|
Exhibit
10.3
ABITIBI-CONSOLIDATED COMPANY
OF CANADA
AND EACH OF THE GUARANTORS
PARTY HERETO
15.5% SENIOR NOTES DUE
2010
INDENTURE
Dated as of April 1,
2008
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
Trustee
CROSS-REFERENCE
TABLE*
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trust Indenture
Act
Section
|
|
Indenture Section |
| 310 |
|
(a)(1) |
|
7.10 |
|
|
(a)(2) |
|
7.10 |
|
|
(a)(3) |
|
N.A. |
|
|
(a)(4) |
|
N.A. |
|
|
(a)(5) |
|
7.10 |
|
|
(b) |
|
7.10 |
|
|
(c) |
|
N.A. |
| 311 |
|
(a) |
|
7.11 |
|
|
(b) |
|
7.11 |
|
|
(c) |
|
N.A. |
| 312 |
|
(a) |
|
2.05 |
|
|
(b) |
|
12.03 |
|
|
(c) |
|
12.03 |
| 313 |
|
(a) |
|
7.06 |
|
|
(b)(2) |
|
7.06; 7.07 |
|
|
(c) |
|
7.06;12.02 |
|
|
(d) |
|
7.06 |
| 314 |
|
(a) |
|
4.03;12.02; 12.05 |
|
|
(c)(1) |
|
12.04 |
|
|
(c)(2) |
|
12.04 |
|
|
(c)(3) |
|
N.A. |
|
|
(e) |
|
12.05 |
|
|
(f) |
|
N.A. |
| 315 |
|
(a) |
|
7.01 |
|
|
(b) |
|
7.05; 12.02 |
|
|
(c) |
|
7.01 |
|
|
(d) |
|
7.01 |
|
|
(e) |
|
6.11 |
| 316 |
|
(a) (last
sentence) |
|
2.09 |
|
|
(a)(1)(A) |
|
6.05 |
|
|
(a)(1)(B) |
|
6.04 |
|
|
(a)(2) |
|
N.A. |
|
|
(b) |
|
6.07 |
|
|
(c) |
|
2.12 |
| 317 |
|
(a)(1) |
|
6.08 |
|
|
(a)(2) |
|
6.09 |
|
|
(b) |
|
2.04 |
| 318 |
|
(a) |
|
12.01 |
|
|
(b) |
|
N.A. |
|
|
(c) |
|
12.01 |
N.A. means not applicable.
| * |
This Cross Reference Table is not part of the
Indenture. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Page |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND
INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Section 1.01 |
|
Definitions. |
|
1 |
| Section
1.02 |
|
Other
Definitions. |
|
29 |
| Section
1.03 |
|
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. |
|
29 |
| Section
1.04 |
|
Rules of
Construction. |
|
30 |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Section
2.01 |
|
Form and
Dating. |
|
30 |
| Section
2.02 |
|
Execution
and Authentication. |
|
31 |
| Section
2.03 |
|
Registrar
and Paying Agent. |
|
31 |
| Section
2.04 |
|
Paying
Agent to Hold Money in Trust. |
|
31 |
| Section
2.05 |
|
Holder
Lists. |
|
32 |
| Section
2.06 |
|
Transfer
and Exchange. |
|
32 |
| Section
2.07 |
|
Replacement Notes. |
|
44 |
| Section
2.08 |
|
Outstanding Notes. |
|
44 |
| Section
2.09 |
|
Treasury
Notes. |
|
44 |
| Section
2.10 |
|
Temporary
Notes. |
|
45 |
| Section
2.11 |
|
Cancellation. |
|
45 |
| Section
2.12 |
|
Defaulted
Interest. |
|
45 |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION AND
PREPAYMENT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Section
3.01 |
|
Notices
to Trustee. |
|
45 |
| Section
3.02 |
|
Notice of
Redemption. |
|
46 |
| Section
3.03 |
|
Effect of
Notice of Redemption. |
|
46 |
| Section
3.04 |
|
Deposit
of Redemption or Purchase Price. |
|
46 |
| Section
3.05 |
|
Tax
Redemption. |
|
47 |
| Section
3.06 |
|
Mandatory
Redemption. |
|
48 |
| Section
3.07 |
|
Offer to
Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds. |
|
48 |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Section
4.01 |
|
Payment
of Notes. |
|
49 |
| Section
4.02 |
|
Maintenance of Office or Agency. |
|
50 |
| Section
4.03 |
|
Reports. |
|
50 |
| Section
4.04 |
|
Compliance Certificate. |
|
51 |
| Section
4.05 |
|
Taxes. |
|
52 |
| Section
4.06 |
|
Stay,
Extension and Usury Laws. |
|
52 |
| Section
4.07 |
|
Restricted Payments. |
|
52 |
| Section
4.08 |
|
Dividend
and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted
Subsidiaries. |
|
56 |
| Section
4.09 |
|
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock. |
|
58 |
| Section
4.10 |
|
Asset
Sales. |
|
63 |
| Section
4.11 |
|
Transactions with Affiliates. |
|
65 |
i
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Page |
| Section
4.12 |
|
Liens. |
|
67 |
| Section 4.13 |
|
Business
Activities. |
|
67 |
| Section
4.14 |
|
Corporate
Existence. |
|
67 |
| Section
4.15 |
|
Offer to
Repurchase Upon Change of Control. |
|
67 |
| Section
4.16 |
|
Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions. |
|
69 |
| Section
4.17 |
|
Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Equity Interests in
Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries. |
|
69 |
| Section
4.18 |
|
Payments
for Consent. |
|
70 |
| Section
4.19 |
|
Additional Note Guarantees. |
|
70 |
| Section
4.20 |
|
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted
Subsidiaries. |
|
70 |
| Section
4.21 |
|
Additional Amounts. |
|
71 |
| Section
4.22 |
|
Secured
Notes Exchange Offer to Exchange Notes for Secured
Notes. |
|
72 |
| Section
4.23 |
|
Augusta
Newsprint |
|
73 |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 5
SUCCESSORS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Section
5.01 |
|
Merger,
Consolidation, or Sale of Assets. |
|
73 |
| Section
5.02 |
|
Successor
Corporation Substituted. |
|
75 |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND
REMEDIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Section
6.01 |
|
Events of
Default. |
|
75 |
| Section
6.02 |
|
Acceleration. |
|
77 |
| Section
6.03 |
|
Other
Remedies. |
|
77 |
| Section
6.04 |
|
Waiver of
Past Defaults. |
|
78 |
| Section
6.05 |
|
Control
by Majority. |
|
78 |
| Section
6.06 |
|
Limitation on Suits. |
|
78 |
| Section
6.07 |
|
Rights of
Holders of Notes to Receive Payment. |
|
79 |
| Section
6.08 |
|
Collection Suit by Trustee. |
|
79 |
| Section
6.09 |
|
Trustee
May File Proofs of Claim. |
|
79 |
| Section
6.10 |
|
Priorities. |
|
79 |
| Section
6.11 |
|
Undertaking for Costs. |
|
80 |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Section
7.01 |
|
Duties of
Trustee. |
|
80 |
| Section
7.02 |
|
Rights of
Trustee. |
|
81 |
| Section
7.03 |
|
Individual Rights of Trustee. |
|
82 |
| Section
7.04 |
|
Trustee’s Disclaimer. |
|
82 |
| Section
7.05 |
|
Notice of
Defaults. |
|
82 |
| Section
7.06 |
|
Reports
by Trustee to Holders of the Notes. |
|
82 |
| Section
7.07 |
|
Compensation and Indemnity. |
|
82 |
| Section
7.08 |
|
Replacement of Trustee. |
|
83 |
| Section
7.09 |
|
Successor
Trustee by Merger, etc. |
|
84 |
| Section
7.10 |
|
Eligibility; Disqualification. |
|
84 |
| Section
7.11 |
|
Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer.
. |
|
84 |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 8
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT
DEFEASANCE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Section
8.01 |
|
Option to
Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. |
|
85 |
| Section
8.02 |
|
Legal
Defeasance and Discharge. |
|
85 |
ii
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Page |
| Section 8.03 |
|
Covenant
Defeasance. |
|
85 |
| Section 8.04 |
|
Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. |
|
86 |
| Section
8.05 |
|
Deposited
Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other
Miscellaneous Provisions. |
|
87 |
| Section
8.06 |
|
Repayment
to Issuer. |
|
87 |
| Section
8.07 |
|
Reinstatement. |
|
88 |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND
WAIVER
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Section
9.01 |
|
Without
Consent of Holders of Notes. |
|
88 |
| Section
9.02 |
|
With
Consent of Holders of Notes. |
|
89 |
| Section
9.03 |
|
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. |
|
90 |
| Section
9.04 |
|
Revocation and Effect of Consents. |
|
90 |
| Section
9.05 |
|
Notation
on or Exchange of Notes. |
|
90 |
| Section
9.06 |
|
Trustee
to Sign Amendments, etc. |
|
91 |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 10
NOTE GUARANTEES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Section 10.01 |
|
Guarantee. |
|
91 |
| Section
10.02 |
|
Limitation on Guarantor Liability. |
|
92 |
| Section
10.03 |
|
Execution
and Delivery of Note Guarantee. |
|
92 |
| Section
10.04 |
|
Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. |
|
93 |
| Section
10.05 |
|
Releases. |
|
93 |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 11
SATISFACTION AND
DISCHARGE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Section
11.01 |
|
Satisfaction and Discharge. |
|
94 |
| Section
11.02 |
|
Application of Trust Money. |
|
95 |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 12
MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Section
12.01 |
|
Trust
Indenture Act Controls. |
|
96 |
| Section
12.02 |
|
Notices. |
|
96 |
| Section
12.03 |
|
Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of
Notes. |
|
97 |
| Section
12.04 |
|
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. |
|
97 |
| Section
12.05 |
|
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. |
|
97 |
| Section
12.06 |
|
Rules by
Trustee and Agents. |
|
98 |
| Section
12.07 |
|
No
Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders. |
|
98 |
| Section
12.08 |
|
Governing
Law. |
|
98 |
| Section
12.09 |
|
No
Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. |
|
98 |
| Section
12.10 |
|
Successors. |
|
98 |
| Section
12.11 |
|
Severability. |
|
98 |
| Section
12.12 |
|
Counterpart Originals. |
|
98 |
| Section
12.13 |
|
Table of
Contents, Headings, etc. |
|
99 |
| Section
12.14 |
|
Interest
Act (Canada). |
|
99 |
| Section
12.15 |
|
Conversion of Currency. |
|
99 |
| Section
12.16 |
|
Joint and
Several Obligations. |
|
99 |
| Section
12.17 |
|
Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. |
|
99 |
iii
EXHIBITS
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Page
|
|
Exhibit A1
|
|
FORM OF
NOTE |
|
A-1 |
| Exhibit B |
|
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER |
|
B-1 |
| Exhibit
C |
|
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE |
|
C-1 |
| Exhibit D |
|
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED
INVESTOR |
|
D-1 |
| Exhibit
E |
|
FORM OF
NOTATION OF GUARANTEE |
|
E-1 |
| Exhibit
F |
|
FORM OF
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE |
|
F-1 |
iv
INDENTURE dated as of
April 1, 2008 among Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada, a
company amalgamated under the laws of the province of Quebec,
Canada (the “ Issuer ”), Abitibi-Consolidated
Inc., a company amalgamated under the laws of Canada (the “
Company ”), the other Guarantors (as defined herein)
and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the
“Trustee” ).
In this Indenture, except
where otherwise indicated, all references to “dollars”
and “$” are to the lawful currency of the United
States.
The Issuer, the Guarantors
and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and
for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined) of
the 15.5% Senior Notes due 2010 (the “ Notes
”):
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND
INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01
Definitions.
“144A Global
Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private
Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered
in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued
in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the
Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.
“AbitibiBowater
Inc.” means AbitibiBowater Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
“Abitibi-Consolidated Finance L.P.” means
Abitibi-Consolidated Finance L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership.
“Acquired
Debt” means, with respect to any specified
Person:
(1) Indebtedness of any other
Person existing at the time such other Person is consolidated,
amalgamated or merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such
specified Person (or, if the specified Person is the Issuer and
Donohue Corp. is, at such time, a Guarantor, of Donohue Corp. or
any of its Subsidiaries), whether or not such Indebtedness is
incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other
Person consolidating, amalgamating or merging with or into, or
becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person;
and
(2) Indebtedness secured by a
Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified
Person.
“Additional
Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial
Notes) issued under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.02
and 4.09 hereof, as part of the same series as the Initial
Notes.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means
any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled
by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified
Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as
used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For
purposes of this definition, the terms “ controlling,
” “ controlled by ” and “ under
common control with ” have correlative meanings. No
Person (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or,
if Donohue Corp. is, at such time, a Guarantor, Donohue Corp. or
any Subsidiary of Donohue Corp.) in whom a Receivables Entity makes
an
1
Investment in connection with a
Qualified Receivables Transaction will be deemed to be an Affiliate
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, if Donohue Corp. is,
at such time, a Guarantor, Donohue Corp. or any Subsidiary of
Donohue Corp. solely by reason of such Investment.
“Agent”
means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional
paying agent.
“Applicable
Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or
exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the
rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream
that apply to such transfer or exchange.
“Asset
Sale” means:
(1) the sale, lease,
conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights;
provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be
governed by the provisions of the Indenture described under
Section 4.15 hereof and/or the provisions described under
Section 5.01 hereof and not by the provisions of
Section 4.10 hereof; and
(2) the issuance of Equity
Interests by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or
the sale of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s
Subsidiaries, including, if Donohue Corp. is, at such time, a
Guarantor, Donohue Corp. and its Subsidiaries (other than
directors’ qualifying Equity Interests or Equity Interests
required by applicable law to be held by a Person other than the
Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries).
Notwithstanding the
preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an
Asset Sale:
(1) any single transaction or
series of related transactions that involves assets having a Fair
Market Value of less than $10.0 million;
(2) a transfer of assets
between or among the Company and Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(3) an issuance of Equity
Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company
or to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
(4) the sale or lease of
products, services or accounts receivable in the ordinary course of
business and any sale or other disposition of damaged, worn-out or
obsolete assets in the ordinary course of business;
(5) the sale or other
disposition of Cash Equivalents;
(6) sales of accounts
receivable and related assets to a Receivables Entity in connection
with a Qualified Receivables Transaction;
(7) the Donohue Sale and the
other Permitted Reorganization Transactions;
(8) the Joint Venture
Transactions;
(9) a Restricted Payment that
does not violate Section 4.07 hereof or a Permitted
Investment;
2
(10) the licensing of
intellectual property or other general intangibles to third persons
on customary terms in the ordinary course of business;
(11) the sale, lease,
sub-lease, license, sub-license, consignment, conveyance or other
disposition of inventory in the ordinary course of business,
including leases with respect to facilities that are temporarily
not in use or pending their disposition, or accounts receivable in
connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof;
and
(12) the creation of a Lien
to the extent that the granting of such Lien was not in violation
of Section 4.12 hereof.
“Attributable
Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction
means, at the time of determination, the present value of the
obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the
remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback
transaction including any period for which such lease has been
extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such
present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to
the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in
accordance with GAAP; provided, however , that if such sale
and leaseback transaction results in a Capital Lease Obligation,
the amount of Indebtedness represented thereby will be determined
in accordance with the definition of “Capital Lease
Obligation.”
“Bankruptcy
Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, the BIA, the CCAA, the
WURA, the Insolvency Act or any similar federal, provincial, or
state law for the relief or bankruptcy of debtors.
“Beneficial
Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule
13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in
calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular
“person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3)
of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to
have beneficial ownership of all securities that such
“person” has the right to acquire by conversion or
exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently
exercisable or is exercisable only after the passage of time. The
terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially
Owned” have a corresponding meaning.
“BIA”
means the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada).
“Board of
Directors” means:
(1) with respect to a
corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any
committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such
board;
(2) with respect to a
partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the
partnership;
(3) with respect to a limited
liability company, the managing member or members or any
controlling committee of managing members thereof; and
(4) with respect to any other
Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar
function.
“Borrowing
Base” means, as of any date, an amount equal
to:
(1) 85% of the face amount of
all accounts receivable owned by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter
preceding such date that were not more than 180 days past due;
plus
3
(2) 75% of the book value of
all inventory, net of reserves, owned by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal
quarter preceding such date;
provided that any accounts
receivable or inventory that are utilized in connection with a
Qualified Receivables Transaction will be excluded from the
Borrowing Base to the extent of the Indebtedness outstanding with
respect to such Qualified Receivables Transaction.
“Bowater
Incorporated” means Bowater Incorporated, a Delaware
corporation.
“Broker-Dealer” has the meaning set forth in
the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Business
Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
“Canadian
Subsidiary” means with respect to any Person, any
Subsidiary of such Person that is organized or existing under the
laws of Canada or any province or territory thereof.
“Capital Lease
Obligation” means, at the time any determination is to be
made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease
that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance
sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity
thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other
amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such
lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a
penalty.
“Capital
Stock” means:
(1) in the case of a
corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an
association or business entity, any and all shares, interests,
participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of
corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a
partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests
(whether general or limited) or membership interests;
and
(4) any other interest or
participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share
of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the
issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt
securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt
securities include any right of participation with Capital
Stock.
“Cash
Equivalents” means:
(1) United States dollars and
Canadian dollars;
(2) securities issued or
directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the Canadian or United
States government or any agency or instrumentality of the Canadian
or United States government ( provided that the full faith
and credit of Canada or United States is pledged in support of
those securities) 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 lender party to the Term Loan Facility or with
any Canadian or United States commercial bank having capital and
surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating
of “B” or better;
4
(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
one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s
Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Rating
Services and, in each case, maturing within nine months after the
date of acquisition;
(6) securities issued by any
state of the United States of America, any province of Canada or
any political subdivision or any public instrumentality of any such
state or province maturing within one year from the date of
acquisition thereof and at the time of acquisition thereof, having
one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either
Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s;
(7) money market funds at
least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the
kinds described in clauses (1) through (6) of this
definition; and
(8) local currencies held by
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, from time to
time in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practice.
“CCAA”
means the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act
(Canada).
“Change of
Control” means the occurrence of any of the
following:
(1) the direct or indirect
sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than
by way of merger, amalgamation 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 Subsidiaries (including
if Donohue Corp. is, at such time, a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company, Donohue Corp. and its Subsidiaries) taken as a whole to
any “person” (as that term is used in
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than
AbitibiBowater Inc., a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of AbitibiBowater
Inc. or a Permitted Holder;
(2) the adoption of a plan
relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or
AbitibiBowater Inc. (other than a plan of liquidation of the
Company that is a liquidation for tax purposes only);
(3) the consummation of any
transaction (including, without limitation, any merger,
amalgamation or consolidation), the result of which is that any
“person” (as defined above) other than the Permitted
Holders, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of
more than 50% of the Voting Stock of AbitibiBowater Inc., measured
by voting power rather than number of shares;
(4) AbitibiBowater Inc.
consolidates, amalgamates or merges with or into, any Person, or
any Person consolidates, amalgamates, or merges with or into,
AbitibiBowater Inc., in any such event pursuant to a transaction in
which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of AbitibiBowater Inc. or
such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash,
securities or other property, other than any such transaction where
the Voting Stock of AbitibiBowater Inc. outstanding immediately
prior to such transaction constitutes or is converted into or
exchanged for a majority of the outstanding shares of the Voting
Stock of such surviving or transferee Person (immediately after
giving effect to such transaction);
5
(5) the first day on which
the Company ceases to be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of
AbitibiBowater Inc.;
(6) the first day on which
the Issuer ceases to be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company;
or
(7) the first day on which a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors of AbitibiBowater
Inc. are not Continuing Directors;
provided that for purposes of
this definition, the exchangeable shares issued by AbitibiBowater
Canada Inc. (f/k/a as Bowater Canada, Inc.) outstanding on the date
of the Indenture shall be deemed to have been exchanged for shares
of Capital Stock of AbitibiBowater Inc.
“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking,
S.A.
“Collateral Trust
Agreement” means that certain collateral trust agreement,
dated the date of this Indenture, among the Issuer, the Company,
other Guarantors from time to time party thereto, the Trustee and
the collateral trustee, to secure the Secured Notes and future
Fixed Asset Debt, as amended, supplemented, restated, modified,
renewed or replaced (whether upon or after termination or
otherwise), in whole or in part from time to time, or any other
successor agreement and whether among the same or any other
parties.
“collateral
trustee” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in
its capacity as collateral trustee under the Collateral Trust
Agreement, together with its successors in such
capacity.
“Company”
means Abitibi-Consolidated Inc., and any and all successors
thereto.
“Consolidated Cash
Flow” means, with respect to any specified Person for any
period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period
plus , without duplication:
(1) an amount equal to any
extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized by such Person or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to
the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated
Net Income; plus
(2) 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
(3) the Fixed Charges of such
Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the
extent that such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus
(4) depreciation,
amortization (including amortization of intangibles, deferred
financing fees, debt incurrence costs, commissions, fees and
expenses, but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that
were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses or charges
(including any write-offs of debt issuance or deferred financing
costs or fees and impairment charges and the impact on depreciation
and amortization of purchase accounting), but excluding any such
non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an
accrual
6
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 or charges
were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income;
minus
(5) nonrecurring charges or
expenses made or incurred in connection with any restructuring, and
transaction costs incurred in connection with any acquisition, in
each case to the extent deducted in computing such Consolidated Net
Income; minus
(6) non-cash items increasing
such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than the
accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business,
in each case, on a consolidated basis
and determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that for so
long as Donohue Corp. and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are
required to do so under the indenture continue to provide Note
Guarantees, Consolidated Cash Flow will be determined on a
consolidated combined basis (including Donohue Corp. and its
Restricted Subsidiaries as if they were actually Subsidiaries of
the Company).
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 (other than
Donohue Corp. and its Restricted Subsidiaries) will be added to
Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cash Flow of the
Company only to the extent that a corresponding amount would be
permitted at the date of determination to be dividended 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 Restricted
Subsidiary or its stockholders.
“Consolidated Net
Income” means, with respect to any specified Person for
any period, the aggregate of the net income (loss) of such Person
and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated
basis determined in accordance with GAAP and without any reduction
in respect of preferred stock dividends; provided
that:
(1) all extraordinary gains
and losses and all gains and losses realized in connection with any
Asset Sale or the disposition of securities or the early
extinguishment of Indebtedness, together with any related provision
for taxes on any such gain, will be excluded;
(2) 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 will be included
only to the extent of the amount of dividends or similar
distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Person;
(3) the net income (but not
loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary will be excluded to the extent
that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar
distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that net income is
not at the date of determination permitted without any prior
governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or
indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any
agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or
governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or
its stockholders;
(4) the cumulative effect of
a change in accounting principles will be excluded;
7
(5) notwithstanding clause
(1) above, the net income of any Unrestricted Subsidiary will
be excluded, whether or not distributed to the specified Person or
one of its Subsidiaries; and
(6) for so long as Donohue
Corp. and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are required to do so
under the indenture continue to provide Note Guarantees,
Consolidated Net Income will be determined on a consolidated
combined basis (including Donohue Corp. and its Restricted
Subsidiaries as if they were actually Subsidiaries of the
Company).
“Consolidated Net
Tangible Assets” means the total amount of assets of any
Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis,
including deferred pension costs, after deducting
therefrom:
(1) all current liabilities
(excluding any indebtedness classified as a current
liability);
(2) all goodwill, tradenames,
trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and financing costs
and all similar intangible assets;
(3) appropriate adjustments
on account of minority interests of other Persons holding shares of
the Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person;
(4) so long as Donohue Corp.
and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are required to do so under
the indenture continue to provide Note Guarantees, Consolidated Net
Income will be determined on a consolidated combined basis
(including Donohue Corp. and its Restricted Subsidiaries as if they
were actually Subsidiaries of the Company);
all as set forth in the most recent
consolidated (and, in the case of clause (4) above, combined)
balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (but,
in any event as of a date within 150 days of the date of
determination), determined on a consolidated basis in accordance
with GAAP.
“Continuing
Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any
member of the Board of Directors of AbitibiBowater Inc.
who:
(1) was a member of such
Board of Directors on the date of this 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 of Directors at the time of such nomination or
election.
“Convertible
Notes” means the 8.0% convertible debentures due 2013
issued by AbitibiBowater Inc. on the date of this
Indenture.
“Corporate Trust
Office of the Trustee” will 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
Issuer.
“Credit
Facilities” means, one or more debt facilities
(including, without limitation, the Term Loan Facility) or
commercial paper facilities, in each case, with banks or other
lenders or credit providers or a trustee 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), bankers acceptances, letters of credit or issuances
of senior secured notes, including any related notes, guarantees,
collateral documents, instruments, documents and
agreements
8
executed in connection therewith and in
each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded,
replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or
otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt
securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from
time to time.
“Current
Debt” means Indebtedness and other Obligations under the
Term Loan Facility and any other Credit Facility (including letters
of credit and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto)
incurred pursuant to clauses (1), (3) or (21) of the
definition of “Permitted Debt.”
“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.
“Definitive
Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of
the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06
hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto except that
such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have
the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global
Note” attached thereto.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the
Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the
Person specified in Section 2.03 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 Non-cash
Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash
consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated
as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’
Certificate delivered to the Trustee, setting forth the basis of
such valuation.
“Disqualified
Stock” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by
the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for
which it is exchangeable, in each case, at the option of the holder
of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures
or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation
or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the
Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is
91 days after the date on which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute
Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock
have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital
Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale
will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital
Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any
such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such
repurchase or redemption complies with section 4.07 hereof;
provided, further , that if the Capital Stock is issued to
any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or its
Subsidiaries or, if Donohue Corp. is, at such time, a Guarantor,
Donohue Corp. or any of its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to
those employees, that Capital Stock shall not constitute
Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be
repurchased by the Company in order to satisfy applicable statutory
or regulatory obligations. The amount of Disqualified Stock deemed
to be outstanding at any time for purposes of this Indenture will
be the maximum amount that the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or
pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such
Disqualified Stock, exclusive of accrued dividends.
“Donohue
Corp.” means Donohue Corp., a Delaware
corporation.
9
“Donohue
Sale” means (i) the recapitalization of certain of
the preferred stock of Donohue Corp. into common stock of Donohue
Corp. and (ii) the sale by the Issuer of all or a majority of
the common stock of Donohue Corp. to AbitibiBowater Inc. or a
Subsidiary thereof in exchange for the assumption by AbitibiBowater
Inc. or such Subsidiary of approximately C$142.0 million of
indebtedness (and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon) owing by
the Issuer to Donohue Corp.
“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).
“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V.,
as operator of the Euroclear system.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
“Exchange
Notes” means the Notes issued in the Exchange Offer
pursuant to Section 2.06(f) hereof.
“Exchange
Offer” has the meaning set forth in the Registration
Rights Agreement.
“Exchange Offer
Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement.
“Excluded
Proceeds” means (a) the net proceeds from the sale
by Abitibi Consolidated Sales Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
to Catalyst Paper Corporation of (i) all of the capital stock
of The Apache Railway Company and (ii) certain assets related
to the production of newsprint pursuant to the Asset and Stock
Purchase Agreement dated as of February 10, 2008 between such
parties and (b) the net proceeds received in connection with
the Donohue Sale and the other Permitted Reorganization
Transactions.
“Existing
Indebtedness” means all Indebtedness of the Company and
its Subsidiaries and Donohue Corp. and its Subsidiaries (other than
Indebtedness under the Term Loan Facility or under the
Securitization Agreement) in existence on the date of this
Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.
“Fair Market
Value” means the value that would be paid by a willing
buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not
involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company (unless otherwise
provided in this Indenture).
“Fixed Asset
Debt” means:
(1) the Secured Notes
(including any related exchange notes) and the related guarantees
thereof, and all other Obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors
under the indenture governing the Secured Notes and all related
security documents; and
(2) any other Indebtedness of
the Issuer (including additional Secured Notes), which may be
guaranteed by the Guarantors, that is secured (equally and ratably
with the Secured Notes if any remain outstanding) by the Liens
created pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement; provided
that:
(a) the net proceeds are used
to refund, refinance, replace, defease, discharge or otherwise
acquire or retire other Fixed Asset Debt; or
10
(b) on the date of incurrence
of such Indebtedness, after giving pro forma effect to the
incurrence thereof and the application of the proceeds therefrom,
the aggregate principal amount of Fixed Asset Debt then outstanding
would not exceed 10% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the
Company; and
(3) Hedging Obligations of
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the
ordinary course of business.
“Fixed Asset Debt
Obligations” means Fixed Asset Debt and all other
Obligations in respect thereof.
“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
Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays,
repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any
Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or
issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the
commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the
event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
is made (the “ Calculation Date ”), then the
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma
effect (in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act)
to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase,
redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such
issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use
of the proceeds therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the
beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference
period.
In addition, for purposes of
calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:
(1) acquisitions that have
been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations, or any
Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the
specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and
including all related financing transactions and including
increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the
four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference
period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, or that are to be
made on the Calculation Date, will be given pro forma effect (in
accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act) as if they
had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference
period;
(2) the Consolidated Cash
Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in
accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership
interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will
be excluded;
(3) the Fixed Charges
attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in
accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership
interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will
be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving
rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified
Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the
Calculation Date;
(4) any Person that is a
Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed to
have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such
four-quarter period;
(5) any Person that is not a
Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to
have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during such
four-quarter period;
11
(6) if any Indebtedness bears
a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such
Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the
Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period
(taking into account any Hedging Obligation applicable to such
Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term as at
the Calculation Date in excess of 12 months); and
(7) so long as Donohue Corp.
and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are required to do so under
the indenture continue to provide Note Guarantees, Fixed Charges
will be determined on a consolidated combined basis (including
Donohue Corp. and its Restricted Subsidiaries as if they were
actually Subsidiaries of the Company).
“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 (
provided that, in the event Donohue Corp. and its Restricted
Subsidiaries that are required to do so under the indenture
continue to provide Note Guarantees but are no longer included in
the Company’s consolidated financial statements, consolidated
interest expense will then be determined on a consolidated combined
basis (including Donohue Corp. and its consolidated entities)) 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, imputed
interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts
and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit
or bankers’ acceptance financings, commissions, discounts,
yield and other fees and charges (including interest) incurred in
connection with any Qualified Receivables Transaction or any other
transaction pursuant to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or, if Donohue Corp. is, at such time, a Guarantor,
Donohue Corp. or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or
otherwise transfer or grant a security interest in any accounts
receivable or related assets of the type specified in the
definition of “Qualified Receivables Transaction,” and
net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to
Hedging Obligations in respect of interest rates;
plus
(2) the consolidated interest
expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was
capitalized during such period; plus
(3) any interest 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 preferred stock of such Person or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity
Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other
than Disqualified Stock) or to the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary of the 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,
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;
plus
(5) so long as Donohue Corp.
and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are required to do so under
the indenture continue to provide Note Guarantees, consolidated
interest expense will be determined on a consolidated combined
basis (including Donohue Corp. and its Restricted Subsidiaries as
if they were actually Subsidiaries of the Company).
12
“Foreign
Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any
Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is not a Canadian
Subsidiary or a U.S. Subsidiary.
“GAAP”
means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Canadian Institute of Chartered
Accountants (“ Canadian GAAP ”) which are in
effect on the date of this Indenture; provided , that, if
the Issuer so elects upon notice to the Trustee, then for periods
following the date of such election, “GAAP” shall mean
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
(“ U.S. GAAP ”), as in effect upon the date of
such election; provided further , that any such election,
once made, shall be irrevocable. If (i) the Issuer elects to
use U.S. GAAP, each provision of the covenant described in
Section 4.03 hereof that requires a “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations” analysis including comparative figures to be
provided in respect of a previous period shall be deemed to require
comparative figures to be provided in respect of the previous two
such periods, with such figures being reconciled in accordance with
U.S. GAAP.
“Global Note
Legend” means the legend set forth in
Section 2.06(g)(2) hereof, which is required to be placed on
all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.
“Global
Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the
Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited
with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depository
or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto and
that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule
of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached
thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(3),
2.06(b)(4), 2.06(d)(2) or 2.06(f) hereof.
“Government
Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations
guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for
which the United States pledges its full faith and
credit.
“Guarantee” means a guarantee other than by
endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the
ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner
including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or
through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect
thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by
virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well,
to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay
or to maintain financial statement conditions or
otherwise).
“Guarantors” means the Company and any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that executes a Note Guarantee
in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and their
respective successors and assigns, in each case, until the Note
Guarantee of such Person has been released in accordance with the
provisions of this Indenture.
“Hedging
Obligations” means, with respect to any specified Person,
the obligations of such Person under:
(1) interest rate swap
agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to
fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar
agreements;
(2) other agreements or
arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate
risk; and
(3) other agreements or
arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in currency exchange rates or commodity prices.
13
“Holder”
means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.
“IAI Global
Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of
Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private
Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered
in the name of the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in
a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the
Notes sold to Institutional Accredited Investors
.
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any
specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person (excluding
accrued expenses and trade payables), 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);
(3) in respect of
banker’s acceptances;
(4) representing Capital
Lease Obligations or Attributable Debt in respect of sale and
leaseback transactions;
(5) representing the balance
deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or
services due more than six months after such property is acquired
or such services are completed but excluding other accrued
liabilities being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted;
or
(6) representing any Hedging
Obligations,
if and to the extent any of the
preceding items (other than letters of credit, Attributable Debt
and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance
sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In
addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes 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) and, to the extent not otherwise included,
the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any
other Person as shall equal the lesser of (x) the Fair Market
Value of such asset as of the date of determination or (y) the
amount of such Indebtedness and, to the extent not otherwise
included, the guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness
of any other Person.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in connection with the purchase by the Company or of its
Restricted Subsidiaries of any business, the term
“Indebtedness” will exclude post-closing payment
adjustments to which the seller may become entitled to the extent
such payment is determined by a final closing balance sheet or such
payment depends on the performance of such business after the
closing; provided , however , that at the time of
closing, the amount of any such payment is not determinable and, to
the extent such payment thereafter becomes fixed and determined,
the amount is paid within 30 days thereafter.
“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.
“Initial
Notes” means the first $292,740,000 aggregate principal
amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the date
hereof.
14
“Initial
Purchasers” means Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P.
Morgan Securities Inc.
“ Insolvency Act
” means the Insolvency Act 1986 of England and Wales (as
amended by the Enterprise Act 2002 of England and
Wales).
“Institutional
Accredited Investor” means an institution that is an
“accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1),
(2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act, who are not
also QIBs.
“Investments” means, with respect to any
Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other
Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including
Guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions
(excluding (i) commission, travel and similar advances to
officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business and
(ii) extensions of credit to customers or advances, deposits
or payment to or with suppliers, lessors or utilities or for
workers’ compensation, in each case, that are incurred in the
ordinary course of business and recorded as accounts receivable,
prepaid expenses or deposits on the balance sheet of such Person
prepared in accordance with GAAP), 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 will be
deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or
disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company’s
Investments in such Restricted Subsidiary that were not sold or
disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final
paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof. The acquisition by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of a Person
that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an
Investment by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such
third Person in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the
Investments held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an
amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of
Section 4.07 hereof. Except as otherwise provided in this
Indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the
time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent
changes in value but giving effect (without duplication) to all
subsequent reductions in the amount of such Investment as a result
of (x) the repayment or disposition thereof for cash of
(y) the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a
Restricted Subsidiary (valued proportionately to the equity
interest in such Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary owning such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the
time of such redesignation) at the Fair Market Value of the net
assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such
redesignation, in the case of clause (x) and (y), not to
exceed the original amount, or Fair Market Value, of such
Investment.
“ Issuer ”
means Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada, and any and all
successors.
“Joint Purchasing
Agreements” means any agreement between or among the
Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries and Bowater
Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, or any of its Subsidiaries,
whereby the parties thereto agree to jointly purchase goods or
services from third parties; provided that such agreements
result in the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary
purchasing such goods or services on terms that are no worse than
would have been obtained by the Company or applicable Restricted
Subsidiary in the absence of such agreement.
“Joint Venture
Transactions” means (a) transfer or conversion of
the facilities located in South Wirral, Cheshire, United Kingdom
whether by (i) a sale by Bridgewater Paper Company Limited
(U.K.) (“ Bridgewater ”) of its Equity Interests
to a Person not an Affiliate of the Company; (ii) a transfer
of the assets of Bridgewater to a joint venture with a Person not
an Affiliate of the Company; or (iii) any other transaction
having substantially the effect of the foregoing and/or
(b) the transfer to Produits Forestiers
15
Mauricie L.P. of the Issuer’s
Rivière-aux-Rats sawmill and the timber rights previously held
by Produits Forestiers La Tuque Inc., and the concurrent issuance,
directly or indirectly, of any limited or general partnership in
such limited partnership, or in any general partner of such limited
partnership, in exchange therefor or any other transaction having
substantially the effect of the foregoing.
“Legal
Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which
banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of
payment are authorized 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 shall accrue on
such payment for the intervening period.
“Letter of
Transmittal” means the letter of transmittal to be
prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Notes for
use by such Holders in connection with the Exchange
Offer.
“Lien”
means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, hypothec, 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, except in connection with any Qualified Receivables
Transaction.
“Net
Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds and Cash
Equivalents received by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without
limitation, any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or
other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any
Asset Sale), net of 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 of the Asset Sale, taxes paid or payable as a
result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account,
without duplication, (1) any available tax credits or
deductions and any tax sharing arrangements, and amounts required
to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a
Permitted Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such
Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale
price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP,
(2) any reserve or payment with respect to liabilities
associated with such asset or assets and retained by the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other
disposition thereof, including, without limitation, severance
costs, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and
liabilities related to environmental matters or against any
indemnification obligations associated with such transaction, and
(3) any cash escrows in connection with purchase price
adjustments, reserves or indemnities (until released).
“Non-Recourse
Debt” means Indebtedness:
(1) as to which neither the
Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides
credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or
instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (b) is
directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise, or
(c) constitutes the lender;
(2) no default with respect
to which (including any rights that the holders of the Indebtedness
may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted
Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any
holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other
Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be
accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and
16
(3) as to which the lenders
have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse
to the stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary);
in each case, except to the
extent permitted by Section 4.07 hereof; provided,
however, that Indebtedness shall not cease to be Non-Recourse
Debt solely by reason of pledge by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries of Equity Interests of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary of the Company or of a Person that is not a Subsidiary
of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary if recourse is limited
to such Equity Interests.
“Non-U.S.
Person” means a Person who is not a U.S.
Person.
“Note
Documents” means this Indenture and the Notes.
“Note
Guarantee” means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the
Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes,
executed pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.
“Notes”
has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.
The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be treated as a
single class for all purposes under this Indenture, and unless the
context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall
include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.
“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 who is
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, 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 DTC, shall include Euroclear and
Clearstream).
“Permitted
Business” means any business engaged in by the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of this Indenture
and any business or other activities that are reasonably similar,
ancillary, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension,
development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the date of this
Indenture.
“Permitted
Holders” means Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. and its
affiliated investment partnerships.
17
“Permitted
Investments” means:
(1) any Investment in the
Company, the Issuer or in any Guarantor;
(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 and a Guarantor; 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 Section 4.10
hereof or from a sale or other disposition of assets not
constituting an Asset Sale;
(5) any acquisition of assets
or Capital Stock solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity
Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or a
direct or indirect parent of the Company;
(6) any Investments received
in compromise or resolution of (A) obligations of trade
creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of
business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,
including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar
arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor
or customer; or (B) litigation, arbitration or other
disputes;
(7) Investments represented
by Hedging Obligations;
(8) loans, guarantees of
loans, advances, and other extensions of credit to or on behalf of
current and former officers, directors, employees, and consultants
of the Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or a direct or
indirect parent of the Company made in the ordinary course of
business for the purpose of permitting such Persons to purchase
Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of
the Company or in connection with any relocation costs related to
the relocation of the corporate headquarters of the Company;
provided that the aggregate amount of such loans, guarantees
of loans, advances, and other extensions of credit and Indebtedness
incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(17) may not exceed
$5.0 million at any one time outstanding;
(9) the acquisition by a
Receivables Entity in connection with a Qualified Receivables
Transaction of Equity Interests of a trust or other Person
established by such Receivables Entity to effect such Qualified
Receivables Transaction; and any other Investment by the Company or
a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Receivables Entity or
any Investment by a Receivables Entity in any other Person in
connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction;
(10) repurchases of the
Notes;
18
(11) any Investment of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries existing on the date
of this Indenture, and any extension, modification or renewal of
such existing Investments, to the extent not involving any
additional Investment other than as the result of the accrual or
accretion of interest or original issue discount or the issuance of
pay-in-kind securities, in each case, pursuant to the terms of such
Investments as in effect on the date of this Indenture;
(12) guarantees otherwise
permitted by the terms of this Indenture (other than guarantees to
or for the benefit of Affiliates of the Company);
(13) receivables owing to the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, prepaid expenses,
and lease, utility, workers’ compensation and other deposits,
if created, acquired or entered into in the ordinary course of
business;
(14) payroll,
business-related travel, and similar advances to cover matters that
are expected at the time of such advances to be ultimately treated
as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the
ordinary course of business;
(15) Investments resulting
from the acquisition of a Person, otherwise permitted by this
Indenture, which Investments at the time of such acquisition were
held by the acquired Person and were not acquired in contemplation
of the acquisition of such Person;
(16) any Investment resulting
from or arising out of the Joint Venture Transactions or the
Donohue Sale;
(17) any Investment resulting
from a Lien which is permitted by clause (29) of the
definition of “Permitted Liens”;
(18) reclassification of any
Investment initially made in (or reclassified as) one form into
another (such as from equity to loan or vice versa);
provided in each case that the amount of such Investment is
not increased thereby;
(19) other Investments in any
Person (other than an Affiliate of the Company that is (a) not
a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, (b) or a Permitted
Joint Venture Partner of the Company or any Guarantor or (c) a
Subsidiary of the Company or any Guarantor) 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 (19) that are at the time outstanding not to
exceed the greater of (i) $100.0 million or (ii) 2% of
Total Assets; and
(20) Investments in Augusta
Newsprint in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100.0 million, the
proceeds of which shall be used to finance the acquisition of the
entire interest of the Thompson Partner in Augusta
Newsprint.
“Permitted Joint
Venture Partner” means any Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company) that is an Affiliate of the Company
solely because the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries own
Equity Interests in such Person.
19
“Permitted Liens”
means:
(1) any Liens held by the
collateral trustee equally and ratably securing (a) the
Secured Notes and the related guarantees (and the related exchange
notes and exchange note guarantees of the Secured Notes) and all
future Fixed Asset Debt that was permitted to be incurred under the
terms of the covenant described above under Section 4.09
hereof and (b) all related Fixed Asset Debt
Obligations;
(2) any Liens to secure
(a) Current Debt that was permitted by this Indenture to be
incurred and (b) all related Obligations;
(3) Liens in favor of the
Issuer or the Guarantors;
(4) Liens on property of a
Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company or 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 Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company or such merger or consolidation and do not extend to
any assets other than those of the Person that becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company or is merged into or consolidated with
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
(5) Liens on property
(including Capital Stock) existing at the time of acquisition of
the property by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior
to, such acquisition, and not incurred in contemplation of, such
acquisition;
(6) Liens to secure the
performance of tenders, completion guarantees, statutory
obligations, surety, environmental or appeal bonds, bids, leases,
government contracts, performance bonds or other obligations of a
like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(7) Liens to secure
Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) or Attributable
Debt permitted by Section 4.09(b)(7) covering only the assets
acquired with or financed by such Indebtedness;
(8) Liens existing on the
date of this Indenture;
(9) Liens for taxes,
assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet
delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded;
provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as
is required in conformity with GAAP has been made
therefor;
(10) Liens consisting of
carriers’, warehousemen’s, landlord’s and
mechanics’, suppliers, materialmen’s, repairmen’s
and similar Liens not securing Indebtedness or in favor of customs
or revenue authorities or freight forwarders or handlers to secure
payment of custom duties, in each case, incurred in the ordinary
course of business;
(11) any state of facts an
accurate survey would disclose, public and private roads, timber
cutting and hauling contracts, timber sales contracts, prescriptive
easements or adverse possession claims, minor encumbrances,
easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, pursuant to
any leases, licenses, rights-of-way or other similar agreements or
arrangements,
20
development, air or water
rights, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and
other utility lines, pipelines, service lines, railroad lines,
improvements and structures located on, over or under any property,
drains, drainage ditches, culverts, electric power or gas
generating or co-generation, storage and transmission facilities
and other similar purposes, zoning or other restrictions as to the
use of real property or minor defects in title, which were not
incurred to secure payment of Indebtedness and that do not in the
aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties
or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of
such Person;
(12) Liens created for the
benefit of (or to secure) the Notes (or the Note Guarantees), or
the Exchange Notes or the Note Guarantees relating
thereto;
(13) Liens to secure any
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under
this Indenture (other than Current Debt or Fixed Asset Debt);
provided, however, that the new Lien is limited to all or
part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the
written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could
secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to, such
property or proceeds or distributions thereof);
(14) Liens on assets of the
Issuer, the Company or a Receivables Entity incurred in connection
with a Qualified Receivables Transaction;
(15) Liens on real property
consisting of public and private roads, timber cutting and hauling
contracts, timber sales contracts, prescriptive easements or
adverse possession claims, minor encumbrances, easements or
reservations of, or rights of others for, pursuant to any leases,
licenses, rights-of-way or other similar agreements or
arrangements, development, air or water rights, sewers, electric
lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other utility lines,
pipelines, service lines, railroad lines, improvements and
structures located on, over or under any property, drains, drainage
ditches, culverts, electric power or gas generating or
co-generation, storage and transmission facilities and other
similar purposes, zoning or other restrictions as to the use of
real property or minor defects in title, which were not incurred to
secure payment of Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate
materially adversely affect the value of said properties or
materially impair their use in the operation of the business of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(16) Liens upon specific
items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person
securing such Person’s obligations in respect of
bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of
such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such
inventory or other goods;
(17) Liens incurred or
pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in
connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance
and other types of social security and employee health and
disability benefits, or casualty—liability insurance or self
insurance or securing letters of credit issued in the ordinary
course of business;
(18) judgment and attachment
Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis
pendens and associated rights related to litigation being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which
adequate reserves have been made in conformity with
GAAP;
21
(19) Liens securing Hedging
Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(20) any interest or title of
a lessor, licensor or sublicense under any operating lease, license
or sublicense, as applicable;
(21) Liens on the Equity
Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company or of a
Person that is not a Subsidiary of the Company securing
Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or other Person if
recourse to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with
respect to such Indebtedness is limited to such Equity
Interests;
(22) Liens in favor of
collecting or payor banks having a right of setoff, revocation,
refund or chargeback with respect to money or instruments of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof on deposit with or in
possession of such bank;
(23) any obligations or
duties affecting any of the property of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to any municipality or public authority
with respect to any franchise, grant, license, or permit that do
not impair the use of such property for the purposes for which it
is held;
(24) Liens on any property in
favor of domestic or foreign governmental bodies to secure partial,
progress, advance or other payment pursuant to any contract or
statute, not yet due and payable;
(25) Liens with respect to
so-called “greenbelt” or “buffer zone”
properties;
(26) Leases and ground leases
of underutilized or vacant properties of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to third parties with which the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary has a production, co-production,
operating or other arrangement or to third party providers of
energy, transportation services or raw materials in the ordinary
course of business, provided such leases do not materially
interfere with the operation of the business of the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secure any
Indebtedness;
(27) Liens consisting of any
law or governmental regulation or permit requiring the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to maintain certain facilities
or perform certain acts as a condition of its occupancy of or
interference with any public lands or any river or stream or
navigable waters;
(28) Liens on assets of
Foreign Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to
Section 4.09(b)(20) hereof;
(29) 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 $20.0 million at any one time outstanding; and
(30) Liens on the unearned
premiums under the insurance policies permitted by clause
(19) of the definition of “Permitted Debt”
securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (19) of the
definition of “Permitted Debt.”
22
“Permitted Payments
to AbitibiBowater Inc.” means, without duplication as to
amounts:
(1) payments to
AbitibiBowater Inc. to permit AbitibiBowater Inc. to pay its
reasonable accounting, legal and administrative expenses when due,
in an aggregate amount not to exceed 50% of such expenses incurred
in any four-quarter period;
(2) for so long as any
Restricted Subsidiary is a member of a group filing a consolidated
or combined tax return with AbitibiBowater Inc., payments to
AbitibiBowater Inc. in respect of an allocable portion of the tax
liabilities of such group that is attributable to such Restricted
Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries (“ Tax Payments
”); provided that the Tax Payments shall not exceed
the lesser of (i) the amount of the relevant tax (including
any penalties and interest) that the Restricted Subsidiary would
owe if the Restricted Subsidiary were filing a separate tax return
(or a separate consolidated or combined return with its
Subsidiaries that are members of the consolidated or combined group
with AbitibiBowater Inc.), taking into account any carryovers and
carrybacks of tax attributes (such as net operating losses) of the
Restricted Subsidiary and such Subsidiaries from other taxable
years and (ii) the net amount of the relevant tax that
AbitibiBowater Inc. actually owes to the appropriate taxing
authority; provided further any Tax Payments received from
the Restricted Subsidiary shall be paid over to the appropriate
taxing authority within 30 days of AbitibiBowater Inc.’s
receipt of such Tax Payments or refunded to the Restricted
Subsidiary; and
(3) payments to
AbitibiBowater Inc. to permit AbitibiBowater Inc. to make cash
interest payments in an amount not to exceed 100% of the aggregate
amount of cash interest then due and payable on the Convertible
Notes (plus any additional Convertible Notes issued after the date
of this Indenture as payment of interest payments thereon);
provided such payments are actually used by AbitibiBowater
Inc. to make payments of interest on such Convertible
Notes.
“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 renew, refund,
refinance, replace, defease or discharge 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 renewed, refunded,
refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged (plus all accrued
interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and
expenses, including premiums, 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 renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced,
defeased or discharged;
(3) if the Indebtedness being
renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged is
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness 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 renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or
discharged; and
(4) such Indebtedness is
incurred either by the Company or by its Restricted Subsidiaries of
the Company that was the obligor on the Indebtedness being renewed,
refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged and is
guaranteed only by Persons who were obligors on the Indebtedness
being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or
discharged.
23
“Permitted
Reorganization Transactions” means the series of
transactions designed to move in a tax efficient manner, the
ownership (a) of Donohue Corp. from the Issuer and the Company
to AbitibiBowater Inc. or one of its Subsidiaries (other than
Bowater Incorporated and its Subsidiaries) so that Donohue Corp.
can be included in the U.S. consolidated tax return of
AbitibiBowater Inc. and (b) possibly the ownership of the
Company to AbitibiBowater Canada Holdings, Inc., such transactions
to consist of: (i) the Donohue Sale; (ii) the transfer of
the Excluded Proceeds from the sale of The Apache Railway Company
and the Snowflake Facility to AbitibiBowater Inc. or one of its
Subsidiaries, whether by means of a loan, dividend or equity
redemption, and simultaneously therewith, the use of such Excluded
Proceeds to either (1) pay principal or interest on any
promissory note or other Indebtedness owing to the Issuer by such
recipient or (2) purchase from the Issuer or the Company of
additional shares of Equity Interests of Donohue Corp. by
AbitibiBowater Inc. or one of its Subsidiaries with the same
Excluded Proceeds; (iii) the acquisition of shares of Equity
Interests of Donohue Corp. by AbitibiBowater Inc. or one of its
Subsidiaries in exchange for a promissory note; (iv) the
possible transfer by AbitibiBowater Inc. of all or a portion of the
Equity Interests of the Company to one or more Subsidiaries of
AbitibiBowater Inc.; (v) the possible continuance of the
Company into a Nova Scotia limited liability company; (vi) the
possible redemption or repurchase by the Issuer of certain shares
of preferred stock of the Issuer held by the Company in exchange
for shares of Equity Interests of Donohue Corp.; (vii) the
possible amalgamation of the Company with a Nova Scotia limited
liability company that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
AbitibiBowater Inc.; and/or (viii) the possible redemption by
the Company of certain of its Equity Interests for consideration
consisting exclusively of Equity Interests of Donohue
Corp.
“Person”
means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization, limited liability company or government or other
entity.
“Private Placement
Legend” means the legend set forth in
Section 2.06(g)(1) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued
under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the
provisions of this Indenture.
“QIB”
means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in
Rule 144A.
“Qualified
Proceeds” means any of the following or any combination
of the following:
(1) Cash Equivalents;
and
(2) the Fair Market Value of
the Capital Stock of any Person engaged primarily in a Permitted
Business if, in connection with the receipt by the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries of such Capital Stock, such Person
becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or such Person is
merged or consolidated into the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries.
“Qualified
Receivables Transaction” means any transaction or series
of transactions entered into by the Company, any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or any of their respective Subsidiaries pursuant to
which the Company, such Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their
respective Subsidiaries sells, conveys or otherwise transfers to
(i) a Receivables Entity (in the case of a transfer by the
Company, Restricted Subsidiaries or any such Subsidiary) and
(ii) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a
Receivables Entity), or grants a security interest in, any accounts
receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the
Company, its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective
Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without
limitation, all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all
contracts
24
and all guarantees or other obligations
in respect of such accounts receivable, proceeds of such accounts
receivable and other assets which are customarily transferred or in
respect of which security interests are customarily granted in
connection with asset securitization transactions involving
accounts receivable.
“Qualifying Equity
Interests” means Equity Interests of the Company or,
after the Donohue Sale, so long as Donohue Corp. is a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company, Donohue Corp., in each case, other than
Disqualified Stock.
“Receivables
Entity” means a Subsidiary of the Company or any
Guarantor that engages in no activities other than in connection
with the financing of accounts receivable and which is designated
by the Board of Directors of the Company (as provided below) as a
Receivables Entity. Any such designation by the Board of Directors
of the Company will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the
Trustee a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of
Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an
Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation
complied with the foregoing conditions; provided, however ,
that as of the date of this Indenture, Abitibi-Consolidated U.S.
Funding Corp. shall be deemed to be so designated as a Receivables
Entity.
“Registration Rights
Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated
as of April 1, 2008, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the
other parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such
agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time and, with respect to any Additional Notes, one or more
registration rights agreements among the Issuer, the Guarantors and
the other parties thereto, as such agreement(s) may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time, relating to rights
given by the Issuer to the purchasers of Additional Notes to
register such Additional Notes under the Securities Act.
“Regulation
S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities
Act.
“Regulation S Global
Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private
Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered
in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a
denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes
sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.
“Responsible
Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means
any officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the
Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other
officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to
those performed by any of the above designated officers and also
means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any
other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular
subject.
“Restricted
Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing the
Private Placement Legend.
“Restricted Global
Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement
Legend.
“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;
provided that each of Donohue Corp. and its existing or
future Restricted Subsidiaries will constitute Restricted
Subsidiaries of the Company (and it is intended that they be
subject to all of the covenants in the indenture applicable to any
Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company) if and for so long as
Donohue Corp. and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are
required to do so under the indenture continue to provide Note
Guarantees.
25
“Rule 144”
means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule
144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities
Act.
“Rule 903”
means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 904”
means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“SEC”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Secured
Notes” means up to $413.0 million in aggregate principal
amount of senior secured notes due 2011 and the related guarantees
thereof and the related exchange notes and related guarantees
thereof issued on the date of this Indenture (or within ten
business days of such date) and any additional senior secured notes
issued pursuant to Section 4.22 hereof and the related
guarantees thereof and the related exchange notes and related
guarantees thereof.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
“Securitization
Agreement” means (i) the Amended and Restated
Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of January 31, 2008
among Abitibi SPV, Eureka Securitisation, PLC, Citibank, N.A.,
Citibank, N.A., London Branch, the originators named therein, ACSC
and Holdings, (ii) the Amended and Restated Purchase and
Contribution Agreement dated as of January 31, 2008 among
Holdings, ACSC and Abitibi SPV, and (iii) each other document
executed in connection therewith, as each such document may be
amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced in any
manner.
“Shelf Registration
Statement” means the Shelf Registration Statement as
defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Significant
Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary (or, in the case of the
Issuer, of Donohue Corp. or any of its Subsidiaries) that would be
a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1,
Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities
Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date of this
Indenture.
“ Snowflake
Facility ” means the newsprint mill located in Snowflake,
Arizona, and certain related assets.
“Special
Interest” has the meaning assigned to that term pursuant
to the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Stated
Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of
interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on
which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid
in the documentation governing such Indebtedness as of the date of
this Indenture, and will not include any contingent obligations to
repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to
the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
“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 and after giving effect
to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that
effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of
directors, managers or trustees
26
of the corporation,
association or other business entity is at the time owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more
of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination
thereof); and
(2) any partnership
(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 that Person or one
or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination
thereof).
“Term Loan
Facility” means that certain Credit and Guaranty
Agreement, to be dated as of the date of this Indenture, by and
among the Issuer, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party
thereto, Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P., as Administrative
Agent, Co-Lead Arranger, Co-Lead Bookrunner and Syndication Agent,
and Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P., as collateral agent,
providing for up to $400.0 million of term loan borrowings,
including any related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents,
instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and,
in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded,
replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or
otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt
securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from
time to time.
“TIA”
means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C.
§§ 77aaa-77bbbb).
“Total Assets” means
the total assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as
shown on the most recent internal balance sheet of the Company,
prepared on a consolidated basis (excluding Unrestricted
Subsidiaries) in accordance with GAAP; provided that for so
long as Donohue Corp. and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are
required to do so under the indenture continue to provide Note
Guarantees, Total Assets will be determined on a consolidated
combined basis (including Donohue Corp. and its Restricted
Subsidiaries as if they were actually Subsidiaries of the
Company).
“Trustee”
means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association until a successor
replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this
Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving
hereunder.
“ UK Restricted
Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary incorporated
in England and Wales.
“Unrestricted
Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note that does not
bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement
Legend.
“Unrestricted Global
Note” means a Global Note that does not bear and is not
required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
“Unrestricted
Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company
(including Donohue Corp or any of its Subsidiaries but not
including the Issuer or any successor thereto) that is designated
by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, but
only to the extent that such Subsidiary:
(1) has no Indebtedness other
than Non-Recourse Debt;
(2) except as permitted by
Section 4.11 hereof 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;
27
(3) except as otherwise
permitted by Section 4.07 hereof, is a Person with respect to
which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for
additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve
such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to
achieve any specified levels of operating results; and
(4) except as otherwise
permitted by Section 4.07 hereof, has not guaranteed or
otherwise provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
“U.S.
Person” means a U.S. Person as defined in Rule 902(k)
promulgated under the Securities Act.
“U.S.
Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any
Subsidiary of such Person (or in the case of the Issuer, so long as
Donohue Corp. is a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, of Donohue
Corp. or any of its Subsidiaries) that is organized or existing
under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the
District of Columbia.
“Voting
Stock” of any specified 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 of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years
(calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between
such date and the making of such payment; by
(2) the then outstanding
principal amount of such Indebtedness.
“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) will at the time be owned by
such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries
of such Person; provided that each of Donohue Corp. and its
existing or future Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries will be deemed to
constitute Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company if
and for so long as (a) Donohue Corp. or such Restricted
Subsidiary of Donohue Corp. is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of
AbitibiBowater Inc. and (b) such entity is not an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
“Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary” of any specified Person means a Subsidiary of
such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership
interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares)
will at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more
Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
“WURA”
means the Wind-Up and Restructuring Act (Canada).
28
Section 1.02 Other
Definitions.
|
|
|
|
Term
|
|
Defined in
Section |
| “Additional Amounts” |
|
3.05 |
|
“Affiliate
Transaction”
|
|
4.11 |
|
“Augusta
Newsprint”
|
|
4.23 |
|
“Authentication
Order”
|
|
2.02 |
|
“Change of Control
Offer”
|
|
4.15 |
|
“Change of Control
Payment”
|
|
4.15 |
|
“Change of Control Payment
Date”
|
|
4.15 |
|
“Covenant
Defeasance”
|
|
8.03 |
|
“Definitive Registered
Notes”
|
|
4.21 |
|
“DTC”
|
|
2.03 |
|
“Event of
Default”
|
|
6.01 |
|
“Excess
Proceeds”
|
|
4.10 |
|
“incur”
|
|
4.09 |
|
“Indenture
Currency”
|
|
12.14 |
|
“Judgment
Currency”
|
|
12.14 |
|
“Legal
Defeasance”
|
|
8.02 |
|
“Offer
Amount”
|
|
3.07 |
|
“Other
Taxes”
|
|
4.21 |
|
“Net Proceeds
Offer”
|
|
3.07 |
|
“Offer
Period”
|
|
3.07 |
|
“Organizational
Documents”
|
|
4.14 |
|
“Paying
Agent”
|
|
2.03 |
|
“Payment
Default”
|
|
6.01 |
|
“Permitted
Debt”
|
|
4.09 |
|
“Process
Agent”
|
|
12.17 |
|
“Purchase
Date”
|
|
3.07 |
|
“Registrar”
|
|
2.03 |
|
“Restricted
Payments”
|
|
4.07 |
|
“Secured Notes Exchange
Offer”
|
|
4.22 |
|
“Taxes”
|
|
4.21 |
|
“Taxing
Jurisdiction”
|
|
4.21 |
|
“Thomson Partner
Financing”
|
|
4.22 |
Section 1.03 Incorporation by
Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture
refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by
reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following TIA terms used
in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“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
29
“obligor”
on the Notes and the Note Guarantees means the Company and the
Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes
and the Note Guarantees, respectively.
All other terms used in this
Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to
another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the
meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.04 Rules of
Construction.
Unless the context otherwise
requires:
(1) a term has the meaning
assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not
otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with
GAAP;
(3) “or” is not
exclusive;
(4) words in the singular
include the plural, and in the plural include the
singular;
(5) “will” shall
be interpreted to express a command;
(6) provisions apply to
successive events and transactions; and
(7) references to sections of
or rules under the Securities Act will be deemed to include
substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by
the SEC from time to time.
ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES
Section 2.01 Form and
Dating.
(a) General . The
Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be
substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have
notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange
rule or usage. Each Note will be dated the date of its
authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
The terms and provisions
contained in the Notes will 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 the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of
this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
(b) Global Notes .
Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the
“Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note”
attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form will be
substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (but without the
Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of
Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto).
Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding Notes as
will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents
the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to
time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be
reduced or increased, as appropriate, to
30
reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any
endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase
or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes
represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian,
at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions
given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06
hereof.
Section 2.02 Execution and
Authentication.
At least one Officer must
sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual or facsimile
signature.
If an Officer whose signature
is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is
authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid.
A Note will not be valid
until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The
signature will be conclusive evidence that the Note has been
authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee will, upon
receipt of a written order of the Issuer signed by an Officer (an
“ Authentication Order ”), authenticate Notes
for original issue that may be validly issued under this Indenture,
including any Additional Notes. The aggregate principal amount of
Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate
principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance by the Issuer
pursuant to one or more Authentication Orders, except as provided
in Section 2.07 hereof.
The Trustee may appoint an
authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuer 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 Issuer will 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 will keep a register of
the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer 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 Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar
without notice to any Holder. The Issuer will notify the Trustee in
writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this
Indenture. If the Issuer 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 not act as Paying Agent
or Registrar.
The Issuer initially appoints
The Depository Trust Company ( “DTC” ) to act as
Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Issuer initially appoints
the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as
Custodian with respect to the Global Notes and the Trustee hereby
agrees so to initially act.
Section 2.04 Paying Agent to
Hold Money in Trust.
The Issuer will require each
Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the
Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the
Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of
principal, premium or Special Interest, if any, or interest on the
Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer 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 Issuer 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 will have no further liability for the
money.
31
Section 2.05 Holder
Lists.
The Trustee will preserve in
as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list
available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall
otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not
the Registrar, the Issuer will furnish to the Trustee at least
seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such
other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such
form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of
the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes and the Company and
the Issuer shall otherwise comply with TIA
§ 312(a).
Section 2.06 Transfer and
Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange
of Global Notes . A Global Note may not be transferred except
as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a
nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee
of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a
successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All
Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes
if:
(1) the Issuer 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 Issuer within
120 days after the date of such notice from the
Depositary;
(2) the Issuer in its sole
discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in
part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a
written notice to such effect to the Trustee; or
(3) there has occurred and is
continuing an Event of Default with respect to the
Notes.
Upon the occurrence of either
of the preceding events in (1) or (2) above, Definitive
Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall
instruct the Trustee in writing. Global Notes also may be exchanged
or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and
2.10 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 or 2.10 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(a), however,
beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and
exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b), (c) or
(f) hereof.
(b) Transfer and Exchange
of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes . The transfer and
exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be
effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions
of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial
interests in the Restricted Global Notes will be subject to
restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to
the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial
interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with
either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as
well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as
applicable:
(1) Transfer of Beneficial
Interests in the Same Global Note . Beneficial interests in any
Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take
delivery thereof in the form
32
of a beneficial interest in
the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer
restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend;
provided, however , that prior to the expiration of the
Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the
Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for
the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial
Purchaser). Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note
may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form
of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written
orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the
Registrar to effect the transfers described in this
Section 2.06(b)(1).
(2) All Other Transfers
and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In
connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests
that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(1) above, the
transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the
Registrar either:
(A) both:
(i) a written order from a
Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in
accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary
to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another
Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be
transferred or exchanged; and
(ii) instructions given in
accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information
regarding the Participant account to be credited with such
increase; or
(B) both:
(i) a written order from a
Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in
accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary
to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the
beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(ii) instructions given by
the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding
the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered
to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in
(1) above;
Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer
by the Company in accordance with Section 2.06(f) hereof, the
requirements of this Section 2.06(b)(2) shall be deemed to
have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the
instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered by
the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global
Notes. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or
exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this
Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the
Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of
the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h)
hereof.
(3) Transfer of Beneficial
Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial
interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a
Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial
interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies
with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and the
Registrar receives the following:
33
(A) if the transferee will
take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A
Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the
form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
(1) thereof;
(B) if the transferee will
take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the
Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a
certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (2) thereof; and
(C) if the transferee will
take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the IAI
Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the
form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications,
certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item
(3) thereof, if applicable.
(4) Transfer and Exchange
of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial
Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest
in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder
thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or
transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange
or transfer complies with the requirements of
Section 2.06(b)(2) above and:
(A) such exchange or transfer
is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial
interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the
transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable
Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer,
(ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the
Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as
defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer;
(B) such transfer is effected
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected
by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
or
(D) the Registrar receives
the following:
(i) if the holder of such
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to
exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the
form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item
(1)(a) thereof; or
(ii) if the holder of such
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to
transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take
delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the
form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
(4) thereof;
and, in each such case set
forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if
the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form
reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such
exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and
that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the
Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
34
If any such transfer is
effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above at a
time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the
Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in
accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall
authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of
beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph
(B) or (D) above.
Beneficial interests in an
Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to
Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial
interest in a Restricted Global Note.
(c) Transfer or Exchange
of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.
(1) Beneficial Interests
in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. If
any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note
proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted
Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person
who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive
Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following
documentation:
(A) if the holder of such
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to
exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note,
a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto,
including the certifications in item
(2)(a) thereof;
(B) if such beneficial
interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule
144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(C) if such beneficial
interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore
transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate
to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (2) thereof;
(D) if such beneficial
interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with
Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item
(3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such beneficial
interest is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited
Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in
subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications,
certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item
(3) thereof, if applicable;
(F) if such beneficial
interest is being transferred to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof;
or
(G) if such beneficial
interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
(3)(c) thereof,
35
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate
principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced
accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive
Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note
issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in
such name or names and in such authorized denomination or
denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall
instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and
the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver
such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are
so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this
Section 2.06(c)(1) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and
shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained
therein.
(2) Beneficial Interests
in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A
holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may
exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive
Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes
delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note
only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer
is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of such beneficial
interest, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the
case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of
Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a
Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or
(iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of
the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected
by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
or
(D) the Registrar receives
the following:
(i) if the holder of such
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to
exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive
Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C
hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof;
or
(ii) if the holder of such
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to
transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take
delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a
certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set
forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if
the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form
reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such
exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and
that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the
Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
36
(3) Beneficial Interests
in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.
If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global
Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive
Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes
delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(2)
hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of
the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to
Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company will execute and the
Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in
the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal
amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial
interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(3) will be
registered in such name or names and in such authorized
denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial
interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or
through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant.
The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in
whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note
issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this
Section 2.06(c)(3) will not bear the Private Placement
Legend.
(d) Transfer and Exchange
of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.
(1) Restricted Definitive
Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If
any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange
such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or
to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes
delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the
following documentation:
(A) if the Holder of such
Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from
such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;
(B) if such Restricted
Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with
Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item
(1) thereof;
(C) if such Restricted
Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an
offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including
the certifications in item (2) thereof;
(D) if such Restricted
Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance
with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item
(3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such Restricted
Definitive Note is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited
Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in
subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications,
certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item
(3) thereof, if applicable;
(F) if such Restricted
Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof;
or
37
(G) if such Restricted
Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to
the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee will cancel the
Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the
aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause
(A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case
of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, in the case of
clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note, and in all
other cases, the IAI Global Note.
(2) Restricted Definitive
Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A
Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a
beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such
Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof
in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note
only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer
is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an
exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies
in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a
Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution
of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate
(as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected
by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
or
(D) the Registrar receives
the following:
(i) if the Holder of such
Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial
interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such
Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or
(ii) if the Holder of such
Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who
shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in
the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the
form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
(4) thereof;
and, in each such case set
forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if
the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form
reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such
exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and
that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the
Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
Upon satisfaction of the
conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this
Section 2.06(d)(2), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive
Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal
amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.
38
(3) Unrestricted
Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global
Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange
such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note
or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted
Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an
exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable
Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased
the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global
Notes.
If any such exchange or
transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is
effected pursuant to subparagraphs (2)(B), (2)(D) or
(3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not
yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof,
the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes
in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of
Definitive Notes so transferred.
(e) Transfer and Exchange
of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a
Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with
the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar will
register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to
such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder
must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes
duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer
in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder
or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the
requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications,
documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the
following provisions of this Section 2.06(e).
(1) Restricted Definitive
Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive
Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons
who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive
Note if the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transfer will be
made pursuant to Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a
certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (1) thereof;
(B) if the transfer will be
made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must
deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including
the certifications in item (2) thereof; and
(C) if the transfer will be
made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must
deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including
the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by
item (3) thereof, if applicable.
(2) Restricted Definitive
Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted
Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an
Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons
who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive
Note if:
(A) such exchange or transfer
is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an
exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies
in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a
Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution
of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate
(as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
39
(B) any such transfer is
effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance
with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) any such transfer is
effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights
Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives
the following:
(i) if the Holder of such
Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an
Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the
form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item
(1)(d) thereof; or
(ii) if the Holder of such
Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a
Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an
Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the
form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
(4) thereof;
and, in each such case set
forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests, an
Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar
to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with
the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained
herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required
in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(3) Unrestricted
Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of
Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person
who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted
Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a
transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive
Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder
thereof.
(f) Exchange Offer.
Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuer will issue and, upon
receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with
Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate:
(1) one or more Unrestricted
Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted
Global Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons
that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that
(A) they are not Broker-Dealers, (B) they are not
participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and
(C) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the
Company; and
(2) Unrestricted Definitive
Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal
amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in
the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable
Letters of Transmittal that (A) they are not Broker-Dealers,
(B) they are not participating in a distribution of the
Exchange Notes and (C) they are not affiliates (as defined in
Rule 144) of the Company.
40
Concurrently with the
issuance of such Notes, the Trustee will cause the aggregate
principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be
reduced accordingly, and the Company will execute and the Trustee
will authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the
Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive
Notes in the appropriate principal amount.
(g) Legends. The
following legends will appear on the face of all Global Notes and
Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically
stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this
Indenture.
(1) Private Placement
Legend .
(A) Except as permitted by
subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive
Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution
thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following
form:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
“SECURITIES ACT”) AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED,
SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR
TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET
FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A
BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER:
(1) REPRESENTS THAT
(A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS
DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A
“QIB”) (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON, IS NOT
ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF A U.S. PERSON
AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN
COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR
(C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR”
WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR
(7) UNDER REGULATION D OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AN
“INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR”),
(2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT,
WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO UNDER RULE 144(k) (TAKING INTO
ACCOUNT THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 144(d) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IF
APPLICABLE) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF
THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS
SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF,
(B) TO A PERSON WHOM THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB
OR AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN
ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB OR AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED
INVESTOR, RESPECTIVELY, IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(D) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY
RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR
(E) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE
STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND
(3) AGREES THAT IT WILL
DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY OR AN INTEREST HEREIN
IS TRANSFERRED (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE
(2)(D) OR 2(E) ABOVE) A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF
THIS LEGEND.
41
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY
TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN WITHIN THE TIME
PERIOD REFERRED TO ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX
SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH
TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE. AS USED
HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED
STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN
TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT.
IN CANADA, UNLESS PERMITTED
UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY MUST NOT
TRADE THE SECURITY BEFORE THE DATE THAT IS 4 MONTHS AND A DAY AFTER
THE LATER OF (I) “THE SUBSCRIPTION DATE”, AND (II)
THE DATE THE ISSUER BECAME A REPORTING ISSUER IN ANY PROVINCE OR
TERRITORY.
(B) Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to
subparagraphs (b)(4), (c)(2), (c)(3), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e)(2),
(e)(3) or (f) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued
in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the
Private Placement Legend.
(2) Global Note Legend
. Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the
following form:
“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE
DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THIS INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR
ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS
HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH
NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF
THIS INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE
BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THIS INDENTURE,
(3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR
CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THIS INDENTURE AND
(4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR
DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF ABITIBI-CONSOLIDATED
COMPANY OF CANADA.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN
WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE
TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR
ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH
NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR
DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER
STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR
ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND
ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE &
CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE &
CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF
FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS
THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST
HEREIN.”
42
(h) Cancellation and/or
Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial
interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for
Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed,
repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global
Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in
accordance with Section 2.11 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 will take delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note
or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented
by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement
will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the
Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such
reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or
transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form
of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global
Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made
on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the
direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
(i) General Provisions
Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(1) To permit registrations
of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer will execute and the Trustee
will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of
an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof
or at the Registrar’s request.
(2) No service charge will be
made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a
Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or
exchange, but the 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 2.10, 3.04, 3.07, 4.10, 4.15 and 9.05 hereof).
(3) The Registrar will not be
required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note
selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed
portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(4) All Global Notes and
Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or
exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes will be the valid
obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled
to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or
Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or
exchange.
(5) Neither the Registrar nor
the Company will be required:
(A) to issue, to register the
transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at
the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of
Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at
the close of business on the day of selection;
(B) to register the transfer
of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in
part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in
part; or
(C) to register the transfer
of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next
succeeding interest payment date.
(6) Prior to due presentment
for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any
Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name
any Note is
43
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.
(7) The Trustee will
authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with
the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.
(8) All certifications,
certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to
the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a
registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by
facsimile.
Section 2.07 Replacement
Notes.
If any mutilated Note is
surrendered to the Trustee or the Issuer and the Trustee receives
evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of
any Note, the Issuer will issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order, will authenticate a replacement Note if the
Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or
the Issuer, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that
is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to
protect the Issuer, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating
agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is
replaced. The Issuer may charge for its expenses in replacing a
Note.
Every replacement Note is an
additional obligation of the Issuer and will be entitled to all of
the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all
other Notes duly issued hereunder.
Section 2.08 Outstanding
Notes.
The Notes outstanding at any
time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for
those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those
reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee
in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in
this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in
Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding
because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the
Note.
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 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 thereof)
holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to
pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such
Notes will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will cease to
accrue interest.
Section 2.09 Treasury
Notes.
In determining whether the
Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in
any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer or any
Guarantor, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or
controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the
Issuer or any Guarantor, will be considered as though not
outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether
the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction,
waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned
will be so disregarded.
44
Section 2.10 Temporary
Notes.
Until certificates
representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare
and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will
authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially
in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the
Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay,
the Issuer will prepare and the Trustee will authenticate
definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes
will be entitled to all of the benefits of this
Indenture.
Section 2.11
Cancellation.
The Issuer at any time may
deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and
Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to
them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee
and no one else will cancel all Notes surrendered for registration
of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and
will destroy canceled Notes (subject to the record retention
requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction
of all canceled Notes will be delivered to the Issuer. The Issuer
may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that
have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.12 Defaulted
Interest.
If the Issuer defaults in a
payment of interest on the Notes, it will pay the defaulted
interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest
payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders
on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate
provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Issuer
will notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted
interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the
proposed payment. The Issuer will fix or cause to be fixed each
such special record date and payment date; provided that no
such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the
related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days
before the special record date, the Issuer (or, upon the written
request of the Issuer, the Trustee in the name and at the expense
of the Issuer) will send or cause to be sent to Holders a notice
that states the special record date, the related payment date and
the amount of such interest to be paid.
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION AND
PREPAYMENT
Section 3.01 Notices to
Trustee.
If the Issuer elects to
redeem Notes pursuant to the tax redemption provisions of
Section 3.05 hereof, it must furnish to the Trustee, not more
than 60 nor less than 30 days prior to the date fixed for such
redemption, an Officers’ Certificate notifying the Trustee of
such redemption and setting forth:
| |
(1) |
the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption
shall occur; |
| |
(3) |
the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and |
| |
(4) |
the redemption price. |
45
Section 3.02 Notice of
Redemption.
Subject to the provisions of
Section 3.07 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60
days before a redemption date, the Issuer will send a notice of
redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its
registered address, except that redemption notices may be sent more
than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in
connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 11
hereof.
The notice will identify the
Notes to be redeemed and will state:
(1) the redemption
date;
(2) the name and address of
the Paying Agent;
(3) that Notes called for
redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the
redemption price;
(4) that, unless the Issuer
defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes
called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption
date; and
(5) 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 Issuer’s
request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the
Issuer’s name and at its expense; provided, however ,
that the Issuer has 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.
Section 3.03 Effect of Notice of
Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is
sent 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, except that a Change of Control Offer may be made in
advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon the consummation
of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place
for the Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer
is made.
Section 3.04 Deposit of
Redemption or Purchase Price.
One Business Day prior to the
redemption or purchase date, the Issuer will deposit with the
Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the
redemption or purchase price of and accrued interest and Special
Interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that
date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to the
Issuer any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by
the Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption
or purchase price of, and accrued interest and Special Interest, if
any, on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.
If the Issuer complies with
the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the
redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the
Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.
If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest
reco
|