Holders who tender their Existing Notes pursuant to the Offer prior to the
Consent Expiration Date are obligated to deliver their Consents to such Proposed
Amendments and Waiver and to the execution and delivery of the applicable
Supplemental Indenture. Holders may not deliver Consents without tendering
their
Existing Notes pursuant to the Offer.
Tender
of
Existing
Notes
Held in
Physical Form
To
validly tender Existing Notes held in physical form pursuant to the Offer,
a
Holder should complete and sign the Letter of Transmittal and Consent (or a
facsimile copy thereof) in accordance with the Instructions to the Letter of
Transmittal and Consent, have the signature thereon guaranteed if required
by
the Instructions to the Letter of Transmittal and Consent and deliver the Letter
of Transmittal and Consent, together with certificates representing such
Existing Notes and any other documents required by the Instructions to the
Letter of Transmittal and Consent, to the Exchange Agent at its address set
forth on the back page of this Offering Circular. The Consent and Letter of
Transmittal and any certificates evidencing Existing Notes tendered pursuant
to
the Offer should be sent only to the Exchange Agent, and not to us.
The
proper completion, execution and delivery of the Letter of Transmittal and
Consent by a Holder (or authorized proxy holder) with respect to Existing Notes
will constitute the delivery of a Consent by such Holder (or authorized proxy
holder) to the Proposed Amendments and Waiver with respect to all of the
Existing Notes tendered by such Holder (or authorized proxy
holder).
If
Existing Notes are to be tendered by any person other than the person in whose
name the Existing Notes are registered, the Existing Notes must be endorsed
or
accompanied by an appropriate written instrument or instruments of transfer
executed exactly as the name or names of the Holder or Holders appear on the
Existing Notes, with the signature(s) on the Existing Notes or instruments
of
transfer guaranteed as provided below, and a Letter of Transmittal and Consent
must be executed and delivered either by the Holder or Holders, or by the
tendering person pursuant to a valid proxy signed by the Holder or Holders
(such
person, an “authorized proxy holder”), which signature must, in either case, be
guaranteed as provided below, since only Holders or their proxies are entitled
to deliver Consents to the Proposed Amendments and Waiver.
Tender
of Existing Notes Held Through a Custodian.
Any
beneficial owner whose Existing Notes are registered in the name of a broker,
dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes to tender
Existing Notes (and thereby deliver a Consent) should contact such Holder
promptly and instruct such Holder to tender Existing Notes (and thereby deliver
a Consent) on such beneficial owner’s behalf.
Book-Entry
Transfer
The
Exchange Agent has or will establish an account with respect to the Existing
Notes at DTC for purposes of this Offer, and any financial institution that
is a
participant in the DTC system and whose name appears on a security position
listing as the record owner of the Existing Notes may make book-entry delivery
of Existing Notes by causing DTC to transfer the Existing Notes into the
Exchange Agent’s account at DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedure for transfer.
Although delivery of Existing Notes may be effected through book-entry transfer
into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC, either an Agent’s Message or a Letter
of Transmittal and Consent (or a facsimile thereof) properly completed and
duly
executed, along with any required signature guarantees and any other required
documents, must be transmitted to and received by the Exchange Agent at one
of
the addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offering Circular prior to
the
Offer Expiration Date.
Tender
of Existing Notes Through ATOP
In
lieu
of physically completing and signing the Letter of Transmittal and Consent
and
delivering it to the Exchange Agent, DTC participants may electronically
transmit their acceptance of the Offer and their Consent to the Proposed
Amendments and Waiver through DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program
(“ATOP”),
for
which the transaction will be eligible. In accordance with ATOP procedures,
DTC
will then verify the acceptance of the Offer and send an Agent’s Message (as
hereinafter defined) to the Exchange Agent for its acceptance.
An
“Agent’s Message” is a message transmitted by DTC, received by the Exchange
Agent and forming part of the Book-Entry Confirmation, which states that DTC
has
received an express acknowledgement from you that you have received the Offer
Documents and agree to be bound by the terms of the Letter of Transmittal and
Consent, and that we may enforce such agreement against you, and that you have
agreed to consent to the Proposed Amendments and Waiver.
If
a
Holder transmits its acceptance through ATOP, delivery of such tendered Existing
Notes must be made to the Exchange Agent (either physically or pursuant to
the
book-entry delivery procedures set forth herein). Unless such Holder delivers
(either physically or by book-entry delivery) the Existing Notes being tendered
to the Exchange Agent, we may, at our option, treat such tender as defective
for
purposes of delivery of Consents, acceptance for exchange and the right to
receive New Notes and cash. Delivery
of documents to DTC (physically or by electronic means) does not constitute
delivery to the Exchange Agent. If you desire to tender your Existing Notes
on
the day on which the Consent Expiration Date or the Offer Expiration Date
occurs, you must allow sufficient time for completion of the ATOP procedures
during the normal business hours of DTC on such date.
There
are no guaranteed delivery procedures provided for by the Company in conjunction
with the Offer or under any of the Offer Documents or other Offer materials
provided with therewith. Holders must timely tender their Existing Notes in
accordance with the procedures set forth in the Offer
Documents.
Effect
of Letter of Transmittal and Consent
Subject
to and effective upon the acceptance for exchange of and exchange of Existing
Notes tendered thereby, by executing and delivering a Letter of Transmittal
and
Consent, you (1) irrevocably sell, assign and transfer to or upon the order
of
us all right, title and interest in and to all the Existing Notes tendered
thereby and (2) irrevocably appoint the Exchange Agent as your true and lawful
agent and attorney-in-fact (with full knowledge that the Exchange Agent also
acts as our agent with respect to the tendered Existing Notes, with full power
coupled with an interest) to:
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deliver
certificates representing the Existing Notes, or transfer ownership
of the
Existing Notes on the account books maintained by DTC, together with
all
accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity, to or upon our
order;
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present
the Existing Notes for transfer on the relevant security register;
and
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receive
all benefits or otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership
of
the Existing Notes (except that the Exchange Agent will have no rights
to
or control over, our funds, except as our agent, for the Exchange
Consideration and any Consent Payment for any tendered Existing Notes
that
are exchanged by us), all in accordance with the terms of this Offer
and
the Consent Solicitation.
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Execution
and delivery of a Letter of Transmittal and Consent will be deemed to constitute
a Consent to the Proposed Amendments and Waiver.
Signature
Guarantees
Signatures
on all Letters of Transmittal and Consent must be guaranteed by a recognized
participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York
Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion
Program (a “Medallion
Signature Guarantor”),
unless the Existing Notes tendered thereby are tendered (i) by a Holder of
Existing Notes (or by a participant in DTC whose name appears on a security
position listing as the owner of such Existing Notes) who has not
completed either the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” or “Special
Payment or Issuance Instructions” on the Letter of Transmittal and Consent or
(ii) for the account of a member firm of a registered national securities
exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
or a
commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United
States (each of the foregoing being referred to as an “Eligible
Institution”).
If
the Existing Notes are registered in the name of a person other than the signer
of the Letter of Transmittal and Consent or if Existing Notes not accepted
for
exchange or not tendered are to be returned to a person other than the Holder,
then the signatures on the Letters of Transmittal and Consent accompanying
the
tendered Existing Notes must be guaranteed by a Medallion Signature Guarantor
as
described above.
Determination
of Validity
All
questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt)
and
acceptance for exchange of any tendered Existing Notes and deliveries of
Consents pursuant to any of the procedures described above, and the form and
validity (including time of receipt of notices of withdrawal and revocation)
of
all documents will be determined by us in our sole discretion, which
determination will be final and binding (subject, with respect to a Consent
and
revocation, to any power vested in the Trustee). We reserve the absolute right
to reject any or all tenders of any Existing Notes or deliveries of Consents
determined by us not to be in proper form, or if the acceptance of or exchange
of such Existing Notes or Consents may, in the opinion of our counsel, be
unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any conditions to this Offer and
the Consent Solicitation that we are legally permitted to waive.
Your
tender will not be deemed to have been validly made until all defects or
irregularities in your tender have been cured or waived. All questions as to
the
form and validity (including time of receipt) of any delivery or revocation
of a
Consent will be determined by us in our sole discretion, which determination
shall be final and binding. Neither we, the Exchange Agent, the Information
Agent nor any other person or entity is under any duty to give notification
of
any defects or irregularities in any tender or withdrawal of any Existing Notes,
or any delivery or revocation of Consents, or will incur any liability for
failure to give any such notification.
Please
send all materials to the Exchange Agent and not to us or the Information
Agent.
WITHDRAWAL
OF TENDERS AND REVOCATION OF CONSENTS
Consents
may be revoked at any time prior to the Consent Date. Existing Notes tendered
and not validly withdrawn prior to the Consent Date may not be withdrawn at
any
time thereafter, and Existing Notes tendered after the Consent Date may not
be
withdrawn at any time, unless this Offer is terminated without any Existing
Notes being exchanged or as required by applicable law. If such a termination
occurs, the Existing Notes will be returned to the tendering Holder as promptly
as practicable.
Subject
to applicable regulations of the Commission, if, for any reason whatsoever,
acceptance for exchange of or exchange of any Existing Notes tendered pursuant
to this Offer is delayed (whether before or after our acceptance for exchange
of
Existing Notes) or we extend this Offer or are unable to accept for exchange
or
exchange the Existing Notes tendered pursuant to this Offer, we may instruct
the
Exchange Agent to retain tendered Existing Notes, and those Existing Notes
may
not be withdrawn, except to the extent that you are entitled to the withdrawal
rights set forth herein.
If
you
have tendered Existing Notes and delivered a Consent to the Proposed Amendments
and Waiver, you may withdraw those Existing Notes and concurrently revoke those
Consents prior to the Consent Date by delivering a written notice of withdrawal
or revocation subject to the limitations described herein. To be effective,
a
written or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal of a tender or notice
of
revocation of a Consent to the Proposed Amendments and Waiver or a properly
transmitted “Request
Message”
through
DTC’s ATOP system must:
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be
received by the Exchange Agent at one of the addresses specified
on the
back cover of this Offering Circular prior to the Consent
Date;
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specify
the name of the Holder of the Existing Notes to be withdrawn or to
which
the notice of revocation relates;
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contain
the description of the Existing Notes to be withdrawn or to which
the
notice of revocation relates, the certificate numbers shown on the
particular certificates representing such Existing Notes (or, in
the case
of Existing Notes tendered by book-entry transfer, the number of
the
account at DTC from which the Existing Notes were tendered and the
name
and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the Existing
Notes
withdrawn) and the aggregate principal amount represented by such
Existing
Notes; and
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be
signed by the Holder of the Existing Notes in the same manner as
the
original signature on the Letter of Transmittal and Consent or be
accompanied by documents of transfer sufficient to have the Trustee
register the transfer of the Existing Notes into the name of the
person
withdrawing the Existing Notes or revoking a
Consent.
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If
the
Existing Notes to be withdrawn have been delivered or otherwise identified
to
the Exchange Agent, a signed notice of withdrawal is effective immediately
upon
receipt by the Exchange Agent of written or facsimile transmission of the notice
of withdrawal (or receipt of a Request Message) even if physical release is
not
yet effected. A withdrawal of Existing Notes or a revocation of a Consent can
only be accomplished in accordance with the foregoing procedures.
A
valid
withdrawal of Existing Notes prior to the Consent Date (without a concurrent
valid revocation of a Consent) will render the applicable Consent to the
Proposed Amendments and Waiver defective, and a valid revocation of a Consent
prior to the Consent Date (without a concurrent valid withdrawal of Existing
Notes) will render the tender of Existing Notes defective. If such a withdrawal
or revocation occurs, we will have the right, which may be waived, to reject
the
defective tender of Existing Notes or such defective Consent, as the case may
be, as invalid and ineffective. If we waive our rights to reject a defective
tender of Existing Notes or a defective Consent, subject to the other terms
and
conditions set forth in the Offer Documents, you will be entitled to the
Exchange Consideration and, if tendered prior to the Consent Expiration Date,
the Consent Payment.
Prior
to
the delivery by the Exchange Agent of Consents to the Trustee, we intend to
consult with the Exchange Agent to determine whether the Exchange Agent has
received any revocations of Consents, whether such revocations are valid and
whether we have received the Requisite Consents to effect the Supplemental
Indenture. We reserve the right to contest the validity of any revocations.
A
purported notice of revocation that is not received by the Exchange Agent in
a
timely fashion will not be effective to revoke a Consent previously given.
Any
Existing Notes that have been tendered but are not exchanged will be returned
to
you without cost to you as soon as practicable following the Offer Expiration
Date.
If
you
withdraw Existing Notes, you will have the right to re-tender them prior to
the
Offer Expiration Date in accordance with the procedures described above for
tendering outstanding Existing Notes.
If
the
Company amends or modifies the terms of the Offer or the Consent Solicitation
or
the information concerning the Offer or the Consent Solicitation in a manner
determined by the Company to constitute a material change to the Holders, the
Company will disseminate additional Offer and Consent Solicitation materials
and
extend the period of such Offer or, if applicable, the Consent Solicitation,
including any withdrawal or revocation rights, to the extent required by law
and
as the Company determines necessary. An extension of the Consent Expiration
Date
or Offer Expiration Date will not affect a Holder’s withdrawal or revocation
rights, unless otherwise provided or as required by applicable law.
CONDITIONS
OF THIS OFFER AND THE CONSENT SOLICITATION
Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Offer and the Consent Solicitation, we will not
be
required to accept for exchange or to exchange Existing Notes validly tendered
(and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to this Offer, and may terminate, amend
or
extend this Offer or the Consent Solicitation or delay or refrain from accepting
for exchange, or exchanging, the Existing Notes or transferring any Exchange
Consideration or Consent Payment or from delivering Consents to the Trustee,
if
any of the following shall occur:
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we
have not received the Requisite
Consents;
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the
Supplemental Indenture providing for the Proposed Amendments and
Waiver to
the Indenture which has been executed by us and the Guarantors shall
have
been submitted to the Trustee for execution and not
executed;
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the
indenture governing the New Notes has not been duly qualified pursuant
to
the provisions of Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder (such qualification, the “New
Indenture Qualification Condition”);
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the
Financing Condition has not been
satisfied;
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any
order, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, stay, decree,
judgment
or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, issued, promulgated
or
enforced by any court or governmental authority that prohibits or
materially restricts the consummation of this Offer or the Consent
Solicitation;
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there
shall be instituted or pending any action, proceeding, application,
claim
or counterclaim by any government or governmental authority or agency,
domestic or foreign, or by any other person, domestic or foreign,
before
any court or governmental regulatory or administrative agency, authority
or tribunal, domestic or foreign, that, in our reasonable judgment,
following the receipt of advice of counsel,
would:
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(1)
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prohibit,
or make illegal the execution and delivery, the validity or the
effectiveness (or operativeness) of the Proposed Amendments, taken
as a
whole, or the Waiver,
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(2)
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impose
or confirm material limitations on the scope, validity or effectiveness
of
the Consents solicited or the Proposed Amendments, taken as a whole,
or
the Waiver, or
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(3)
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make
the solicitation of Consents or the acceptance for exchange of, or
exchange of, some or all of any issues of Existing Notes representing
a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Existing Notes pursuant
to
this Offer illegal, or result in a material delay in our ability
to obtain
from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Existing Notes or to deliver to the Trustee valid and effective Consents
or to accept for exchange or exchange such amount of the Existing
Notes;
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there
exists, in our reasonable judgment, any actual or threatened legal
impediment to the acceptance for exchange of, or exchange of, a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Existing Notes or to the scope,
validity or effectiveness of the Consents solicited
hereby;
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the
Trustee shall object in any respect to, or take any action that would,
in
our reasonable judgment, adversely affect, the solicitation of the
Requisite Consents or our ability to obtain or deliver the Requisite
Consents or to effect any of the Proposed Amendments or the Waiver,
or
take any action that challenges the validity or effectiveness of
the
procedures used by us in soliciting the Consents (including the form
thereof); or
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there
shall have occurred or be likely to occur any event affecting our
business
or financial affairs that, in our reasonable judgment, would prevent
or
materially restrict or delay consummation of this Offer or the Consent
Solicitation.
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In
addition, our obligation to transfer any Exchange Consideration or Consent
Payment is conditioned upon our acceptance of Existing Notes for exchange
pursuant to this Offer.
These
conditions are for our benefit and may be asserted by us or may be waived by
us,
including any action or inaction by us giving rise to any condition, or may
be
waived by us, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, in our
reasonable discretion. We may additionally terminate this Offer and the Consent
Solicitation if any condition is not satisfied on or after the Offer Expiration
Date. If any of these events occur, subject to the termination rights described
above, we may (i) return tendered Existing Notes to you, (ii) extend this Offer
and the Consent Solicitation and retain all tendered Existing Notes until the
expiration of the extended Offer and Consent Solicitation, or (iii) amend this
Offer and the Consent Solicitation in any respect by giving oral or written
notice of such amendment to the Exchange Agent and making public disclosure
of
such amendment to the extent required by law. Pursuant to the Exchange and
Forbearance Agreement, we have agreed to use our reasonable efforts to satisfy
the conditions to the Offer.
Other
than in connection with the exchange of Existing Notes on the Early Exchange
Date as described below, we have not made a decision as to what circumstances
would lead us to waive any such condition, and any such waiver would depend
on
circumstances prevailing at the time of such waiver. Although
we have no present plans or arrangements to do so, we reserve the right to
amend, at any time, the terms of the Offer or the Consent Solicitation. We
will
give Holders notice of such amendments as may be required by applicable
law.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Offer and Consent Solicitation, we will
accept Existing Notes for exchange at the Early Acceptance Time. In such case,
we agree to waive all conditions to the Offer that we are legally permitted
to
waive (other than a proper tender) for Existing Notes tendered (and not validly
withdrawn) on or after the Consent Expiration Date and prior to the Offer
Expiration Date.
DESCRIPTION
OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND WAIVER
Set
forth
below is a brief description of the Proposed Amendments and Waiver. The
following is qualified in its entirety by reference to the proposed form of
Supplemental Indenture. A copy of the form of the Supplemental Indenture (which
may be modified or supplemented prior to the execution thereof in a manner
that
would not require additional consents under the Indenture) will be provided
upon
request to the Information Agent.
Only
Holders may consent to the Proposed Amendments and Waiver. Pursuant to the
terms
of the Indenture, the Proposed Amendments and Waiver require the written consent
from Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Existing Notes outstanding and not owned by the Company, any direct or indirect
Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.
Regardless
of whether the Proposed Amendments and Waiver become operative, the Existing
Notes will continue to be outstanding in accordance with all other terms of
the
Existing Notes and the Indenture. The changes included in the Proposed
Amendments will not alter our obligation to pay the principal or interest on
the
Existing Notes or alter the stated interest rate, maturity date, conversion,
redemption or subordination provisions of the Existing Notes.
If
the
Requisite Consents are obtained and the Supplemental Indenture becomes
effective, non-consenting Holders will be bound by the Proposed Amendments
and
Waiver once they become operative. The Proposed Amendments and Waiver will
become operative upon the Early Exchange Date.
Assuming
that we receive the Requisite Consents to the Proposed Amendments and Waiver,
that the Supplemental Indenture embodying the Proposed Amendments and Waiver
is
executed and that the Proposed Amendments and Waiver become effective and
operative, the Company will not be subject to substantially all of the
restrictive covenants and certain default provisions currently in the Indenture
and certain alleged or existing defaults and events of default under the
Indenture.
The
Proposed Amendments
The
proposed amendments (the “Proposed
Amendments”)
are as follows:
|
a.
|
Amend
the Indenture to eliminate the following covenants from Article 4
of the
Indenture:
|
|
(1)
|
the
covenant entitled “Reports” (Section
4.03);
|
|
(2)
|
the
covenant entitled “Compliance Certificate” (Section
4.04);
|
|
(3)
|
the
covenant entitled “Taxes” (Section
4.05);
|
|
(4)
|
the
covenant entitled “Stay, Extension and Usury Laws” (Section
4.06);
|
|
(5)
|
the
covenant entitled “Restricted Payments” (Section
4.07);
|
|
(6)
|
the
covenant entitled “Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting
Restricted Subsidiaries” (Section
4.08);
|
|
(7)
|
the
covenant entitled “Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock” (Section 4.09);
|
|
(8)
|
the
covenant entitled “Asset Sales” (Section
4.10);
|
|
(9)
|
the
covenant entitled “Transactions with Affiliates” (Section
4.11);
|
|
(10)
|
the
covenant entitled “Corporate Existence” (Section
4.13);
|
|
(11)
|
the
covenant entitled “Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control” (Section
4.14);
|
|
(12)
|
the
covenant entitled “Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted
Subsidiaries” (Section 4.16);
|
|
(13)
|
the
covenant entitled “Payments for Consent” (Section
4.17);
|
|
(14)
|
the
covenant entitled “Business Activities” (Section
4.18);
|
|
(15)
|
the
covenant entitled “Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Equity Interests
in Restricted Subsidiaries” (Section 4.19);
and
|
|
(16)
|
the
covenant entitled “Additional Note Guarantees” (Section
4.20).
|
|
b.
|
Amend
the Indenture to eliminate Sections 5.01 and 5.02 entitled “Merger,
Consolidation, or Sale of Assets” and “Successor Corporation Substituted,”
respectively, and subsections (v) and (vi) of Section 6.01 relating
to
“Events of Default.”
|
|
c.
|
Amend
the Indenture to modify certain other sections of the Indenture to
conform
to the foregoing changes.
|
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, in the event that we obtain Consents from
holders of at least 75 % in principal amount of the Existing Notes, Proposed
Amendments shall also include elimination of the following covenants (the
“Proposed
Additional Amendments”):
|
(1)
|
the
covenant entitled “Liens” (Section 4.12);
and
|
|
(2)
|
the
covenant entitled “Limitation on Senior Subordinated Debt” (Section
4.15).
|
We
expect
that the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee will execute the Supplemental
Indenture on or promptly after the receipt of the Requisite Consents. If the
Consent Solicitation is terminated or withdrawn or the Consent Solicitation
is
not so consummated, the Proposed Amendments will have no effect on the
Indenture, the Existing Notes or the Holders.
The
Waiver
The
Supplemental Indenture includes a waiver (the “Waiver”)
of (i)
any Alleged Default and (ii) any and all rights to take certain actions
under any other debt agreement or instrument of the Company.
If
the
Consent Solicitation is terminated or withdrawn or the Consent Solicitation
is
not so consummated, the Waiver will have no effect on the Indenture, the
Existing Notes or the Holders.
Consequences
to Non-Consenting Holders
On the
Early
Exchange Date, non-consenting Holders will be bound by the Proposed Amendments
and Waiver.
The
Proposed Amendments and Waiver constitute a single proposal and tendering and
consenting Holders must consent to the Proposed Amendments and Waiver as an
entirety and may not consent selectively with respect to the Proposed Amendments
and Waiver. Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, Holders must validly deliver
(and not validly revoke) Consents in respect of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Existing Notes outstanding and not owned by the Company,
any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company
in order to approve the Proposed Amendments and Waiver.
INFORMATION
AGENT
The
Company has retained Global Bondholder Services Corporation to act as
Information Agent (the “Information
Agent”).
Requests for assistance in completing and delivering the Letter of Transmittal
and Consent or for additional copies of the Offer Documents may be directed
to
the Information Agent at its address and telephone numbers set forth on the
back
cover of this Offering Circular.
FEES
AND EXPENSES
The
Company will pay the Exchange Agent and the Information Agent reasonable and
customary fees for their respective services in connection with the Offer and
the Consent Solicitation and will reimburse them for their respective reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith. The Company will also pay banks,
trust companies, securities dealers, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries for
their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding Letters of Transmittal
and
Consent and other materials to beneficial owners of Existing Notes.
CERTAIN
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The
following is a summary of certain of the U.S. federal income tax consequences
of
the exchange of New Notes for Existing Notes by a holder of Existing Notes
pursuant to the Offer. This summary is based upon existing U.S. federal income
tax law, which is subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This
summary does not discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation which
may
be important to particular holders of Existing Notes in light of their
individual investment circumstances, such as holders subject to special tax
rules (e.g., banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies,
broker-dealers, and tax-exempt organizations (including foreign private
foundations), or to persons that have held the Existing Notes or that will
hold
the New Notes as a part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, or synthetic security
transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, all of whom may be subject
to
tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below. This summary
does not consider the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a holder of
Existing Notes that is a partnership or an entity that is treated as a
partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The tax treatment of a partner
in a partnership that participates in the Offer and owns and disposes of New
Notes will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities
of
the partnership. In addition, this summary does not discuss any state, local,
or
non-U.S. tax considerations and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder (as defined
below), this summary does not discuss any U.S. federal income tax consequences
for a Non-U.S. Holder that is engaged in the conduct of a U.S. trade or business
or an individual Non-U.S. Holder who is in the United States for 183 days or
more during any taxable year. This summary is written for holders of Existing
Notes that hold the Existing Notes, and that will hold the New Notes, as
“capital assets” (generally, property held for investment) under the United
States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
Each
holder of Existing Notes is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the
U.S.
federal income tax consequences of exchanging the Existing Notes for the New
Notes pursuant to the Offer, as well as the application and effect of any state,
local, or non-U.S. tax laws.
As
used
herein, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of Notes that is, for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, a “United States person,” that is:
an
individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States,
a
corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation, created in or organized
under the law of the United States, any state thereof or the District of
Columbia,
an
estate
that is subject to U.S. federal income taxation without regard to the source
of
its income or
a
trust
(a) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a
United States court and which has one or more United States persons who have
the
authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) that has
elected to be subject to U.S. federal income tax.
Further,
a “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of Existing Notes that is not a
U.S. Holder and not a partnership or entity treated as a partnership for U.S.
federal income tax purposes.
TO
ENSURE
COMPLIANCE WITH TREASURY DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 230, HOLDERS OF EXISTING NOTES
ARE
HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT: (A) ANY DISCUSSION OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX ISSUES
IN
THIS OFFERING CIRCULAR IS NOT INTENDED OR WRITTEN BY US TO BE RELIED UPON,
AND
CANNOT BE RELIED UPON, BY HOLDERS OF EXISTING NOTES FOR THE PURPOSE OF AVOIDING
PENALTIES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED ON HOLDERS OF EXISTING NOTES UNDER THE CODE;
(B)
SUCH DISCUSSION IS INCLUDED HEREIN BY US IN CONNECTION WITH OUR PROMOTION OR
MARKETING (WITHIN THE MEANING OF CIRCULAR 230) OF THE NEW NOTES; AND (C) HOLDERS
OF EXISTING NOTES SHOULD SEEK ADVICE BASED ON THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES
FROM AN INDEPENDENT TAX ADVISOR.
Characterization
of New Notes
Under
the
indentures governing the New Notes, we will agree, and by acceptance of the
New
Notes pursuant to the Offer, each holder of Existing Notes will be deemed to
have agreed (in the absence of an administrative determination or judicial
ruling to the contrary) to treat the New Notes for U.S. federal income tax
purposes as indebtedness that is subject to the Treasury regulations governing
contingent payment debt instruments (the “CPDI
Regulations”),
and
to be bound by our application of the CPDI Regulations to the New Notes,
including our determination of the rate at which interest will be deemed to
accrue on the New Notes and the related “projected payment schedule,” as
hereinafter discussed. Such agreement, however, is not binding on the Internal
Revenue Service (the “IRS”),
and
there can be no assurance that the IRS would not successfully assert that the
New Notes constitute equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or constitute
debt instruments subject to the Treasury regulations governing alternative
payment schedules (the “alternative
payment schedule regulations”).
The
remainder of this discussion assumes that the New Notes are treated as
indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes and are governed by the CPDI
Regulations.
No
authority directly addresses the treatment of all aspects of the New Notes
for
U.S. Federal income tax purposes. In addition, no rulings are expected to be
sought from the Service with respect to any of the U. S. federal income tax
consequences described below. A different treatment of the New Notes for U.S.
Federal income tax purposes could significantly alter the amount, timing,
character, and treatment of income, gain, or loss recognized in respect of
the
New Notes from that which is described below and could require a U.S. Holder
to
accrue interest income at a rate different from the “comparable yield” rate
described below.
U.S.
Holders
U.S.
Holders Participating in the Exchange
We
intend
to treat the Consent Payment as a payment made in return for a U.S. Holder’s
delivery of the Requisite Consents. Under this treatment, the receipt of the
Consent Payment would not be treated as part of the consideration received
in
the Exchange, as described below, but would instead be treated as ordinary
income to the U.S. Holder in an amount equal to the fair market value of the
New
Notes received. The U.S. Holder would then have a basis in its New Notes equal
to their fair market value. If this treatment did not apply, then the Consent
Payment would be treated as additional consideration received by a U.S. Holder
in the Exchange, as described below.
The
exchange of New Notes for Existing Notes will be treated as an “exchange” for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the exchange, U.S. Holders will not
recognize any gain or loss, provided that the exchange constitutes a
recapitalization, which turns upon whether the both the New Notes and the
Existing Notes are treated as “securities” for U.S. federal income tax
purposes.
If
both
the New Notes and the Existing Notes are treated as securities, then the
exchange will constitute a tax-free recapitalization, in which (i) the U.S.
Holder will not recognize any gain or loss, (ii) the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in
each New Note will equal the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the
corresponding Existing Note, and (iii) the exchanging U.S. Holder’s holding
period for the New Note will include the holding period for the corresponding
Existing Note. If the U.S. Holder holds the Existing Notes with accrued market
discount not previously included in income, then the amount of such market
discount will not be recognized as a result of such U.S. Holder’s participation
in the Exchange, but may be subject to tax as ordinary income upon a sale or
other taxable disposition of the New Notes. A U.S. Holder who, immediately
after
the Exchange, has a tax basis in the New Notes that differs from the issue
price
of such New Notes should consult its tax advisor regarding the potential
application of the U.S. federal income tax regulations governing bond premium
and acquisition premium.
If
either
the New Notes or the Existing Notes are not treated as securities for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, the exchange will be a taxable transaction for
U.S.
federal income tax purposes. In such case, each U.S. Holder will recognize
capital gain (except to the extent of any accrued market discount on the
Existing Notes not previously included in income by the U.S. Holder, which
will
be treated as ordinary income) or loss equal to the difference between the
issue
price of the New Notes and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Existing
Notes. For this purpose, the issue price of the New Notes will equal their
fair
market value if they are considered to be “publicly traded” for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, and if the New Notes are not considered to be publicly
traded, then the issue price of the New Notes will be the fair market value
of
the Existing Notes. If neither the Existing Notes nor the New Notes are
considered to be publicly traded, then the issue price of the New Notes would
be
their principal amount. Any such gain or loss will be long-term if the Existing
Notes have been held for more than one year by the U.S. Holder at the time
of
the Exchange. The deductibility of capital loss is subject to limitations.
The
holding period of the New Notes will begin the day after the exchange, and
each
U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the New Notes generally will equal the issue price of
the New Notes.
Each
U.S.
Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor with respect to the U.S. federal
income tax consequences of the exchange of the Existing Notes for New Notes,
including whether the New Notes and the Existing Notes constitute securities
for
U.S. federal income tax purposes.
U.S.
Holders Who Do Not to Participate in the Exchange
U.S.
Holders who do not to participate in the Exchange should not recognize any
gain
or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and should continue to have the
same tax basis and holding period in their Existing Notes as such U.S. Holders
had immediately prior to the Exchange.
Interest
Income on the New Notes
Under
the
CPDI Regulations, a U.S. Holder will generally be required to accrue interest
income on the New Notes on a constant yield to maturity basis based on the
adjusted issue price (as defined above under “--
U.S.
Holders Participating in the Exchange)
of the
New Notes and the comparable yield (as defined below), regardless of whether
the
U.S. Holder uses the cash or accrual method of tax accounting. Accordingly,
a
U.S. Holder will be required to include interest in taxable income in each
year
at a rate that may be either greater or less than the amount of stated interest
received by such U.S. Holder in such year. The “adjusted issue price” of a New
Note is its issue price increased by any interest income previously accrued,
determined without regard to any adjustments to interest accruals described
below, and decreased by the amount of any noncontingent payments and the
projected amount of any contingent payments previously made with respect to
the
New Notes.
Under
the
CPDI Regulations, we are required to establish the “comparable yield” for the
New Notes. The comparable yield for the New Notes is the annual yield we would
incur, as of the initial issue date, on a fixed rate non-convertible debt
instrument with no contingent payments, but with terms and conditions otherwise
comparable to those of the New Notes. Accordingly, we have determined the
comparable yield to be 12.36%, compounded semi-annually.
We
are
required to provide to U.S. Holders, solely for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, a schedule of the projected amounts of payments on the New Notes.
This
schedule must produce the comparable yield. U.S. Holders may obtain the
projected payment schedule by submitting a written request for it to us at
the
address set forth under “Where You Can Find More Information.”
The
comparable yield and the projected payment schedule are not determined for
any
purpose other than for the determination of a U.S. Holder’s interest accruals
and adjustments thereof in respect of the New Notes for U.S. Federal income
tax
purposes and do not constitute a projection or representation regarding the
actual amounts payable to U.S. Holders of the New Notes.
Adjustments
to Interest Accruals on the New Notes
If
a U.S.
Holder receives actual payments with respect to the New Notes in a tax year
that
in the aggregate exceed the total amount of projected payments for that tax
year, the U.S. Holder will have a “net positive adjustment” equal to the amount
of such excess. The U.S. Holder will be required to treat the “net positive
adjustment” as additional interest income for the tax year.
If
a U.S.
Holder receives actual payments with respect to the New Notes in a tax year
that
in the aggregate are less than the amount of the projected payments for that
tax
year, the U.S. Holder will have a “net negative adjustment” equal to the amount
of such deficit. This adjustment will (a) reduce the U.S. Holder’s interest
income on the New Notes for that tax year, and (b) to the extent of any excess
after the application of (a), give rise to an ordinary loss to the extent of
the
U.S. Holder’s interest income on the New Notes during prior tax years, reduced
to the extent such interest income was offset by prior net negative adjustments.
Any negative adjustment in excess of the amounts described in (a) and (b) will
be carried forward to offset future interest income in respect of the New Notes
or to reduce the amount realized upon a sale, exchange, redemption, or other
disposition of the New Notes.
Sale,
Exchange, Redemption or Other Disposition of the New Notes
Upon
a sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition of a New Note, a U.S. Holder
generally will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference
between the amount realized on the disposition and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted
tax basis in the New Note (as described above). The amount of gain or loss
on a
sale, exchange, redemption, or other disposition of a New Note will be equal
to
the difference between (a) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of
any
other property received by the U.S. Holder, reduced by any negative adjustment
carryforward as described above, and (b) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in
the New Notes. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a New Note on any date will
generally be equal to the U.S. Holder’s original basis in the New Note
(determined as described above under “—U.S.
Holders Participating in the Exchange”,
increased by any interest income previously accrued by the U.S. Holder under
the
CPDI Regulations as described above (determined without regard to any
adjustments as described above), and decreased by the projected amount of any
contingent payments, as described above, scheduled to be made on the New Notes
to the U.S. Holder through such date (without regard to the actual amount paid).
Gain
recognized upon a sale, exchange, redemption, or other disposition of a New
Note
will generally be treated as ordinary interest income. Any loss recognized
upon
a sale, exchange, redemption, or other disposition of a New Note will be treated
as an ordinary loss to the extent of the excess of previous interest inclusions
over the total net negative adjustments previously taken into account as
ordinary loss, and, thereafter, as capital loss (which will be long-term if
the
U.S. Holder’s holding period in the New Note is more than one year at the time
of disposition. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Non-U.S.
Holders
Tax
Treatment of the Exchange
A
Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to any U.S. federal income, withholding,
or
backup withholding tax as a result of the Exchange, except that an amount equal
to the Consent Payment may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of
30%
(subject to reduction by an applicable tax treaty). Non-U.S. Holders should
consult their tax advisors to determine the taxability of the Consent Payment.
Interest
Income on the New Notes
Subject
to the discussion set forth below regarding the additional amounts that we
will
be required to pay if our Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio exceeds 2:1, accrued
OID
(as described above under the subheading “Interest Income on the New Notes”)
paid by us in cash to a Non-U.S. Holder should not be subject to U.S. federal
income, withholding, or backup withholding tax provided that (A) the Non-U.S.
Holder (i) does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote, (ii) is
not
a controlled foreign corporation that is related to us actually or
constructively through stock ownership and (iii) is not a bank described in
section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, and (B) the requirements of section 871(h)
or
881(c) of the Code are satisfied as described below under the heading “Owner
Statement Requirement.” Any accrued OID (as described above under the subheading
“Interest Income on the New Notes”) paid by us in cash will be subject to 30%
U.S. federal withholding tax, unless the Non-U.S. Holder qualifies for an
exemption from such tax or a lower tax rate under an applicable treaty, if
either (A) we are required to pay such OID because our Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio exceeds 2:1 or (B)the conditions described in the previous sentence are
not met.
Sale,
Exchange, Redemption, or Other Disposition of the New
Notes
A
Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain
recognized on a sale, exchange, redemption, or other disposition of a New Note
(except to the extent of any withholding tax that may be imposed on the payment
of cash attributable to accrued OID, as described in the immediately preceding
paragraph).
Owner
Statement Requirement
Sections
871(h) and 881(c) of the Code require that either (i) the beneficial owner
of
Existing Notes or (ii) a securities clearing organization, bank or other
financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of
its trade or business (a “Financial
Institution”),
and
that holds a note on behalf of such owner, file a statement with us or our
agent
to the effect that the beneficial owner is not a United States person in order
to avoid withholding of U.S. federal income tax. This requirement will be
satisfied if we or our agent receive (i) a statement (an “Owner’s
Statement”)
from
the beneficial owner certifying under penalties of perjury that such owner
is
not a United States person and that provides such owner’s name and address
(which statement may be made on the applicable IRS Form W-8BEN) or (ii) a
statement from the Financial Institution holding the New Note on behalf of
the
beneficial owner in which the Financial Institution certifies, under penalties
of perjury, that it has received an Owner’s Statement from such beneficial owner
and complies with other procedural requirements related thereto. The beneficial
owner must promptly inform us or our agent (or, in the case of a statement
described in clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Financial
Institution) of any change in the information on the Owner’s
Statement.
DESCRIPTION
OF CERTAIN OTHER INDEBTEDNESS
Senior
Debt
As
part
of the planned refinancing, we currently have a commitment from Goldman Sachs
Credit Partners L.P. and Banc of America Bridge LLC, and Goldman Sachs Credit
Partners L.P. and Banc of America Securities LLC, acting as joint lead arrangers
and joint bookrunners, to provide us with a new senior secured credit facility
(including a synthetic letter of credit facility) of $1.6 billion, which would
replace the facility existing under the Credit Agreement. We expect that the
Proposed New Credit Facility will be guaranteed by the Company’s domestic
subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of the assets of the borrowers
and
guarantors thereunder. We will not be able to borrow under the Proposed New
Credit Facility until definitive documentation is negotiated and executed and
the conditions to lending specified therein have been satisfied or waived.
The
entering into of the Proposed New Credit Facility is a condition to the
completion of the Offer.
Senior
Subordinated
Debt
The
Company, as issuer, has outstanding, as of the date of this Offering Circular,
$700 million aggregate principal amount of 7 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes
due
2015. Interest on the 2005 Notes is payable semi-annually. The 2005 Notes
rank
pari
passu
in right
of payment to the Existing Notes and will rank pari
passu
in right
of payment with the New Notes.
DESCRIPTION
OF NEW NOTES
You
can
find the definitions of certain terms used in this description under the
subheading “—Certain Definitions.” Other defined terms used in this description
but not defined below under “—Certain Definitions” have the meanings assigned to
them in the New Indenture (as hereinafter defined). In this description, the
word “Company” refers only to Spectrum Brands, Inc. and not to any of its
subsidiaries and “the Notes” refers to the New Notes. The
word
“Indenture” as used herein refers to the indenture pursuant to which the
Existing Notes were issued.
The
Company will issue the new notes under an indenture among itself, the Guarantors
and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (the “New
Indenture”).
A
copy of the New Indenture was filed with the Commission on March 9, 2007 as
Exhibit 99.T3C to the Form T-3 Application for Qualification of Indentures
Under
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as
amended on the date of this Offering Circular and Consent Solicitation
Statement. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the New Indenture
and
those made part of the New Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act
of
1939, as amended.
The
following description is a summary of the material provisions of the New
Indenture. It does not restate that agreement in its entirety. We urge you
to
read the New Indenture in its entirety because it, and not this description,
defines your rights as holders of the notes. Anyone who receives this Offering
Circular and Consent Solicitation Statement may obtain a copy of the indenture
without charge by writing to the Information Agent.
Brief
Description of the Notes
The
Notes:
· are
general unsecured obligations of the Company;
· are
subordinated in right of payment to all existing and any future Senior Debt
of
the Company, including the Indebtedness of the Company under the Credit
Agreement;
· are
pari
passu
in right
of payment with all existing and any future senior subordinated Indebtedness
of
the Company;
· are
senior in right of payment to all existing and any future subordinated
Indebtedness of the Company;
· are
guaranteed by the Guarantors as described under “—Note Guarantees;”
and
· are
effectively subordinated to any existing and future Indebtedness and other
liabilities of the Company’s Subsidiaries that are not guaranteeing the
Notes.
As
of the
date of the Offering Circular and Consent Solicitation Statement, we expect
that
all of our subsidiaries will be “Restricted Subsidiaries” under the New
Indenture. However, under the circumstances described below under the subheading
“—Certain Covenants—Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries,” we
will be permitted to designate certain of our subsidiaries as “Unrestricted
Subsidiaries.” Any Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the
restrictive covenants in the New Indenture and will not guarantee the
Notes.
Principal,
Maturity and Interest
The
New
Indenture provides for the issuance by the Company of Notes in an aggregate
principal amount of up to $350.0 million plus any additional principal amount
of
Notes which may be issued in connection with any PIK Payment (as hereinafter
defined) (such Notes, “Additional
Notes”).
The
Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under the Indenture would
be
treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture, including,
without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase
and,
unless otherwise stated, are referred to collectively herein as “Notes”. The
Company will issue Notes in denominations of $1.00 or integral multiples of
$1.00. The Notes will mature on October 2, 2013.
The
Company will, at its option, pay interest on the Notes (1) entirely in cash
(“Cash
Interest”)
or (2)
subject to the Minimum Equity Condition (as hereinafter defined), entirely
by
increasing the principal amount of the outstanding Notes (“PIK
Interest”).
Interest will accrue on the Notes at the applicable rates found on Annex
A
hereto
(such rate, the “Cash
Interest Rate”
or
the
“PIK
Interest Rate”
as
applicable). To elect the form of interest payment with respect to each Interest
Period (as hereinafter defined), the Company will give the Trustee irrevocable
notice of such election on the second Trading Day preceding the first day of
the
applicable Interest Period (the “Interest
Election Date”).
The
Trustee will promptly deliver a corresponding notice to the Holders. The initial
interest payment will be in cash and any interest payments after October 1,
2010
will also be in cash. In the absence of an election for any Interest Period,
interest on the Notes will be payable entirely in cash. PIK Interest will be
payable by increasing the principal amount of the outstanding Notes by an amount
equal to the amount of PIK Interest for the applicable Interest Period (a
“PIK
Payment”).
Following an increase in the principal amount of the outstanding Notes as a
result of a PIK Payment, the Notes will accrue interest on such increased
principal amount from and after the related Interest Payment Date of such PIK
Payment. The Company will not issue Notes in principal amount of less than
$1.00. In the event that PIK Interest due to any Holder on an Interest Payment
Date is not a round dollar amount, any fractional PIK Interest, if $ 0.50 or
more, will be rounded up to the nearest dollar or, if $ 0.49 or less, will
be
rounded down to the nearest dollar. In
connection with the payment of PIK Interest, the Company is entitled, without
the consent of the Holders, to increase the outstanding principal amount of
the
Global Notes (as defined herein) representing the Notes. References herein
and
in the New Indenture to the “principal amount” of the Notes include any increase
in the principal amount of the outstanding Notes as a result of a PIK Payment.
If on any Interest Election Date, the Exchange Act filings for the Company’s
most recently completed fiscal quarter to which such filings relate demonstrate
that the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four
full fiscal quarters ending on such fiscal quarter is above 2.0 to 1.0, the
Company shall notify the Trustee on such Interest Election Date and the
applicable interest rate shall be 1% per annum in excess of the Scheduled Rate
for the next Interest Period.
“Interest
Period”
means
the period commencing on and including an Interest Payment Date and ending
on
and including the day immediately preceding the next succeeding Interest Payment
Date.
“Market
Disruption Event”
means
the occurrence or existence for more than one continuous half hour period in
the
aggregate on any scheduled Trading Day for the Company’s common stock of any
suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price
exceeding limits permitted by the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise) in
the
Company’s common stock or in any options, contracts or future contracts relating
to such common stock, and such suspension or limitation occurs or exists at
any
time before 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such day.
“Minimum
Equity Condition”
means
(i) for Interest Periods commencing on April 2, 2007, October 2, 2007, April
2,
2008 and October 2, 2008, the closing price of the common stock of the Company
as reported on the New York Stock Exchange for each of the 10 consecutive
Trading days prior to the applicable Interest Election Date shall be greater
than $3.00, (ii) for Interest Periods commencing on April 2, 2009 and October
2,
2009, the closing price of the common stock of the Company as reported on the
New York Stock Exchange for each of the 10 consecutive Trading days prior to
the
applicable Interest Election Date shall be greater than $4.00, and (iii) for
the
Interest Period commencing on April 2, 2010, the closing price of the common
stock of the Company as reported on the New York Stock Exchange for each of
the
10 consecutive Trading days prior to the applicable Interest Election Date
shall
be greater than $5.00. The closing prices in each case shall be adjusted
proportionately upward or downward after the date of initial issuance of the
Notes to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or recapitalization which
shall
increase or decrease the number of shares of Company common stock issued and
outstanding.
“Trading
Day”
means
any day on which (i) there is no Market Disruption Event and (ii) the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading, or, if the Company’s common stock is not
listed on the New York Stock Exchange, any day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the Company’s common stock is listed is open for
trading, or, if the Company’s common stock is not listed on a national
securities exchange, any Business Day. A “Trading Day” only includes those days
that have a scheduled closing time of 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) or the
then
standard closing time for regular trading on the relevant exchange or trading
system.
Interest
on the Notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on April 2 and October
2,
commencing on October 2, 2007. The Company will make each interest payment
to
the Holders of record on the immediately preceding March 15 and September
15.
Interest
on the Notes will accrue from the date that Notes are first issued under the
New
Indenture, or, if interest has already been paid, from the date it was most
recently paid. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
comprised of twelve 30-day months.
Methods
of Receiving Payments on the Notes
If
a
Holder has given wire transfer instructions to the Company, the Company will
pay
all principal, interest (in the event the Company elects to pay interest in
cash) and premium, if any, on that Holder’s Notes in accordance with those
instructions. All other payments on Notes will be made at the office or agency
of the Paying Agent and Registrar unless the Company elects to make interest
payments by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the
register of Holders.
Paying
Agent and Registrar for the Notes
The
Trustee will initially act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change
the Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to the Holders, and the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or
Registrar.
Transfer
and Exchange
A
Holder
may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the New Indenture. The
Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish
appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require
a
Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the New
Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected
for redemption. Also, the Company is not required to transfer or exchange any
Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be
redeemed.
The
registered Holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of it for all
purposes.
Note
Guarantees
The
Notes
will be guaranteed, jointly and severally, by all of the Domestic Subsidiaries
of the Company. Each Note Guarantee:
· is
a
general unsecured obligation of the Guarantor;
· is
subordinated in right of payment to all existing and any future Senior Debt
of
the Guarantor, including the Guarantee by the Guarantor of Indebtedness under
the Credit Agreement;
· is
pari
passu
in right
of payment with all existing and any future senior subordinated Indebtedness
of
the Guarantor; and
· is
senior
in right of payment to all existing and any future subordinated Indebtedness
of
the Guarantor.
Each
Note
Guarantee will be subordinated to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt
of that Guarantor. The obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee
will be limited as necessary to prevent that Note Guarantee from constituting
a
fraudulent conveyance under applicable law.
If
the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates another
Domestic Subsidiary on or after the date of the New Indenture, then that newly
acquired or created Domestic Subsidiary must become a Guarantor, execute a
supplemental indenture and deliver an Opinion of Counsel to the
Trustee.
Subordination
The
payment of principal, interest and premium, if any, on the Notes will be
subordinated to the prior payment in full of all existing and any future Senior
Debt of the Company. The Notes will rank
pari
passu
in right
of payment with the Company’s 7 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 and any
Existing Notes which are not exchanged pursuant to the Offer.
The
holders of Senior Debt of the Company will be entitled to receive payment in
full of all Obligations due in respect of Senior Debt of the Company (including
interest after the commencement of any bankruptcy proceeding at the rate
specified in the applicable Senior Debt of the Company) before the Holders
of
Notes will be entitled to receive any payment with respect to the Notes (except
that Holders of Notes may receive and retain Permitted Junior Securities and
payments made from the trust described under “—Legal Defeasance and Covenant
Defeasance”), in the event of any distribution to creditors of the Company in
connection with:
(1) any
liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
(2) any
bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding
relating to the Company or its property;
(3) any
assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
(4) any
marshaling of the Company’s assets and liabilities.
The
Company also may not make any payment in respect of the Notes (except in
Permitted Junior Securities or from the trust described under “—Legal Defeasance
and Covenant Defeasance”) if:
(1) a
payment
default on Designated Senior Debt of the Company occurs and is continuing;
or
(2) any
other
default occurs and is continuing on any series of Designated Senior Debt of
the
Company that permits holders of that series of Designated Senior Debt of the
Company to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives a notice of such
default (a “Payment
Blockage Notice”)
from
the Company or the holders of such Designated Senior Debt (a “nonpayment
default”).
Payments
on the Notes may and shall be resumed:
(1) in
the
case of a payment default on Designated Senior Debt of the Company, upon the
date on which such default is cured or waived; and
(2) in
case
of a nonpayment default, the earlier of the date on which such default is cured
or waived or 179 days after the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage
Notice is received, unless the maturity of such Designated Senior Debt of the
Company has been accelerated.
No
new
Payment Blockage Notice may be delivered unless and until:
(1) 360
days
have elapsed since the delivery of the immediately prior Payment Blockage
Notice; and
(2) all
scheduled payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, on the Notes
that
have come due have been paid in full in cash.
No
nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of
any
Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for
a
subsequent Payment Blockage Notice.
If
the
Trustee or any Holder of the Notes receives a payment in respect of the Notes
(except in Permitted Junior Securities or from the trust described under “—Legal
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance”) when:
(1) the
payment is prohibited by these subordination provisions; and
(2) the
Trustee or the Holder has actual knowledge that the payment is
prohibited;
the
Trustee or the Holder, as the case may be, shall hold the payment in trust
for
the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt of the Company. Upon the proper
written request of the holders of Senior Debt of the Company, the Trustee or
the
Holder, as the case may be, shall deliver the amounts in trust to the holders
of
Senior Debt of the Company or their proper representative.
The
Company must promptly notify holders of its Senior Debt if payment of the Notes
is accelerated because of an Event of Default.
As
a
result of the subordination provisions described above, in the event of a
bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, Holders of Notes
may
recover less ratably than creditors of the Company who are holders of Senior
Debt of the Company.
Payments
under the Note Guarantee of each Guarantor will be subordinated to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Debt of such Guarantor, including Senior Debt
of
such Guarantor incurred after the date of the New Indenture, on the same basis
as provided above with respect to the subordination of payments on the Notes
by
the Company to the prior payment in full of Senior Debt of the Company. The
Note
Guarantee of each Guarantor will rank pari
passu
in right
of payment with such Guarantor’s guarantee of the Company’s 7 3/8% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2015 and any Existing Notes which are not exchanged
pursuant to the Offer.
“Designated
Senior Debt”
means:
(1) any
Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement; and
(2) after
payment in full of all Obligations under the Credit Agreement, any other Senior
Debt permitted under the New Indenture the principal amount of which is $50.0
million or more and that has been designated by the Company as “Designated
Senior Debt.”
“Permitted
Junior Securities”
means:
(1) Equity
Interests in the Company or any Guarantor or any other business entity provided
for by a plan of reorganization; and
(2) debt
securities of the Company or any Guarantor or any other business entity provided
for by a plan of reorganization that are subordinated to all Senior Debt and
any
debt securities issued in exchange for Senior Debt to substantially the same
extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Notes and the Note Guarantees are
subordinated to Senior Debt under the New Indenture.
“Senior
Debt”
means:
(1) all
Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor outstanding under Credit Facilities
and all Hedging Obligations with respect thereto;
(2) any
other
Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor permitted to be incurred under
the
terms of the New Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness
is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated
in
right of payment to the Notes or any Note Guarantee; and
(3) all
Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1) and
(2).
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the preceding paragraph, Senior Debt will not
include:
(1) any
liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company
or any Guarantor;
(2) any
Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor to any of their Subsidiaries or
other Affiliates;
(3) any
trade
payables;
(4) the
portion of any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of the New
Indenture;
(5) any
Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that, when incurred, was without
recourse to the Company or such Guarantor;
(6) any
repurchase, redemption or other obligation in respect of Disqualified Stock;
(7) the
7
3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 of the Company; or
(8) the
8
1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 of the Company.
Any
Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Agreement on the date of the New
Indenture which when added to other Indebtedness incurred on the date of the
New
Indenture under clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt are not in excess
of $1.6 billion shall be Senior Debt.
Optional
Redemption
The
Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices set forth on Annex
A
hereto
(expressed as percentages of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest
thereon, to the applicable redemption date.
If
less
than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select
Notes for redemption as follows:
(1) if
the
Notes are listed, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national
securities exchange on which the Notes are listed; or
(2) if
the
Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the
Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.
No
Notes
of less than $1.00 shall be redeemed in part. Notices of redemption shall be
mailed by first class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the
redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered
address. Notices of redemption may not be conditional.
If
any
Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates
to
that Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be
redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of
the
original Note will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation
of the original Note. Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed
for redemption. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue
on
Notes or portions of them called for redemption.
Mandatory
Redemption
The
Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments
with respect to the Notes.
Repurchase
at the Option of Holders
Change
of Control
If
a
Change of Control occurs, each Holder of Notes will have the right to require
the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1.00 or an integral
multiple thereof) of that Holder’s Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer
on the terms set forth in the New Indenture. In the Change of Control Offer,
the
Company will offer a Change of Control Payment in cash at a price set forth
on
Annex
A
hereto
(expressed as percentages of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest
thereon, to the date of purchase. Within 30 days following any Change of
Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the
transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering
to repurchase Notes on the Change of Control Payment Date specified in such
notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days
from the date such notice is mailed, pursuant to the procedures required by
the
New Indenture and described in such notice. The Company will comply with the
requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities
laws
and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are
applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a
Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws
or
regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the New Indenture,
the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations
and
will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control
provisions of the New Indenture by virtue of such compliance.
On
the
Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent
lawful:
(1) accept
for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the
Change of Control Offer;
(2) deposit
with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in
respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and
(3) deliver
or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with
an
Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or
portions thereof being purchased by the Company.
The
Paying Agent will promptly mail or wire transfer to each Holder of Notes so
tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will
promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to
each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion
of
the Notes surrendered, if any; provided
that
such new Note will be in a principal amount of $1.00 or an integral multiple
thereof.
Prior
to
complying with any of the provisions of this “Change of Control” covenant, but
in any event within 30 days following a Change of Control, the Company will
either repay all outstanding Senior Debt or obtain the requisite consents,
if
any, under all agreements governing outstanding Senior Debt to permit the
repurchase of Notes required by this covenant. The Company will publicly
announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable
after the Change of Control Payment Date.
The
Company’s existing senior credit facility currently prohibits the Company from
purchasing any Notes, and also provides that certain change of control events
with respect to the Company would constitute a default under these agreements.
We expect the Proposed New Credit Facility to contain similar restrictions
and
provisions. Any future credit agreements or other agreements relating to Senior
Debt to which the Company becomes a party may contain similar restrictions
and
provisions. In the event a Change of Control occurs at a time when the Company
is prohibited from purchasing Notes, the Company could seek the consent of
its
senior lenders to the purchase of Notes or could attempt to refinance the
borrowings that contain such prohibition. If the Company does not obtain such
a
consent or repay such borrowings, the Company will remain prohibited from
purchasing Notes. In such case, the Company’s failure to purchase tendered Notes
would constitute an Event of Default under the New Indenture which would, in
turn, constitute a default under such Senior Debt. In such circumstances, the
subordination provisions in the New Indenture would likely restrict payments
to
the Holders of Notes.
The
provisions described above that require the Company to make a Change of Control
Offer following a Change of Control will be applicable regardless of whether
any
other provisions of the New Indenture are applicable. Except as described above
with respect to a Change of Control, the New Indenture does not contain
provisions that permit the Holders of the Notes to require that the Company
repurchase or redeem the Notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization
or
similar transaction.
The
Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change
of
Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at
the
times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the New
Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and
purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of
Control Offer.
The
definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the direct or
indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or
substantially all” of the properties or assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law
interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established
definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of
a
Holder of Notes to require the Company to repurchase such Notes as a result
of a
sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of
the
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person
or
group may be uncertain.
Asset
Sales
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
consummate an Asset Sale unless:
(1) the
Company (or the 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 assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed
of;
(2) such
fair
market value is determined by the Company’s Board of Directors and evidenced by
a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate
delivered to the Trustee; and
(3) at
least
75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Replacement Assets or a combination of
both. For purposes of this clause, each of the following shall be deemed to
be
cash:
(a) any
liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most
recent balance sheet) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than
contingent liabilities,
Indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to the Notes or any Note
Guarantee and liabilities to the extent owed to the Company or any Affiliate
of
the Company) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant
to a
written novation agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary from further liability; and
(b) any
securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such
Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company
or
such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received in
that
conversion) within 90 days of the applicable Asset Sale.
Within
360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company
may apply such Net Proceeds at its option:
(1) to
repay
Senior Debt and, if the Senior Debt repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness,
to
correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto; or
(2) to
purchase Replacement Assets or make a capital expenditure in or that is used
or
useful in a Permitted Business.
Pending
the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily
reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in
any
manner that is not prohibited by the New Indenture.
Any
Net
Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the
preceding paragraph will constitute “Excess
Proceeds.”
Within
10 days after the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million,
the
Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders
of
other Indebtedness that is pari
passu
with the
Notes or any Note Guarantee containing provisions similar to those set forth
in
the New Indenture with respect to offers to purchase 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 Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the
Notes and such other pari
passu
Indebtedness plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase, and
will
be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an
Asset
Sale Offer, the Company may use such Excess Proceeds for any purpose not
otherwise prohibited by the New Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount
of
Notes and such other pari
passu
Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess
Proceeds, the Notes and such other pari
passu
Indebtedness shall be purchased on a pro
rata
basis
based on the principal amount of Notes and such other pari
passu
Indebtedness tendered. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount
of
Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
The
Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange
Act
and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such
laws
and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes
pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any
securities laws or regulations conflict with the Asset Sales provisions of
the
New Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws
and
regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the
Asset Sale provisions of the New Indenture by virtue of such
compliance.
The
Company’s existing senior credit facility currently prohibits the Company from
purchasing any Notes, and also provides that certain asset sale events with
respect to the Company would constitute a default under these agreements. We
expect that the Proposed New Credit Facility will contain similar restrictions
and provisions. Any future credit agreements or other agreements relating to
Senior Debt to which the Company becomes a party may contain similar
restrictions and provisions. In the event an Asset Sale occurs at a time when
the Company is prohibited from purchasing Notes, the Company could seek the
consent of its senior lenders to the purchase of Notes or could attempt to
refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If the Company does
not
obtain such a consent or repay such borrowings, the Company will remain
prohibited from purchasing Notes. In such case, the Company’s failure to
purchase tendered Notes would constitute an Event of Default under the New
Indenture which would, in turn, constitute a default under such Senior Debt.
In
such circumstances, the subordination provisions in the New Indenture would
likely restrict payments to the Holders of Notes.
Certain
Covenants
Restricted
Payments
(A) The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly:
(1) declare
or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of
the
Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including,
without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation
involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct
or
indirect holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity
Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends, payments or
distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of
the
Company or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company);
(2) purchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation,
in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity
Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by
Persons other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other
than
the purchase, redemption or acquisition or retirement for value of all of the
Equity Interests in VARTA not held by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of, the VARTA Joint
Venture Agreement as in effect on the date of the New Indenture to the extent
the cash purchase price does not exceed €1.0 million;
(3) make
any
payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire
or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes or the
Note Guarantees, except a payment of interest or principal on or after the
Stated Maturity thereof; or
(4) make
any
Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses
(1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted
Payments”),
unless,
at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:
(1) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would
occur
as a consequence thereof; and
(2) the
Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro
forma
effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning
of
the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00
of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test
set
forth in the covenant described below under the caption “—Incurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock;” and
(3) such
Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted
Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the date
of
the New Indenture (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2),
(3)
(4) (to the extent such dividends are paid to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries) and (5) of the next succeeding paragraph (B)), is
less
than the sum, without duplication, of:
(a) 50%
of
the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one
accounting period) from September 30, 2003 to the end of the Company’s most
recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are
available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated
Net
Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit); plus
(b) 100%
of
the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company since September 30,
2003
as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of
Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the
issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible
or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into
or
exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or
Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company);
plus
(c) with
respect to Restricted Investments made by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries after the date of the New Indenture, an amount equal to the net
reduction in Investments (other than reductions in Permitted Investments) in
any
Person resulting from repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of
assets, in each case to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or from the
net
cash proceeds from the sale of any such Investment (except, in each case, to
the
extent any such payment or proceeds are included in the calculation of
Consolidated Net Income, from the release of any Guarantee (except to the extent
any amounts are paid under such Guarantee) or from redesignations of
Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries, not to exceed, in each
case, the amount of Investments previously made by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary in such Person or Unrestricted Subsidiary; plus
(d) $20.0
million.
(B) So
long
as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the
preceding provisions will not prohibit:
(1) the
payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof,
if
at said date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions
of the New Indenture;
(2) the
redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of any
subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor or of any Equity
Interests of the Company or any Guarantor in exchange for, or out of the net
cash proceeds of a contribution to the common equity of the Company or a
substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of,
Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); provided
that the
amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption,
repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition shall be excluded from
clause (3) (b) of the preceding paragraph (A);
(3) the
defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of subordinated
Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor with the net cash proceeds from
an
incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
(4) the
payment of any dividend by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders
of its common Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;
(5) Investments
acquired as a capital contribution to, or in exchange for, or out of the net
cash proceeds of a substantially concurrent offering of, Equity Interests (other
than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; provided
that the
amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such acquisition
or exchange shall be excluded from clause (3) (b) of the preceding paragraph
(A);
(6) the
repurchase of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of options or
warrants if such Capital Stock represents all or a portion of the exercise
price
thereof;
(7) the
repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any
Equity Interests of the Company held by any employee, former employee, director
or former director of the Company (or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) upon
the death, disability or termination of employment of any of the foregoing
pursuant to the terms of any employee equity subscription agreement, stock
option agreement or similar agreement; provided
that the
aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired
Equity Interests in any fiscal year shall not exceed the sum of (x) $3.0 million
and (y) the amount of Restricted Payments permitted but not made pursuant to
this clause (7) in the immediately preceding fiscal year; or
(8) the
repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any
Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from the minority
stockholders (or other holders of minority interest, however designated) of
such
Restricted Subsidiary for fair market value; provided
that the
aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired
Equity Interests shall not exceed $15.0 million.
The
amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market
value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities
proposed to be transferred or issued to or by the Company or such Subsidiary,
as
the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value
of
any assets or securities that are required to be valued pursuant to this
covenant shall be determined by the Board of Directors whose resolution with
respect thereto shall be delivered to the Trustee. Not later than the date
of
making any Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an
Officers’ Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and
setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by this “Restricted
Payments” covenant were computed, together with a copy of any fairness opinion
or appraisal required by the New Indenture.
Incurrence
of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and
the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any
preferred stock; provided,
however,
that
the Company or any Guarantor of the Company may incur Indebtedness, if the
Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal
quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately
preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred would
have
been at least 2.0 to 1, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma
application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness
had been incurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.
So
long
as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would be caused thereby,
the first paragraph of this covenant will not prohibit the incurrence of any
of
the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “Permitted
Debt”):
(1) the
incurrence by (a) the Company or any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company of
Indebtedness under Credit Facilities (and the incurrence by the Guarantors
of
Guarantees thereof) in an aggregate principal amount at any one time
outstanding, without duplication, pursuant to this clause (1) (with letters
of
credit being deemed to have a principal amount at any one time outstanding
equal
to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed $1.6 billion, less
the
aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied by the Company
or
any Restricted Subsidiary to permanently repay any such Indebtedness (and,
in
the case of any revolving credit Indebtedness, to effect a corresponding
commitment reduction thereunder) pursuant to the covenant “—Repurchase at the
Option of Holders—Asset Sales” provided,
that,
the
aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of all Foreign Subsidiaries of the
Company incurred pursuant to this clause (1) shall not exceed €60.0 million and
(b) Foreign Subsidiaries of Guarantees of other Foreign Subsidiaries’
Indebtedness under Credit Facilities;
(2) the
incurrence of Existing Indebtedness;
(3) the
incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by
the
Notes (including any Notes issued as PIK Interest) and the related Note
Guarantees to be issued on the date of the New Indenture;
(4) the
incurrence by the Company or any Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by
Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations,
in
each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase
price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment
used in the business of the Company or such Guarantor, in an aggregate principal
amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund,
refinance or replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4),
not
to exceed $30.0 million at any time outstanding;
(5) the
incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of
which
are used to refund, refinance or replace Indebtedness (other than intercompany
Indebtedness) that was permitted by the New Indenture to be incurred under
the
first paragraph of this covenant or clauses (2) (other than Indebtedness
incurred in connection with the acquisition of Remington), (3), (4), (5), or
(8)
of this paragraph;
(6) the
incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany
Indebtedness owing to and held by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries; provided,
however,
that:
(a) if
the
Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness
must be unsecured and expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in
cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company,
or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Guarantor;
(b) Indebtedness
owed to the Company or any Guarantor must be evidenced by an unsubordinated
promissory note, unless the obligor under such Indebtedness is the Company
or a
Guarantor; and
(c) (i)
any
subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such
Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary thereof and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness
to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof,
shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness
by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was
not
permitted by this clause (6);
(7) the
Guarantee by the Company or any Guarantors of Indebtedness of the Company or
a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was permitted to be incurred by
another provision of this covenant;
(8) the
incurrence by the Company or any Guarantor of additional Indebtedness in an
aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time
outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to
refund, refinance or replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause
(8), not to exceed $50.0 million;
(9) the
incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution
of a
check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight
overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;
provided
that
such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence;
and
(10) the
incurrence of Indebtedness by a Foreign Subsidiary in an aggregate principal
amount for all Foreign Subsidiaries at any one time outstanding pursuant to
this
clause (10) not to exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the
Company; provided
that
after giving effect to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness, the Company
would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant
to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of
this
“Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”
covenant.
For
purposes of determining compliance with this “Incurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Preferred Stock” covenant, in the event that any proposed
Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted
Debt described in clauses (1) through (10) above, or is entitled to be incurred
pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company will be permitted
to classify at the time of its incurrence such item of Indebtedness in any
manner that complies with this covenant. Indebtedness under Credit Facilities
outstanding on the date on which Notes are first issued under the New Indenture
shall be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception
provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt. In addition, any
Indebtedness originally classified as incurred pursuant to clauses (1) through
(10) above may later be reclassified by the Company such that it will be deemed
as having been incurred pursuant to another of such clauses to the extent that
such reclassified Indebtedness could be incurred pursuant to such new clause
at
the time of such reclassification.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this “Limitation on Indebtedness” covenant, (a) the
maximum amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to this “Limitation
on Indebtedness” covenant will not be deemed to be exceeded, with respect to any
outstanding Indebtedness due solely to the result of fluctuations in the
exchange rates of currencies and (b) Indebtedness incurred under any letters
of
credit (the amount of such Indebtedness being deemed to have a principal amount
equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries thereunder), including letters of credit under the Credit
Agreement, that were outstanding on the date of the New Indenture or were first
issued thereafter at a time when no Default had occurred and was continuing
shall be permitted to be incurred in reliance on the exception provided by
clause (8) of the definition of Permitted Debt to the extent the aggregate
principal amount of such Indebtedness at any time outstanding does not exceed
$50.0 million.
Limitation
on Senior Subordinated Debt
The
Company will not incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right
of payment to any Senior Debt of the Company unless it is pari
passu
or
subordinate in right of payment to the Notes to the same extent. No Guarantor
will incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment
to
the Senior Debt of such Guarantor unless it is pari
passu
or
subordinate in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee to the same
extent.
Liens
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective
any Lien of any kind securing Indebtedness (other than Permitted Liens) upon
any
of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless all
payments due under the New Indenture and the Notes are secured on an equal
and
ratable basis with the obligations so secured until such time as such
obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.
Dividend
and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted
Subsidiaries
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any
consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted
Subsidiary to:
(1) pay
dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock (or with respect
to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits) to
the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or pay any liabilities owed to
the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) make
loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
or
(3) transfer
any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries.
However,
the preceding restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions
existing under or by reason of or with respect to:
(1) the
Credit Agreement, Existing Indebtedness or any other agreements in effect on
the
date of the Indenture and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals,
extensions, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof,
provided
that the
encumbrances and restrictions in any such amendments, modifications,
restatements, renewals, extensions, supplements, refundings, replacement or
refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those in effect
on
the date of the Indenture;
(2) applicable
law, rule, regulation or order;
(3) any
Person or the property or assets of a Person acquired by the Company or any
of
its Restricted Subsidiaries existing at the time of such acquisition and not
incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition, which
encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person or the properties
or
assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the
Person, so acquired and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals,
extensions, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof,
provided
that the
encumbrances and restrictions in any such amendments, modifications,
restatements, renewals, extensions, supplements, refundings, replacement or
refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained
in
the Credit Agreement, Existing Indebtedness or such other agreements as in
effect on the date of the acquisition;
(4) in
the
case of clause (3) of the first paragraph of this covenant:
(a) provisions
that restrict in a customary manner the subletting, assignment or transfer
of
any property or asset that is a lease, license, conveyance or contract or
similar property or asset;
(b) restrictions
existing by virtue of any transfer of, agreement to transfer, option or right
with respect to, or Lien on, any property or assets of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise prohibited by the New Indenture;
or
(c) restrictions
arising or agreed to in the ordinary course of business, not relating to any
Indebtedness, and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from
the value of property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
in
any manner material to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(5) provisions
with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint
venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary
course of business;
(6) any
agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the
capital stock of, or property and assets of, a Restricted Subsidiary that
restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale or
other
disposition; and
(7) Indebtedness
of a Foreign Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under the New Indenture;
provided that (a) such encumbrances or restrictions are ordinary and customary
with respect to the type of Indebtedness being incurred and (b) such
encumbrances or restrictions will not affect the Company’s ability to make
principal and interest payments on the Notes, as determined in good faith by
the
Board of Directors of the Company.
Merger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets
The
Company will not, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge with or
into
another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) or
(2)
sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially
all
of the properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person or
Persons, unless:
(1) either:
(a) the Company is the surviving corporation; or (b) the Person formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition shall
have been made (i) is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of
the
United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and (ii) assumes
all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the New Indenture
pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;
(2) immediately
after giving effect to such transaction no Default or Event of Default
exists;
(3) immediately
after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Company or
the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition shall have been made, will, on the date of such transaction after
giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if
the
same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be
permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the
covenant described above under the caption “—Incurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Preferred Stock”; and
(4) each
Guarantor, unless such Guarantor is the Person with which the Company has
entered into a transaction under this “Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets”
covenant, shall have by amendment to its Note Guarantee confirmed that its
Note
Guarantee shall apply to the obligations of the Company or the surviving Person
in accordance with the Notes and the New Indenture.
In
addition, neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary may, directly or
indirectly, lease all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in
one
or more related transactions, to any other Person. Clause (3) above of this
“Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” covenant will not apply to any merger,
consolidation or sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other
disposition of assets between or among the Company and any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries.
Transactions
with Affiliates
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of
its
properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter
into,
make, amend, renew or extend any transaction, contract, agreement,
understanding, loan, advance or Guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any
Affiliate (each, an “Affiliate Transaction”), unless:
(1) such
Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company
or
the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained
in a
comparable arm’s-length transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company; and
(2) the
Company delivers to the Trustee:
(a) with
respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions
involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5.0 million, a resolution of
the
Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such
Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions complies
with
this covenant and that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate
Transactions has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of
the
Board of Directors; and
(b) with
respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions
involving aggregate consideration in excess of $15.0 million, an opinion as
to
the fairness to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Affiliate
Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions from a financial point
of view issued by an independent accounting, appraisal or investment banking
firm of national standing.
The
following items shall not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore,
will not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph:
(1) transactions
between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) payment
of reasonable and customary fees and compensation to, and reasonable and
customary indemnification arrangements and similar payments on behalf of,
directors of the Company;
(3) Restricted
Payments that are permitted by the provisions of the Indenture described above
under the caption “—Restricted Payments;”
(4) any
sale
of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;
(5) loans
and
advances to officers and employees of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries for bona fide business purposes in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice;
(6) any
employment, consulting, service or termination agreement, or reasonable and
customary indemnification arrangements, entered into by the Company or any
of
its Restricted Subsidiaries with officers and employees of the Company or any
of
its Restricted Subsidiaries and the payment of compensation to officers and
employees of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including
amounts paid pursuant to employee benefit plans, employee stock option or
similar plans), in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent
with past practice; and
(7) any
agreements or arrangements in effect on the date of the New Indenture, or any
amendment, modification, or supplement thereto or any replacement thereof,
as
long as such agreement or arrangement, as so amended, modified, supplemented
or
replaced, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the Company and
its
Restricted Subsidiaries than the original agreement as in effect on the date
of
the Indenture, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors,
and any transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing agreements or
arrangements.
Designation
of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries
The
Board
of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted
Subsidiary; provided
that:
(1) any
Guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness of
the
Subsidiary being so designated will be deemed to be an incurrence of
Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (or both, if
applicable) at the time of such designation, and such incurrence of Indebtedness
would be permitted under the covenant described above under the caption
“—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock;”
(2) the
aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary being so designated (including
any Guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness
of
such Subsidiary) will be deemed to be a Restricted Investment made as of the
time of such designation and that such Investment would be permitted under
the
covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted
Payments;”
(3) such
Subsidiary does not own any Equity Interests of, or hold any Liens on any
Property of, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(4) the
Subsidiary being so designated:
(a) is
not
party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such
agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to
the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at
the
time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;
(b) is
a
Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for
additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s
financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels
of
operating results;
(c) has
not
Guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for
any
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,
except
to the extent such Guarantee or credit support would be released upon such
designation; and
(d) has
at
least one director on its Board of Directors that is not a director or officer
of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and has at least one
executive officer that is not a director or officer of the Company or any of
its
Restricted Subsidiaries; and
(5) no
Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such
designation.
Any
designation of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a
certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to
such
designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation
complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by the New Indenture.
If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet any of the
preceding requirements described in clause (4) above, it shall thereafter cease
to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the New Indenture and any
Indebtedness, Investments, or Liens on the property, of such Subsidiary shall
be
deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such
date
and, if such Indebtedness, Investments or Liens are not permitted to be incurred
as of such date under the New Indenture, the Company shall be in default under
the New Indenture.
The
Board
of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted
Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided
that:
(1) such
designation shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted
Subsidiary and such designation shall only be permitted if such Indebtedness
is
permitted under the covenant described under the caption “—Certain
Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock,”
calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the
beginning of the four-quarter reference period;
(2) all
outstanding Investments owned by such Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed
to
be made as of the time of such designation and such Investments shall only
be
permitted if such Investments would be permitted under the covenant described
above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments;”
(3) all
Liens
upon property or assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary existing at the time
of
such designation would be permitted under the caption “—Certain
Covenants—Liens;” and
(4) no
Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such
designation.
Limitation
on Issuances and Sales of Equity Interests in Restricted
Subsidiaries
The
Company will not transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of, and
will
not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, issue, transfer, convey,
sell,
lease or otherwise dispose of any Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company to any Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company or, if necessary, shares of its Capital Stock constituting
directors’ qualifying shares or issuances of shares of Capital Stock of foreign
Restricted Subsidiaries to foreign nationals, to the extent required by
applicable law), except:
(1) if,
immediately after giving effect to such issuance, transfer, conveyance, sale,
lease or other disposition, such Restricted Subsidiary would no longer
constitute a Restricted Subsidiary and any Investment in such Person remaining
after giving effect to such issuance or sale would have been permitted to be
made under the “Restricted Payments” covenant if made on the date of such
issuance or sale and the cash Net Proceeds from such transfer, conveyance,
sale,
lease or other disposition are applied in accordance with the covenant described
above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales;”
or
(2) other
sales of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary by the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary, provided
that the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary complies with the covenant described
above
under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset
Sales.”
Guarantees
If
the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates another
Domestic Subsidiary on or after the date of the New Indenture, then that newly
acquired or created Domestic Subsidiary must become a Guarantor and execute
a
supplemental indenture and deliver an Opinion of Counsel to the
Trustee.
The
Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or
indirectly, to Guarantee or pledge any assets to secure the payment of any
other
Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof, other than
Foreign Subsidiaries, unless such Restricted Subsidiary is a Guarantor or
simultaneously executes and delivers a supplemental indenture providing for
the
Guarantee of the payment of the Notes by such Restricted Subsidiary, which
Guarantee shall be senior to or pari
passu
with
such Subsidiary’s Guarantee of such other Indebtedness unless such other
Indebtedness is Senior Debt, in which case the Guarantee of the Notes may be
subordinated to the Guarantee of such Senior Debt to the same extent as the
Notes are subordinated to such Senior Debt. The form of the Note Guarantee
will
be attached as an exhibit to the New Indenture.
A
Guarantor may not sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of
its
assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such
Guarantor is the surviving Person), another Person, other than the Company
or
another Guarantor, unless:
(1) immediately
after giving effect to that transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists;
and
(2) either:
(a) the
Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person
formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the
Guarantor) is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United
States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and assumes all the
obligations of that Guarantor under the New Indenture and its Note Guarantee
pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee;
or
(b) such
sale
or other disposition or consolidation or merger complies with the covenant
described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset
Sales.”
The
Note
Guarantee of a Guarantor will be released:
(1) in
connection with any sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of
a
Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to
such
transaction) an Affiliate of the Company, if the sale of all such Capital Stock
of that Guarantor complies with the covenant described above under the caption
“—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales;”
(2) if
the
Company properly designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as
an
Unrestricted Subsidiary under the New Indenture; or
(3) solely
in
the case of a Note Guarantee created pursuant to the first paragraph of this
covenant, upon the release or discharge of the Guarantee which resulted in
the
creation of such Note Guarantee pursuant to this covenant “—Certain
Covenants—Guarantees,” except a discharge or release by or as a result of
payment under such Guarantee.
Payments
for Consent
The
Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for
the
benefit of any Holder of Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver
or
amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the New Indenture or the Notes
unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders
of
the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth
in
the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or
agreement.
Reports
Whether
or not required by the Commission, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the
Company will prepare and furnish to the Holders of Notes, within the time
periods specified in the Commission’s rules and regulations:
(1) all
quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be
contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company
were required to file such Forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to
the annual information only, a report on the annual financial statements by
the
Company’s certified independent accountants; and
(2) all
current reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Form
8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.
In
addition, whether or not required by the Commission, the Company will file
a
copy of all of the information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2)
above with the Commission for public availability within the time periods
specified in the Commission’s rules and regulations (unless the Commission will
not accept such a filing) and make such information available to securities
analysts and prospective investors upon request. In addition, the Company and
the Guarantors have agreed that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding,
they will furnish to the Holders and to prospective investors, upon their
request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4)
under the Securities Act.
If
the
Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries,
then the quarterly and annual financial information required by this covenant
shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the
financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” of
the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of
operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.
Events
of Default and Remedies
Each
of
the following is an Event of Default:
(1) default
for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes whether or not
prohibited by the subordination provisions of the New Indenture;
(2) default
in payment when due (whether at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or
otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes, whether or
not
prohibited by the subordination provisions of the New Indenture;
(3) failure
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the
provisions described under the captions “—Repurchase at the Option of
Holders—Change of Control,” “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales”
or “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” or the
provisions described in the third paragraph under the caption “—Certain
Covenants—Guarantees;”
(4) failure
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after written
notice by the Trustee or Holders representing 25% or more of the aggregate
principal amount of Notes outstanding to comply with any of the other agreements
in the New Indenture;
(5) default
under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued
or
by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which
is
Guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether such
Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of the New
Indenture, if that default:
(a) is
caused
by a failure to make any payment of principal at the final maturity of such
Indebtedness (a “Payment
Default”);
(b) results
in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express
maturity,
and,
in
each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the
principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been
a
Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates
$10.0 million or more;
(6) failure
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments
(to
the extent such judgments are not paid or covered by insurance provided by
a
carrier that has acknowledged coverage in writing and has the ability to
perform) aggregating in excess of $10.0 million, which judgments are not paid,
discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;
(7) except
as
permitted by the New Indenture, any Note Guarantee shall be held in any judicial
proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to
be in
full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any
Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Note Guarantee;
and
(8) certain
events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, any Guarantor
or
any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any Restricted Subsidiaries that
together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary).
In
the
case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or
insolvency, with respect to the Company, any Guarantor or any Significant
Subsidiary of the Company (or any Restricted Subsidiaries that together would
constitute a Significant Subsidiary), all outstanding Notes will become due
and
payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of
Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25%
in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to
be
due and payable immediately.
Holders
of the Notes may not enforce the New Indenture or the Notes except as provided
in the New Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority
in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its
exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the
Notes notice of any Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event
of
Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines
that
withholding notice is in their interest.
The
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of
the
Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under
the New Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment
of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes will have the right to direct
the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy
available to the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any
direction that conflicts with law or the New Indenture, that may involve the
Trustee in personal liability, or that the Trustee determines in good faith
may
be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders of Notes not joining in the
giving of such direction and may take any other action it deems proper that
is
not inconsistent with any such direction received from Holders of Notes. A
Holder may not pursue any remedy with respect to the New Indenture or the Notes
unless:
(1) the
Holder gives the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of
Default;
(2) the
Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes
make
a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3) such
Holder or Holders offer the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee
against any costs, liability or expense;
(4) the
Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the
request and the offer of indemnity; and
(5) during
such 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of
the outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction that is inconsistent
with the request.
However,
such limitations do not apply to the right of any Holder of a Note to receive
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, such Note or
to
bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment, on or after the due date
expressed in the Notes, which right shall not be impaired or affected without
the consent of the Holder.
In
the
case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any willful action or
inaction taken or not taken by or on behalf of the Company with the intention
of
avoiding payment of the premium that the Company would have had to pay if the
Company then had elected to redeem the Notes pursuant to the optional redemption
provisions of the New Indenture, an equivalent premium shall also become and
be
immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration
of the Notes.
The
Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually within 90 days after
the
end of each fiscal year a statement regarding compliance with the New Indenture.
Upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, the Company is required
to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of
Default.
No
Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders
No
director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or
any
Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company
or the Guarantors under the Notes, the New Indenture, the Note Guarantees or
for
any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their
creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all
such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance
of
the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the
federal securities laws.
Legal
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The
Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have all of its obligations
discharged with respect to the outstanding Notes and all obligations of the
Guarantors discharged with respect to their Note Guarantees (“Legal
Defeasance”)
except
for:
(1) the
rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the
principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Notes when such payments
are due from the trust referred to below;
(2) the
Company’s obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary
Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and
the
maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments
held in trust;
(3) the
rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Company’s
and the Guarantor’s obligations in connection therewith; and
(4) the
Legal
Defeasance provisions of the New Indenture.
In
addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the
obligations of the Company and the Guarantors released with respect to certain
covenants that are described in the New Indenture (“Covenant
Defeasance”)
and
thereafter any omission to comply with those covenants shall not constitute
a
Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes. In the event Covenant
Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment, bankruptcy,
receivership, rehabilitation and insolvency events) described under “Events of
Default” will no longer constitute Events of Default with respect to the
Notes.
In
order
to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(1) the
Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit
of
the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government
Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient,
in
the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants,
to pay the principal of, or interest and premium, if any, on the outstanding
Notes on the stated maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case
may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to
maturity or to a particular redemption date;
(2) in
the
case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (a)
the
Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue
Service a ruling or (b) since the date of the New Indenture, there has been
a
change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect
that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders
of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal
income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject
to
federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same
times
as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not
occurred;
(3) in
the
case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee
an
Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the
Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will
be
subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at
the
same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not
occurred;
(4) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing either: (a)
in
the case of Covenant Defeasance or Legal Defeasance, on the date of such
deposit; or (b) in the case of Legal Defeasance, or insofar as Events of Default
from bankruptcy or insolvency events are concerned, at any time in the period
ending on the 123rd
day
after the date of deposit;
(5) such
Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation
of, or constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument to which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or
any
of its Subsidiaries is bound;
(6) the
Company must have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
that, (1) assuming no intervening bankruptcy of the Company or any Guarantor
between the date of deposit and the 123rd
day
following the deposit and assuming that no Holder is an “insider” of the Company
under applicable bankruptcy law, after the 123rd
day
following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of
any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally, including Section 547 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code and (2) the creation of the defeasance trust does not violate
the Investment Company Act of 1940;
(7) the
Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the
deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders
of
Notes over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating,
hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or
others;
(8) if
the
Notes are to be redeemed prior to their stated maturity, the Company must
deliver to the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem all of the Notes
on
the specified redemption date; and
(9) the
Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal
Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
Amendment,
Supplement and Waiver
Except
as
provided in the next three succeeding paragraphs, the New Indenture or the
Notes
may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least
a
majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without
limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer
or exchange offer for, Notes), and any existing Default or Event of Default
or
compliance with any provision of the New Indenture or the Notes may be waived
with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, consents obtained in
connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for,
Notes).
Without
the consent of the Holders of at least 75% of the principal amount of the Notes
then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection
with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), an amendment
or waiver may not amend or modify any of the provisions of the New Indenture
or
the related definitions affecting the subordination or ranking of the Notes
or
any Note Guarantee in any manner adverse to the holders of the Notes or any
Note
Guarantee.
Without
the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not (with
respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
(1) reduce
the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment,
supplement or waiver;
(2) reduce
the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the
provisions, or waive any payment, with respect to the redemption of the
Notes;
(3) reduce
the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;
(4) waive
a
Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or
premium, if any, on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes
by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Notes
and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such
acceleration);
(5) make
any
Note payable in money other than U.S. dollars;
(6) make
any
change in the provisions of the New Indenture relating to waivers of past
Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal
of,
or interest or premium, if any, on the Notes;
(7) release
any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee or the New
Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of the New
Indenture;
(8) impair
the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with
respect to the Notes or the Note Guarantees;
(9) amend,
change or modify the obligation of the Company to make and consummate an Asset
Sale Offer with respect to any Asset Sale in accordance with the “Repurchase at
the Option of Holders—Asset Sales” covenant after the obligation to make such
Asset Sale Offer has arisen, or the obligation of the Company to make and
consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event of a Change of Control in
accordance with the “Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control”
covenant after such Change of Control has occurred, including, in each case,
amending, changing or modifying any definition relating thereto;
(10) except
as
otherwise permitted under the “Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets”
covenant, consent to the assignment or transfer by the Company of any of its
rights or obligations under the New Indenture; or
(11) make
any
change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.
Notwithstanding
the preceding, without the consent of any Holder of Notes, the Company, the
Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the New Indenture or the
Notes:
(1) to
cure
any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(2)
to
provide for uncertificated Notes in addition or in place of certificated
Notes;
(3) to
provide for the assumption of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to
Holders of Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or
substantially all of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s assets;
(4) to
make
any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders
of Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the New
Indenture of any such Holder;
(5) to
comply
with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the
qualification of the New Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(6) to
comply
with the provision described under “Certain Covenants—Guarantees;”
(7) to
evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee;
or
(8) to
provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the New
Indenture.
Satisfaction
and Discharge
The
New
Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all
Notes issued thereunder, when:
(1) either:
(a) all
Notes
that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have
been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been
deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company) have been delivered
to
the Trustee for cancellation; or
(b) all
Notes
that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due
and
payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will
become due and payable within one year and the Company or any Guarantor has
irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds
in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars,
non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts
as
will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to
pay
and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the
date of maturity or redemption;
(2) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date
of
such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will
not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any
other
instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the
Company or any Guarantor is bound;
(3) the
Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by
it
under the New Indenture; and
(4) the
Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under the New
Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at
maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.
In
addition, the Company must deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction
and
discharge have been satisfied.
Concerning
the Trustee
If
the
Trustee becomes a creditor of the Company or any Guarantor, the New Indenture
limits its right to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize
on
certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise.
The Trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if
it
acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90
days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue or resign.
The
New
Indenture provides that in case an Event of Default shall occur and be
continuing, the Trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to
use
the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject
to such provisions, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any
of
its rights or powers under the New Indenture at the request of any Holder of
Notes, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and
indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense.
Book-Entry,
Delivery and Form
Except
as
set forth below, the Notes will be issued in registered, global form in
denominations of $1.00 or integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof. Notes
will be issued on the applicable exchange date of the Offer only against
surrender of Existing Notes.
The
Notes
initially will be represented by one or more notes in registered, global form
without interest coupons attached (the “Global
Note”).
On
the applicable exchange date of the Offer, the Global Note will be deposited
upon issuance with the Trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company
(“DTC”),
in
New York, New York, and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, in each
case for credit to an account of a direct or indirect participant in DTC as
described below.
Unless
definitive Notes are issued, the Global Note may be transferred, in whole and
not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its
nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Note may not be exchanged for Notes
in certificated form except in the limited circumstances described below. See
“—Exchange of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated
Notes.”
Ownership
of interests in the Global Note (“Book-Entry
Interests”)
will
be limited to persons that have accounts with DTC, or persons that hold
interests through such Participants (as defined below). Except under the limited
circumstances described below, beneficial owners of Book-Entry Interests will
not be entitled to physical delivery of exchange notes in definitive
form.
Book-Entry
Interests will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through,
records maintained in book-entry form by DTC or DTC’s nominees and Participants.
In addition while the Notes are in global form, holders of Book-Entry Interests
will not be considered the owners or “holders” of Notes for any purpose. So long
as the Notes are held in global form, DTC or its nominees will be considered
the
sole holders of the Global Note for all purposes under the New Indenture. In
addition, Participants must rely on the procedures of DTC and Indirect
Participants (as defined below) must rely on the procedures of DTC and the
Participants through which they own Book-Entry Interests to transfer their
interests or to exercise any rights of holders under the New Indenture.
Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Note will be subject to the
applicable rules and procedures of DTC and its Participants or Indirect
Participants, which may change from time to time.
Depository
Procedures
The
following description of the operations and procedures of DTC is provided solely
as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within
the control of DTC and are subject to change. Neither we nor the trustee take
any responsibility for or are liable for these operations and procedures,
including the records relating to Book-Entry Interests, and we urge investors
to
contact DTC or its participants directly to discuss these matters.
DTC
has
advised the Company that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under
the laws of the State of New York, a “banking organization” within the meaning
of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing
corporation” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code and a “Clearing
Agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. DTC was created to hold securities for its
participating organizations (collectively, the “Participants”) and to facilitate
the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between
Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its
Participants. The Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks,
trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access
to DTC’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers,
dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively,
the “Indirect Participants”). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially
own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or
the
Indirect Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership
interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the
records of the Participants and Indirect Participants.
DTC
has
also advised the Company that, pursuant to procedures established by
it:
(1) upon
deposit of the Global Notes, DTC will credit the accounts of Participants
pursuant to the corresponding letters of transmittal with portions of the
principal amount of the Global Notes; and
(2) ownership
of these interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of
ownership thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC
(with
respect to the Participants) or by the Participants and the Indirect
Participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interest in the Global
Notes).
We
understand that under existing industry practice, in the event that we request
any action of holders of Notes, or an owner of a beneficial interest in the
Global Note desires to take any action that DTC, as the holder of such Global
Note, is entitled to take, DTC would authorize the Participants to take the
action and the Participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through
the
Participants to take the action or would otherwise act upon the instruction
of
the beneficial owners. Neither we nor the Trustee will have any responsibility
or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on
account of notes by DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records of DTC relating to the Notes.
All
interests in a Global Note may be subject to the procedures and requirements
of
DTC. The laws of some jurisdictions, including certain states of the United
States, require that certain Persons take physical delivery in definitive form
of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial
interests in a Global Note to such Persons will be limited to that extent.
Because DTC can act only on behalf of Participants, which in turn act on behalf
of Indirect Participants, the ability of a Person having beneficial interests
in
a Global Note to pledge such interests to Persons that do not participate in
the
DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be
affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such
interests.
Except
as described below, owners of interest in the Global Notes will not have Notes
registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of Notes in
certificated form and will not be considered the registered owners or “Holders”
thereof under the New Indenture for any purpose.
Payments
in respect of the principal of, and interest and premium on, a Global Note
registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to DTC or its
nominee in its capacity as the registered Holder of the Global Note under the
New Indenture. Under the terms of the New Indenture, the Company and the Trustee
will treat the Persons in whose names the Notes, including the Global Notes,
are
registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving payments and
for
all other purposes. Consequently, neither the Company, the Trustee nor any
agent
of the Company or the Trustee has or will have any responsibility or liability
for:
(1) any
aspect of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records
relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interest in
the
Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTC’s records
or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to the
beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes; or
(2) any
other
matter relating to the actions and practices of DTC or any of its Participants
or Indirect Participants.
DTC
has
advised the Company that its current practice, upon receipt of any payment
in
respect of securities such as the Notes (including principal and interest),
is
to credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment on the
payment date unless DTC has reason to believe it will not receive payment on
such payment date. Each relevant Participant is credited with an amount
proportionate to its beneficial ownership of an interest in the principal amount
of the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the
Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of Notes
will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will
be
the responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect Participants and will
not
be the responsibility of DTC, the Trustee or the Company. Neither the Company
nor the Trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of its Participants
in identifying the beneficial owners of the Notes, and the Company and the
Trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on
instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.
Transfers
between Participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTC’s
procedures, and will be settled in same-day funds.
DTC
has
advised the Company that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a
Holder of Notes only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose
account DTC has credited the interests in the Global Note and only in respect
of
such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes as to which such
Participant or Participants has or have given such direction. However, if there
is an Event of Default under the Notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange
the
Global Note for legended Notes in certificated form, and to distribute such
Notes to its Participants.
Although
DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of interests
in the Global Note among participants in DTC, DTC is under no obligation to
perform or to continue to perform such procedures, and may discontinue such
procedures at any time. Neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any of their
respective agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or
its
Participants or Indirect Participants of their respective obligations under
the
rules and procedures governing DTC’s operations.
Exchange
of Global Notes for Certificated Notes
A
Global
Note is exchangeable for definitive Notes in registered certificated form
(“Certificated
Notes”)
if:
(1) DTC
(a)
notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary
for the Global Notes or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under
the Exchange Act, and in each case the Company fails to appoint a successor
depositary;
(2) the
Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause
the issuance of the Certificated Notes; or
(3) there
shall have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect
to the Notes.
In
addition, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be exchanged for
Certificated Notes upon prior written notice given to the Trustee by or on
behalf of DTC in accordance with the New Indenture. In all cases, Certificated
Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests in
Global Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in denominations,
requested by or on behalf of the depositary (in accordance with its customary
procedures).
Exchange
of Certificated Notes for Global Notes
Certificated
Notes may not be exchanged for beneficial interests in any Global Note unless
the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the
form
provided in the New Indenture) to the effect that such transfer will comply
with
the appropriate transfer restrictions applicable to such Notes.
Redemption
of the Global Note
In
the
event the Global Note, or any portion thereof, is redeemed, DTC will redeem
an
equal amount of the Book-Entry Interests in such Global Note from the amount
received by it in respect of the redemption of such Global Note. The redemption
price payable in connection with the redemption of such Book-Entry Interests
will be equal to the amount received by DTC in connection with the redemption
of
such Global Note or any portion thereof. We understand that, under existing
practices of DTC, if fewer than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any
time,
DTC will credit its Participants’ accounts on a proportionate basis, with
adjustments to prevent fractions, or by lot or on such other basis as DTC deems
fair and appropriate; provided,
however,
that no
Book-Entry Interest of less than $1.00 principal amount may be redeemed in
part.
Same
Day Settlement and Payment
The
Company will make payments in respect of the Notes represented by the Global
Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by wire transfer
of
immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Global Note Holder.
The Company will make all payments of principal, interest and premium, with
respect to Certificated Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds
to
the accounts specified by the Holders thereof or, if no such account is
specified, by mailing a check to each such Holder’s registered address. The
Notes represented by the Global Notes are expected to trade in DTC’s Same-Day
Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity
in
such Notes will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled in immediately
available funds. The Company expects that secondary trading in any Certificated
Notes will also be settled in immediately available funds.
Characterization
of New Notes for U.S. federal income tax Purposes
Under
the
Indenture, we will agree, and by acceptance of the Notes pursuant to the
exchange offer, each holder of Existing Notes will be deemed to have agreed
(in
the absence of an administrative determination or judicial ruling to the
contrary) to treat the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes as
indebtedness that is subject to the Treasury regulations governing contingent
payment debt instruments (the “CPDI
Regulations”),
and
to be bound by our application of the CPDI Regulations to the Notes. For a
discussion of certain of the potential U.S. Federal income tax consequences
of
participating in the Exchange and holding and disposing of the Notes, including
certain of the consequences if the Notes are not treated as indebtedness or
are
treated as indebtedness subject to certain alternative payment schedule
regulations please see “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Consequences—Characterization of New Notes.”
Certain
Definitions
Set
forth
below are certain defined terms used in the New Indenture. Reference is made
to
the New Indenture for a full disclosure of all such terms, as well as any other
capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.
“Acquired
Debt”
means,
with respect to any specified Person:
(1) Indebtedness
of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or
into, or becomes a Subsidiary of, such specified Person, whether or not such
Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other
Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person;
and
(2) Indebtedness
secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified
Person.
“Affiliate”
of
any
specified Person means (1) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling
or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified
Person or (2) any executive officer or director of such specified Person. For
purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person,
shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise;
provided
that
beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person shall be
deemed to be control. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,”
“controlled by” and “under common control with” shall have correlative meanings;
provided
further
that
each of Paula Grundstücksverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Vermietungs-KG,
Mannheim and ROSATA Grundstücksvermietungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Object
Dischingen KG, Düsseldorf, shall not be deemed Affiliates of the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries solely by virtue of the beneficial ownership
by
the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of up to 20% of the Voting Stock
of
each entity
“Asset
Sale”
means:
(1) the
sale,
lease, conveyance or other disposition of any property or assets; provided
that the
sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed
by the provisions of the New Indenture described above under the caption
“—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control” and/or the provisions
described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or
Sale of Assets” and not by the provisions described under " “—Repurchase at the
Option of Holders—Asset Sale"; and
(2) the
issuance of Equity Interests by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or
the sale by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Equity Interests in
any
of its Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding
the preceding, the following items shall be deemed not to be Asset
Sales:
(1) any
single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having
a fair market value of less than $5.0 million;
(2) a
transfer of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(3) an
issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to
another Restricted Subsidiary;
(4) the
sale,
lease or other disposition of equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or
other
assets in the ordinary course of business;
(5) the
sale
or other disposition of Cash Equivalents;
(6) a
Restricted Payment that is permitted by the covenant described above under
the
caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments;”
(7) any
sale
or disposition of any property or equipment that has become damaged, worn out,
obsolete or otherwise unsuitable or no longer required for use in the ordinary
course of the business of the Company or its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(8) the
licensing of intellectual property in the ordinary course of
business;
(9) any
sale
or other disposition deemed to occur with creating or granting a Lien not
otherwise prohibited by the New Indenture; and
(10) upon
the
termination of the VARTA joint venture with VARTA AG, the sale, transfer or
other disposition of the Equity Interests in FinanceCo (as defined in the VARTA
Joint Venture Agreement) and the forgiveness of any loans owed by VARTA AG,
in
each case pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of, the VARTA Joint
Venture Agreement as in effect on the date of the New Indenture.
“Beneficial
Owner”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange
Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular
“person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such
“person” shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that
such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other
securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only
upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and
“Beneficially Owned” shall have a corresponding meaning.
“Board
of Directors”
means:
(1) with
respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the
corporation;
(2) with
respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of
the
partnership; and
(3) with
respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving
a
similar function.
“Capital
Lease Obligation”
means,
at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability
in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be
capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.
“Capital
Stock”
means:
(1) in
the
case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in
the
case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests,
participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate
stock;
(3) in
the
case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership
interests (whether general or limited); and
(4) any
other
interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share
of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing
Person.
“Cash
Equivalents”
means:
(1) United
States dollars;
(2) securities
issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States
government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided
that the
full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having
maturities of not more than six months from the date of
acquisition;
(3) certificates
of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of six months or less
from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding
six months and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any domestic
commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and
a
Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;
(4) repurchase
obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities
of
the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial
institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3)
above;
(5) commercial
paper having the highest rating obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and in each
case maturing within nine months after the date of acquisition;
(6) marketable
direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any
political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof
having the highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and maturing
within six months from the date of acquisition thereof; and
(7) money
market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents
of
the kinds described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition.
“Change
of Control”
means
the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) the
direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than
by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions,
of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and
its
Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used
in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act);
(2) the
adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the
Company;
(3) any
“person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Exchange Act) becomes the ultimate Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly,
of
50% or more of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company;
(4) the
first
day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company
are not Continuing Directors; or
(5) the
Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person
consolidates with, or merges with or into the Company, in any such event
pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the
Company or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities
or other property, other than any such transaction where (A) the Voting Stock
of
the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction is converted
into
or exchanged for Voting Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the surviving
or transferee Person constituting a majority of the outstanding shares of such
Voting Stock of such surviving or transferee Person (immediately after giving
effect to such issuance) and (B) immediately after such transaction, no “person”
or “group” (as such terms are used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange
Act) becomes, directly or indirectly, the ultimate Beneficial Owner of 50%
or
more of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving or transferee
Person.
“Consolidated
Cash Flow”
means,
with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income
of such Person for such period plus,
without
duplication:
(1) provision
for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was
deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(2) Fixed
Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to
the
extent that any such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated
Net Income; plus
(3)
depreciation, amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other
intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid
in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any special charges
and additional restructuring charges referred to in clauses (4) and (5), without
giving effect to the provisos, and any such non-cash expense to the extent
that
it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period
or
amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of
such
Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such
depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in
computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(4) special
charges included on the face of the Company’s consolidated statement of
operations for its fiscal years ended September 30, 2002 and 2003 furnished
to
Holders as provided under the caption “Reports” and, in the case of fiscal 2003,
additional restructuring charges related to markdown monies included as a
reduction of net sales, to the extent such special charges and additional
restructuring charges were deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income for
such period; provided
that the
maximum aggregate amount of such special charges and additional restructuring
charges for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 shall not exceed $42.0
million; plus
(5) special
charges related to the acquisition of Remington incurred during any period
after
June 30, 2003, and prior to September 30, 2005, and included on the face of
the
Company’s consolidated statement of operations furnished to Holders as provided
under the caption “Reports,” to the extent such special charges were deducted in
computing Consolidated Net Income for such period; provided
that the
maximum aggregate amount of such special charges shall not exceed $35.0 million;
minus
(6) non-cash
items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than the
accrual of revenue consistent with past practice,
in
each
case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with
GAAP.
Notwithstanding
the preceding, the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, and
the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses of, a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute
Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company (A) in the same proportion that the Net
Income of such Restricted Subsidiary was added to compute such Consolidated
Net
Income of the Company and (B) only to the extent that a corresponding amount
would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended or distributed
to the Company by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior governmental approval
(that has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction
pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments,
decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to
that
Subsidiary or its stockholders.
“Consolidated
Net Income”
means,
with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net
Income of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated
basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided
that:
(1) the
Net
Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or
that
is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be included only
to
the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the
specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof;
(2) the
Net
Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent that the
declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted
Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted
without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or,
directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any
agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental
regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its
equityholders;
(3) the
Net
Income of any Person acquired during the specified period for any period prior
to the date of such acquisition shall be excluded;
(4) the
cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded;
and
(5) notwithstanding
clause (1) above, the Net Income (but not loss) of any Unrestricted Subsidiary
shall be excluded, whether or not distributed to the specified Person or one
of
its Subsidiaries.
“Consolidated
Net Tangible Assets”
of
any
Person means, as of any date, the amount which, in accordance with GAAP, would
be set forth under the caption “Total Assets” (or any like caption) on a
consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries,
as of
the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial
statements are available, less (1) all intangible assets, including, without
limitation, goodwill, organization costs, patents, trademarks, copyrights,
franchises, and research and development costs and (2) current
liabilities.
“Continuing
Directors”
means,
as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the
Company who:
(1) was
a
member of such Board of Directors on the date of the New Indenture;
or
(2) was
nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval
of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at
the
time of such nomination or election.
“Credit
Agreement”
means
that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the date
of
the New Indenture, by and among the Company, Goldman Sachs Credit Partners
L.P.,
as Administrative Agent, and the lenders named therein and other financial
institutions and other parties thereto, including any related notes, Guarantees,
collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection
therewith, and in each case as amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced
or
refinanced from time to time, regardless of whether such amendment,
modification, renewal, refunding, replacement or refinancing is with the same
financial institutions or otherwise.
"Credit
Facilities”
means,
one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit
Agreement) or commercial paper facilities, in each case with banks or other
institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans,
receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders
or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such
receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified,
renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to
time.
“Default”
means
any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both
would be, an Event of Default.
“Disqualified
Stock”
means
any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into
which
it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option
of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is
mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise,
or
redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or
prior
to the date that is one year after the date on which the Notes mature, except
to
the extent such Capital Stock is solely redeemable with, or solely exchangeable
for, any Equity Interests of the Company that are not Disqualified Stock.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute
Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require
the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change
of
control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms
of
such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any
such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or
redemption complies with the covenant described above under the caption
“—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments.” The term “Disqualified Stock” shall
also include any options, warrants or other rights that are convertible into
Disqualified Stock or that are redeemable at the option of the holder, or
required to be redeemed, prior to the date that is one year after the date
on
which the Notes mature.
“Domestic
Subsidiary”
means
any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company other than a Restricted Subsidiary
that
is (1) a “controlled foreign corporation” under Section 957 of the Internal
Revenue Code or (2) a Subsidiary of any such controlled foreign
corporation.
“Equity
Interests”
means
Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital
Stock
(but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable
for,
Capital Stock).
“Existing
Indebtedness”
means
the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement) in existence
on the date of the Indenture after giving effect to the application of the
proceeds of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement borrowed on the date of
the
Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.
“fair
market value”
means
the price that would be paid in an arm’s-length transaction between an informed
and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing
buyer
under no compulsion to buy, as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive if evidenced by a resolution
of the Board of Directors.
“Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio”
means
with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the
Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges
of
such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any
of
its Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, Guarantees, repays, repurchases or redeems
any
Indebtedness or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to
the
commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being
calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the
calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”),
then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect
to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase or redemption
of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock,
and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the
beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.
In
addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio:
(1) acquisitions
and dispositions of business entities or property and assets constituting a
division or line of business of any Person that have been made by the specified
Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or
consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the
four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on
or
prior to the Calculation Date shall be given pro forma effect as if they had
occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period and Consolidated
Cash Flow for such reference period shall be calculated on a pro forma basis
in
accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, but without giving
effect to clause (3) of the proviso set forth in the definition of Consolidated
Net Income;
(2) the
Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined
in
accordance with GAAP, shall be excluded;
(3) the
Fixed
Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance
with GAAP, shall be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving
rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person
or
any of its Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date; and
(4) consolidated
interest expense attributable to interest on any Indebtedness (whether existing
or being incurred) computed on a pro
forma
basis
and bearing a floating interest rate shall be computed as if the rate in effect
on the Calculation Date (taking into account any interest rate option, swap,
cap
or similar agreement applicable to such Indebtedness if such agreement has
a
remaining term in excess of 12 months or, if shorter, at least equal to the
remaining term of such Indebtedness) had been the applicable rate for the entire
period.
“Fixed
Charges”
means,
with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without
duplication, of:
(1) the
consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries
for
such period, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation,
amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash
interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations,
the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease
Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in
respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the
effect of all payments made, received or accrued in connection with Hedging
Obligations; plus
(2) the
consolidated interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was
capitalized during such period; plus
(3) any
interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by such
Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets
of
such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee
or Lien is called upon; plus
(4) the
product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in
cash, on any series of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of such Person
or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than (i) dividends on Equity Interests
payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified
Stock) or (ii) dividends to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator
of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local
statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, on
a
consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP;
provided
that
Fixed Charges shall not include any interest expense of, or dividends paid
by,
VARTA to VARTA AG to the extent that the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
of
the Company receives interest or dividends in cash from VARTA AG in connection
with the VARTA Joint Venture Agreement as in effect on the date of the New
Indenture.
“Foreign
Subsidiary”
means
any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company other than a Domestic
Subsidiary.
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and
pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute
of
Certified Public Accountants, the opinions and pronouncements of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board and in the statements and pronouncements
of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession, which are in effect on the date of the New Indenture.
“Guarantee”
means,
as to any Person, a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or
indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of
assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect
thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness of another Person.
“Guarantors”
means:
(1) each
direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary of the Company on the date of the New
Indenture; and
(2) any
other
subsidiary that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions
of
the New Indenture;
and
their
respective successors and assigns until released from their obligations under
their Note Guarantees and the New Indenture in accordance with the terms of
the
New Indenture.
“Hedging
Obligations”
means,
with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person
under:
(1) interest
rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements, interest rate collar
agreements and other agreements or arrangements designed for the purpose of
fixing, hedging or swapping interest rate risk;
(2) commodity
swap agreements, commodity option agreements, forward contracts and other
agreements or arrangements designed for the purpose of fixing, hedging or
swapping commodity price risk; and
(3) foreign
exchange contracts, currency swap agreements and other agreements or
arrangements designed for the purpose of fixing, hedging or swapping foreign
currency exchange rate risk.
“incur”
means,
with respect to any Indebtedness, to incur, create, issue, assume, Guarantee
or
otherwise become directly or indirectly liable for or with respect to, or become
responsible for, the payment of, contingently or otherwise, such Indebtedness;
provided
that (1)
any Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company will be deemed to be incurred by such
Restricted Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company and (2) neither the accrual of interest nor the accretion of original
issue discount nor the payment of interest in the form of additional
Indebtedness with the same terms and the payment of dividends on Disqualified
Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock
(to the extent provided for when the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock on
which
such interest or dividend is paid was originally issued) shall be considered
an
incurrence of Indebtedness; provided
that in
each case the amount thereof is for all other purposes included in the Fixed
Charges and Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiary as
accrued.
“Indebtedness”
means,
with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether
or not contingent:
(1) in
respect of borrowed money;
(2) evidenced
by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or
reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), but excluding obligations with
respect to letters of credit (including trade letters of credit) securing
obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person
to
the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if drawn upon, to
the
extent such drawing is reimbursed no later than the fifth Business Day following
receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement);
(3) in
respect of banker’s acceptances;
(4) in
respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Attributable Debt;
(5) in
respect of the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any
property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade
payable;
(6) representing
Hedging Obligations, other than Hedging Obligations that are incurred in the
ordinary course of business for the purpose of fixing, hedging or swapping
interest rate, commodity price or foreign currency exchange rate risk (or to
reverse or amend any such agreements previously made for such purposes), and
not
for speculative purposes, and that do not increase the Indebtedness of the
obligor outstanding at any time other than as a result of fluctuations in
interest rates, commodity prices or foreign currency exchange rates or by reason
of fees, indemnities and compensation payable thereunder; or
(7) representing
Disqualified Stock valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary maximum
fixed repurchase price plus accrued dividends;
if
and to
the extent that any of the preceding items (other than Hedging Obligations)
would appear as liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared
in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes (x) all
Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person
(whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person),
provided
that the
amount of such Indebtedness shall be the lesser of (A) the fair market value
of
such asset at such date of determination and (B) the amount of such
Indebtedness, and (y) to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by
the
specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person. For purposes hereof,
the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Stock which does not
have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms
of such Disqualified Stock as if such Disqualified Stock were purchased on
any
date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to the
New Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market
value of such Disqualified Stock, such fair market value shall be determined
in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the issuer of such Disqualified
Stock.
The
amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be the outstanding
balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and,
with respect to contingent obligations, the maximum liability upon the
occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation, and shall
be:
(1) the
accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original
issue discount; and
(2) the
principal amount thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than
30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness;
provided
that
Indebtedness shall not include:
(i) any
liability for federal, state, local or other taxes;
(ii) performance,
surety or appeal bonds provided in the ordinary course of business;
or
(iii) agreements
providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar
obligations, or Guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds or performance
bonds securing any obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries pursuant to such agreements, in any case incurred in connection
with the disposition of any business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary (other
than Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any
portion of such business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of
financing such acquisition), so long as the principal amount does not exceed
the
gross proceeds actually received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
in
connection with such disposition.
“Interest
Payment Date”
means
April 2 and October 2 of each year to Stated Maturity.
“Investments”
means,
with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person
in
other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans or other extensions
of credit (including Guarantees, but excluding advances to customers or
suppliers in the ordinary course of business that are, in conformity with GAAP,
recorded as accounts receivable, prepaid expenses or deposits on the balance
sheet of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries and endorsements for
collection or deposit arising in the ordinary course of business), advances
(excluding commission, travel, payroll and similar advances to officers and
employees made consistent with past practices), capital contributions (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), purchases or other acquisitions
for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities,
together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a
balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.
If
the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes
of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of
the
Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such
Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall
be
deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition
equal to the fair market value of the Investment in such Restricted Subsidiary
not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the covenant
described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments.” The
acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of a
Person that holds an Investment in a third Person shall be deemed to be an
Investment by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such third Person
only if such Investment was made in contemplation of, or in connection with,
the
acquisition of such Person by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary and
the
amount of any such Investment shall be determined as provided in the final
paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain
Covenants—Restricted Payments.”
“Lien”
means,
with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest
or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed,
recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional
sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any
option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing
of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial
Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.
“Net
Income”
means,
with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person,
determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of
preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:
(1) any
gain
or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such gain or loss,
realized in connection with: (a) any sale of assets outside the ordinary course
of business of such Person; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such
Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any
Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
and
(2) any
extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on
such extraordinary gain or loss.
“Net
Proceeds”
means
the aggregate cash proceeds, including payments in respect of deferred payment
obligations (to the extent corresponding to the principal, but not the interest
component, thereof) received by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any
cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration
received in any Asset Sale), net of (1) the direct costs relating to such Asset
Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking
fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result
thereof, (2) taxes paid or payable as a result thereof, in each case, after
taking into account any available tax credits or deductions arising therefrom
and any tax sharing arrangements in connection therewith, (3) amounts required
to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness or other liabilities, secured
by
a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale, or
required to be paid as a result of such sale, and (4) any reserve for adjustment
in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance
with GAAP.
“Note
Guarantee”
means
the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Company’s payment obligations under the
New Indenture and on the Notes, executed pursuant to the New
Indenture.
“Obligations”
means
any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements,
damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any
Indebtedness.
“Permitted
Business”
means
any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of the New Indenture and other businesses
similar or reasonably related, ancillary or incidental thereto or reasonable
extensions thereof.
“Permitted
Investments”
means:
(1) any
Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company;
(2) any
Investment in Cash Equivalents;
(3) any
Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a
Person, if as a result of such Investment:
(a) such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or
(b) such
Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or
conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
(4) any
Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an
Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with the covenant
described above under the caption “—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset
Sales;”
(5) Investments
to the extent acquired in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other
than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;
(6) Hedging
Obligations that are incurred in the ordinary course of business for the purpose
of fixing, hedging or swapping interest rate, commodity price or foreign
currency exchange rate risk (or to reverse or amend any such agreements
previously made for such purposes), and not for speculative purposes, and that
do not increase the Indebtedness of the obligor outstanding at any time other
than as a result of fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or foreign
currency exchange rates or by reason of fees, indemnities and compensation
payable thereunder;
(7) stock,
obligations or securities received in satisfaction of judgments;
(8) Investments
in securities of trade debtors or customers received pursuant to any plan of
reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of
such
trade creditors or customers or in good faith settlement of delinquent
obligations of such trade debtors or customers or in compromise or resolution
of
litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates;
and
(9) other
Investments in any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company (other than
a
Restricted Subsidiary) having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the
date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent
changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant
to this clause (9) since the date of the Indenture, not to exceed $15.0
million.
“Permitted
Liens”
means:
(1) Liens
on
the assets of the Company and any Guarantor securing Senior Debt that was
permitted by the terms of the New Indenture to be incurred;
(2) Liens
in
favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(3) Liens
on
property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into
or
consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
provided
that
such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or
consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person
merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Restricted
Subsidiary;
(4) Liens
on
property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided
that
such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition
and
do not extend to any property other than the property so acquired by the Company
or the Restricted Subsidiary;
(5) Liens
existing on the date of the New Indenture; provided, however, that Liens
existing prior to the date of the New Indenture that continue in effect shall
have been permitted under the Indenture; and
(6) Liens
incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company with respect to obligations that do not exceed $5.0
million at any one time outstanding.
“Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness”
means
any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued
in
exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew,
replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided
that:
(1) the
principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted
value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued interest thereon and the amount
of any reasonably determined premium necessary to accomplish such refinancing
and such reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith);
(2) such
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the
final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to
or
greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;
(3) if
the
Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded
is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, such
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the
final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes
on
terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the
documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded;
(4) if
the
Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded
is pari
passu
in right
of payment with the Notes or any Note Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness is pari
passu
with, or
subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes or such Note Guarantees;
and
(5) such
Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the Restricted Subsidiary
who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded.
“Person”
means
any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability
company or government or other entity.
“preferred
stock”
means,
with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person that has
preferential rights to any other Capital Stock of such Person with respect
to
dividends or redemption upon liquidation.
“Remington”
means
Remington Products Company, L.L.C.
“Replacement
Assets”
means
(1) non-current assets that will be used or useful in a Permitted Business
or
(2) all or substantially all of the assets of a Permitted Business or a majority
of the Voting Stock of any Person engaged in a Permitted Business that will
become on the date of acquisition thereof a Restricted Subsidiary.
“Restricted
Investment”
means
an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
“Restricted
Subsidiary”
of
a
Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
“Significant
Subsidiary”
means
any Subsidiary that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” within the
meaning of Article 1 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act.
“Stated
Maturity”
means,
with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of
Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of interest or principal was
scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness,
and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase
any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the
payment thereof.
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any specified Person:
(1) any
corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of
the
total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the
occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers
or
trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly,
by
such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a
combination thereof); and
(2) any
partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of
which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general
partners of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person
(or
any combination thereof).
“Unrestricted
Subsidiary”
means
any Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors
as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors
in
compliance with the covenant described under the caption “—Certain
Covenants—Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries,” and any
Subsidiary of such Subsidiary.
“VARTA”
means
Varta Geratebatterie GmbH and its successors or assignees.
“VARTA
Joint Venture Agreement”
means
the agreement among VARTA AG, the Company and ROV German Limited GmbH dated
July
28, 2002, as amended.
“Voting
Stock”
of
any
Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the
time
entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such
Person.
“Weighted
Average Life to Maturity”
means,
when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained
by
dividing:
(1) the
sum
of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining
installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of
principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b)
the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between
such date and the making of such payment; by
(2) the
then
outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
“Wholly
Owned Restricted Subsidiary”
of
any
specified Person means a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the
outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than
directors’ qualifying shares or Investments by foreign nationals mandated by
applicable law) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person and one or more Wholly
Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
ANNEX
A
Variable
Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013
Coupon
Schedule,
Optional
Redemption Schedule, and
Change
of Control Premium Schedule
|
100%
Cash Pay Note
|
PIK
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coupon
Schedule
|
|
|
|
While
Company is below 2:1 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
|
|
|
|
Effective
Date through April 1, 2007
|
11.00%
|
11.50%
|
|
April
2, 2007 through October 1, 2007
|
11.25%
|
11.75%
|
|
October
2, 2007 through April 1, 2008
|
11.50%
|
12.00%
|
|
April
2, 2008 through October 1, 2008
|
12.00%
|
12.50%
|
|
October
2, 2008 through April 1, 2009
|
12.50%
|
13.00%
|
|
April
2, 2009 through October 1, 2009
|
12.75%
|
13.25%
|
|
October
2, 2009 through April 1, 2010
|
13.50%
|
14.00%
|
|
April
2, 2010 through October 1, 2010
|
13.75%
|
14.25%
|
|
October
2, 2010 through April 1, 2011
|
14.00%
|
Cash
Pay thereafter
|
|
April
2, 2011 through October 1, 2011
|
14.25%
|
|
|
October
2, 2011 through April 1, 2012
|
14.50%
|
|
|
April
2, 2012 through October 1, 2012
|
14.75%
|
|
|
October
2, 2012 through April 1, 2013
|
15.00%
|
|
|
April
2, 2013 through October 1, 2013
|
15.25%
|
|
|
As
soon as the Company is Above 2:1 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the
then
applicable rate increases by 100 bps
|
|
|
|
|
Optional
Redemption Schedule
|
|
|
|
Effective
Date through Sept 30, 2007
|
110%
of face plus accrued
|
|
|
October
1, 2007 through Sept 30, 2008
|
109%
of face plus accrued
|
|
|
October
1, 2008 through Sept 30, 2009
|
102%
of face plus accrued
|
|
|
October
I, 2009 through Sept 30, 2010
|
101%
of face plus accrued
|
|
|
October
1, 2010 and thereafter
|
100%
of face plus accrued
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change
of Control Premium Schedule
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effective
Date through Sept 30, 2007
|
110%
of face plus accrued
|
|
|
October
1, 2007 through Sept 30, 2008
|
109%
of face plus accrued
|
|
|
October
1, 2008 through Sept 30, 2009
|
102%
of face plus accrued
|
|
|
October
I, 2009 through Sept 30, 2010
|
101%
of face plus accrued
|
|
|
October
1, 2010 and thereafter
|
100%
of face plus accrued
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manually
signed facsimile copies of the Letter of Transmittal and Consent will be
accepted. The Letter of Transmittal and Consent and any other required documents
should be sent or delivered by each Holder or such Holder’s broker, dealer,
commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the Exchange Agent at its
address or facsimile number set forth below.
The
Exchange Agent for this Offer and the Consent Solicitation is:
U.S.
Bank National Association
By
Courier, Hand Delivery, First Class Postage Prepaid
or
Facsimile:
60
Livingston Avenue
St.
Paul,
MN5 5107
Attn:
Specialized Finance
Facsimile:
(651) 495-8158
Phone:
(800) 934-6802
Questions
and requests for assistance or for additional copies of the Offer Documents
may
be directed to the Information Agent at its respective telephone numbers and
mailing and delivery address listed below. You may also contact your broker,
dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance
concerning this Offer or the Consent Solicitation.
The
Information Agent for this Offer and the Consent Solicitation is:
Global
Bondholder Services Corporation
65
Broadway — Suite 723
New
York,
New York 10006
Attn:
Corporate Actions
Banks
and
Brokers call: (212) 430-3774
Toll
Free
(866) 873-5600
By
Facsimile:
(For
Eligible Institutions Only):
(212)
430-3775
Confirmation:
(212)
430-3774
By
Mail,
Overnight Courier or Hand Delivery:
65
Broadway — Suite 723
New
York,
New York 10006