Exhibit 4.1
AIRGAS, INC.
and
each of the Guarantors named herein
7.125%
SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2018
INDENTURE
Dated
as of June 10, 2008
THE
BANK OF NEW YORK
Trustee
CROSS-REFERENCE
TABLE*
| |
|
|
|
TIA |
|
Indenture |
|
Section |
|
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)
|
|
13.03 |
|
(c)
|
|
13.03 |
|
313(a)
|
|
7.06 |
|
(b)(1)
|
|
10.03 |
|
(b)(2)
|
|
7.07 |
|
(c)
|
|
7.06; 13.02 |
|
(d)
|
|
7.06 |
|
314(a)
|
|
4.03; 13.02 |
|
(b)
|
|
10.02 |
|
(c)(1)
|
|
13.04 |
|
(c)(2)
|
|
13.04 |
|
(c)(3)
|
|
N.A. |
|
(d)
|
|
10.03, 10.04, 10.05 |
|
(e)
|
|
13.05 |
|
(f)
|
|
N.A. |
|
315(a)
|
|
7.01 |
|
(b)
|
|
7.05, 13.02 |
|
(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)
|
|
13.01 |
|
(b)
|
|
N.A. |
|
(c)
|
|
13.01 |
|
|
|
| N.A. means not applicable. |
| |
| * |
|
This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture. |
-i-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Page |
|
|
ARTICLE 1.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DEFINITIONS AND
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 1.01.
Definitions
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Section 1.02.
Other Definitions
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
Section 1.03.
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
Section 1.04.
Rules of Construction
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 2.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE NOTES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 2.01.
Form and Dating
|
|
|
19 |
|
|
Section 2.02.
Execution and Authentication
|
|
|
19 |
|
|
Section 2.03.
Registrar and Paying Agent
|
|
|
20 |
|
|
Section 2.04.
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust
|
|
|
20 |
|
|
Section 2.05.
Holder Lists
|
|
|
21 |
|
|
Section 2.06.
Transfer and Exchange
|
|
|
21 |
|
|
Section 2.07.
Replacement Notes
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
Section 2.08.
Outstanding Notes
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
Section 2.09.
Treasury Notes
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
Section 2.10.
Temporary Notes
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
Section 2.11.
Cancellation
|
|
|
33 |
|
|
Section 2.12.
Defaulted Interest
|
|
|
33 |
|
|
Section 2.13.
CUSIP Numbers
|
|
|
33 |
|
|
Section 2.14.
Issuance of Additional Notes
|
|
|
33 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 3.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REDEMPTION AND
PREPAYMENT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 3.01.
Notices to Trustee
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
Section 3.02.
Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
Section 3.03.
Notice of Redemption
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
Section 3.04.
Effect of Notice of Redemption
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
Section 3.05.
Deposit of Redemption Price
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
Section 3.06.
Notes Redeemed in Part
|
|
|
36 |
|
|
Section 3.07.
Optional Redemption
|
|
|
36 |
|
|
Section 3.08.
Mandatory Redemption
|
|
|
37 |
|
|
Section 3.09.
Offer To Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds
|
|
|
37 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 4.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COVENANTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 4.01.
Payment of Notes
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
Section 4.02.
Maintenance of Office or Agency
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
Section 4.03.
Reports
|
|
|
39 |
|
-ii-
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Page |
|
|
Section 4.04.
Compliance Certificate
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
Section 4.05.
Taxes
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
Section 4.06.
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
Section 4.07.
Restricted Payments
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
Section 4.08.
Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
42 |
|
|
Section 4.09.
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock
|
|
|
43 |
|
|
Section 4.10.
Asset Sales
|
|
|
45 |
|
|
Section 4.11.
Transactions with Affiliates
|
|
|
46 |
|
|
Section 4.12.
Limitation on Liens
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
Section 4.13.
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
Section 4.14.
Corporate Existence
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
Section 4.15.
Offer To Repurchase Upon Change of Control
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
Section 4.16.
Anti-Layering
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
Section 4.17.
Additional Subsidiary Guarantees
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
Section 4.18.
Payments for Consent
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
Section 4.19.
Fall-Away Covenants
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 5.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUCCESSORS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 5.01.
Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
Section 5.02.
Successor Company Substituted
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 6.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DEFAULTS AND
REMEDIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.01.
Events of Default
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
Section 6.02.
Acceleration
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
Section 6.03.
Other Remedies
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
Section 6.04.
Waiver of Past Defaults
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
Section 6.05.
Control by Majority
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
Section 6.06.
Limitation on Suits
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
Section 6.07.
Rights of Holders of Notes To Receive Payment
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
Section 6.08.
Collection Suit by Trustee
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
Section 6.09.
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
Section 6.10.
Priorities
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
Section 6.11.
Undertaking for Costs
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 7.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TRUSTEE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 7.01.
Duties of Trustee
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
Section 7.02.
Rights of Trustee
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
Section 7.03.
Individual Rights of Trustee
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
Section 7.04.
Trustee’s Disclaimer
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
Section 7.05.
Notice of Defaults
|
|
|
57 |
|
-iii-
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Page |
|
|
Section 7.06.
Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
Section 7.07.
Compensation and Indemnity
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
Section 7.08.
Replacement of Trustee
|
|
|
58 |
|
|
Section 7.09.
Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
|
|
|
59 |
|
|
Section 7.10.
Eligibility; Disqualification
|
|
|
59 |
|
|
Section 7.11.
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company
|
|
|
59 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 8.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LEGAL DEFEASANCE
AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 8.01.
Option To Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
Section 8.02.
Legal Defeasance and Discharge
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
Section 8.03.
Covenant Defeasance
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
Section 8.04.
Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance
|
|
|
61 |
|
|
Section 8.05.
Deposited Money and Government Securities To Be Held in Trust;
Other Miscellaneous Provisions
|
|
|
62 |
|
|
Section 8.06.
Repayment to Company
|
|
|
62 |
|
|
Section 8.07.
Reinstatement
|
|
|
62 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 9.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AMENDMENT,
SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 9.01.
Without Consent of Holders of Notes
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
Section 9.02.
With Consent of Holders of Notes
|
|
|
64 |
|
|
Section 9.03.
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act
|
|
|
65 |
|
|
Section 9.04.
Revocation and Effect of Consents
|
|
|
65 |
|
|
Section 9.05.
Notation on or Exchange of Notes
|
|
|
65 |
|
|
Section 9.06.
Trustee To Sign Amendments, etc.
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 10.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUBORDINATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 10.01. Agreement To Subordinate
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
Section 10.02. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
Section 10.03. Default on Designated Senior Debt
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
Section 10.04. Acceleration of Notes
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
Section 10.05. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
Section 10.06. Notice by Company
|
|
|
68 |
|
|
Section 10.07. Subrogation
|
|
|
68 |
|
|
Section 10.08. Relative Rights
|
|
|
68 |
|
|
Section 10.09. Subordination May Not Be Impaired by
Company
|
|
|
68 |
|
|
Section 10.10. Distribution or Notice to Representative
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
Section 10.11. Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
Section 10.12. Authorization To Effect Subordination
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
Section 10.13. Amendments
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
Section 10.14. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior
Indebtedness
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
Section 10.15. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of
Liquidating Agent
|
|
|
70 |
|
-iv-
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Page |
|
|
ARTICLE 11.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUBSIDIARY
GUARANTEES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 11.01. Guarantee
|
|
|
70 |
|
|
Section 11.02. Subordination of Subsidiary Guarantee
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
Section 11.03. Limitation on Guarantor Liability
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
Section 11.04. Execution and Delivery of Subsidiary
Guarantee
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
Section 11.05. Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain
Terms
|
|
|
72 |
|
|
Section 11.06. Release of Guarantors
|
|
|
72 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 12.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SATISFACTION AND
DISCHARGE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 12.01. Satisfaction and Discharge
|
|
|
73 |
|
|
Section 12.02. Application of Trust Money
|
|
|
74 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 13.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 13.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls
|
|
|
74 |
|
|
Section 13.02. Notices
|
|
|
74 |
|
|
Section 13.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other
Holders of Notes
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
Section 13.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions
Precedent
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
Section 13.05. Statements Required in Certificate or
Opinion
|
|
|
76 |
|
|
Section 13.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents
|
|
|
76 |
|
|
Section 13.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers,
Employees and Stockholders
|
|
|
76 |
|
|
Section 13.08. Governing Law
|
|
|
76 |
|
|
Section 13.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other
Agreements
|
|
|
76 |
|
|
Section 13.10. Successors
|
|
|
77 |
|
|
Section 13.11. Severability
|
|
|
77 |
|
|
Section 13.12. Counterpart Originals
|
|
|
77 |
|
|
Section 13.13. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
|
|
|
77 |
|
|
Section 13.14. Waiver of Jury Trial
|
|
|
77 |
|
|
Section 13.15. Force Majeure
|
|
|
77 |
|
| |
|
SCHEDULE
|
|
|
|
Schedule I
Subsidiary Guarantors
|
|
|
|
EXHIBITS
|
|
|
|
Exhibit A Form
of Note
Exhibit B Form of Certificate of Transfer
Exhibit C Form of Certificate of Exchange
Exhibit D Form of Subsidiary Guarantee
Exhibit E Form of Supplemental Indenture
|
-v-
INDENTURE
dated as of June 10, 2008, among Airgas, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “ Company ”), the subsidiary
guarantors listed on Schedule I hereto (collectively, the
“ Guarantors ”) and The Bank of New York, a New
York banking corporation, as trustee (the “ Trustee
”).
The
Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the
benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the
Holders of the 7.125% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018 (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.
“
Accounts Receivable Entity ” means any Person (other
than a Restricted Subsidiary) to which the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries sells any of its accounts receivable
pursuant to a Receivables Facility.
“
Acquired Debt ” means, with respect to any specified
Person, (i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the
time such other Person is merged with or into or became a
Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such
Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation
of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a
Subsidiary of, such specified Person and (ii) Indebtedness
secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified
Person.
“
Additional Notes ” means additional notes (other than
the Initial Notes) issued from time to time 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, shall mean the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise;
provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the
Voting Stock of a Person shall be deemed to be control. For
purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling ,
” “controlled by” and “under common control
with” have correlative meanings.
“
Agent ” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or
co-registrar.
“
Applicable Premium ” means, with respect to a Note at
any Redemption Date, the greater of (i) 1.0% of the principal
amount of such Note or (ii) the excess of (A) the present
value at such Redemption Date of (1) the redemption price of
such Note at October 1, 2013 (such redemption price being
described in Section 3.07 hereof) plus (2) all required
interest payments due on such Note through October 1, 2013
(excluding accrued but unpaid interest), computed using a discount
rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over
(B) the principal amount of such Note, if greater.
“
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: (i) the sale, lease,
conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights; provided
that the sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole will be governed by Section 4.15 and/or
Section 5.01 of this Indenture and not by the provisions of
Section 4.10 hereof; and (ii) the issuance of Equity
Interests by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or
the sale of Equity Interests in any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding
the preceding, the following items will not be deemed to be Asset
Sales: (1) for purposes of Section 4.10 hereof only, any
single transaction or series of related transactions that involves
assets having a fair market value of less than $5.0 million or
for net cash proceeds of less than $5.0 million; (2) a
transfer of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, (3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a
Subsidiary to the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company; (4) the sale or lease of equipment, inventory,
accounts receivable or other assets in the ordinary course of
business; (5) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash
Equivalents; (6) for purposes of Section 4.10 hereof
only, the sale of the capital stock of, or assets comprising, any
of the Specified Businesses, provided that the requirements under
clause (i) of Section 4.10 shall have been satisfied;
(7) for purposes of Section 4.10 hereof only, a
Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted by
Section 4.07 of this Indenture; (8) any sale of Equity
Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an
Unrestricted Subsidiary; (9) sales of property or equipment
that has become worn out, obsolete or damaged or otherwise
unsuitable for use in connection with the business of the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (10) a transfer of
accounts receivable, or participations therein, and related rights
and assets in connection with any Receivables Facility;
(11) the license of patents, trademarks, copyrights and
know-how to third Persons in the ordinary course of business; and
(12) the creation of Liens.
“
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.
“
Automatic Exchange Date ” shall mean for any issuance
of Notes under this Indenture, the date that is one year after the
date of such issuance; provided , that if the Company issues
any Additional Notes having the same terms and the same CUSIP
number as a previous issuance of Notes and such issuance of
Additional Notes occurs prior to the Automatic Exchange Date for
such previous issuance of Notes, then the Automatic Exchange Date
for such Additional Notes and such previous issuance of Notes shall
each be one year after the date of issuance of the Additional
Notes; provided , further , that in the event that
Rule 144 as promulgated under the Securities Act (or any
successor rule) is amended such that the one-year period referred
to in paragraphs (b) and (d) of Rule 144 (or the
corresponding period under any successor rule) is changed, then
from and after receipt by the Trustee of the Officers’
Certificate and Opinion of Counsel provided for in
Section 13.05 of this Indenture, each reference in this
definition to “one year” shall be deemed for all
purposes hereof to be references to such changed period, so long as
any such change would not be otherwise prohibited by, or otherwise
cause a violation of, the then-applicable federal securities
laws.
“
Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any
similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
-2-
“
Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning assigned to such
term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act,
except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any
particular “person” (as that term is used in
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such
“person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of
all securities that such “person” has the right to
acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such
right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the
occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms “
Beneficially Owns ” and “ Beneficially
Owned ” have a corresponding meaning.
“
Board of Directors ” means (i) with respect to a
corporation, the board of directors of the corporation;
(ii) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of
the general partner of the partnership; and (iii) 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: (i) 85% of the book value of all accounts receivable
and 85% of the cost of cylinders owned by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries as of the most recent date for which the
Company has available a balance sheet; provided that, in the
case of such accounts receivable, such accounts receivable are not
more than 90 days past due; plus (ii) 50% of the book
value of all inventory owned by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries as of the most recent date for which the Company has
available a balance sheet.
“
Broker-Dealer ” has the meaning set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement.
“
Business Day ” means any day other than a Legal
Holiday.
“
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 in accordance with GAAP.
“
Capital Stock ” means (i) in the case of a
corporation, corporate stock; (ii) in the case of an
association or business entity, any and all shares, interests,
participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of
corporate stock; (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited
liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether
general or limited); and (iv) any other interest or
participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share
of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the
issuing Person.
“
Cash Equivalents ” means (i) United States
dollars and any other currency that is convertible into United
States dollars without legal restrictions and which is utilized by
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary
course of its business; (ii) securities issued or directly and
fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any
agency or instrumentality of the United States government (provided
that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in
support of those securities) having maturities of not more than six
months from the date of acquisition; (iii) time deposit
accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits
maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof
issued by a bank or trust company which is organized under the laws
of the United States, any state thereof or any foreign country
recognized by the United States, and which bank or trust company
has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of
$100.0 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof)
and has outstanding debt which is rated “A” (or such
similar equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally
recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in
Rule 436 under the Securities Act) or any money-market fund
sponsored by a registered broker dealer or mutual fund distributor;
(iv) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than
30 days for underlying securities of the types described in
clauses (ii) and (iii) above entered into with any
financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in
clause (iii) above; (v) commercial paper maturing not
more than 365 days after
-3-
the date
of acquisition of an issuer with a rating, at the time of which any
investment therein is made, of “A-1” (or higher)
according to S&P or “P-1” (or higher) according to
Moody’s or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally
recognized rating agency if both of the two named rating agencies
cease publishing ratings of investments; (vi) money market
funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash
Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (i) through
(v) above; and (vii) in the case of any Subsidiary
organized or having its principal place of business outside the
United States, investments denominated in the currency of the
jurisdiction in which that Subsidiary is organized or has its
principal place of business which are similar to the items
specified in clauses (i) through (vi) above, including,
without limitation, any deposit with a bank that is a lender to any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.
“
Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the
following: (i) the direct or indirect sale, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or
consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all
or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any
“person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3)
of the Exchange Act) other than a Principal or a Related Party of a
Principal; (ii) the adoption of a plan relating to the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (iii) the
consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any
merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any
“person” (as defined above) other than the Principal
and its Related Parties, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or
indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company,
measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or
(iv) the first day on which a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing
Directors.
“
Clearstream ” means ClearStream Banking, S.A.
“
Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
“
Company ” means Airgas, 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: (i) 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
(ii) 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 (iii) consolidated interest
expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such
period, whether or not capitalized (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, and net of the effect of all
payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations), to the
extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus (iv) depreciation,
amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other
intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses
that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses
(excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it
represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future
period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a
prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for
such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and
other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; minus (v) any extraordinary
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. Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision
for taxes based on the income or profits of, and the
-4-
depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses of, a
Subsidiary of the Company 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, distributed or otherwise
transferred to the Company by such Subsidiary without prior
governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and without
direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter
and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders,
statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that
Subsidiary or its stockholders.
“
Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any
specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of
such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a
consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP,
provided that: (i) the Net Income (or loss) of any
Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person or that
is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will not be
included except such Net Income will be included to the extent of
the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the
specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;
(ii) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary of such
Person 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; (iii) the
Net Income (or loss) of any Person acquired in a pooling of
interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such
acquisition will be excluded; (iv) the cumulative effect of a
change in accounting principles will be excluded; (v) any
unrealized non-cash gains or losses or charges in respect of
Hedging Obligations (including those resulting from the application
of SFAS No. 133) will be excluded; and (vi) any non-cash
compensation charge arising from any grant of stock, stock options
or other equity-based awards will be excluded.
“
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means, with respect
to Airgas as of any date, the aggregate of the assets of Airgas and
its Restricted Subsidiaries less (1) all assets properly
classified as intangible assets, including, without limitation,
goodwill, organization costs, patents, trademarks, copyrights,
franchises and research and development costs as of such date and
(2) current liabilities as reflected on Airgas’ most
recent balance sheet, in each case, on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP and after giving effect to purchase
accounting. In the event that information relating to Consolidated
Net Tangible Assets is not available as of any date, then the most
recently available information will be utilized.
“
Continuing Directors ” means, as of any date of
determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company
who (i) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of
this Indenture; or (ii) was nominated for election or elected
to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the
Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of
such nomination or election; or (iii) is a designee of a
Principal or was nominated by a Principal.
“
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee ” means the
principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate
trust business shall be administered, which office at the dated
hereof is located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 8 West, New York,
New York 10286, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or such
other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by
notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate
trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as
such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to
the Holders and the Company).
“
Credit Agreement ” means that certain Twelfth Amended
and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2006, by
and among Airgas, the Canadian borrowing subsidiaries party
thereto, the guarantor subsidiaries party thereto, Bank of America,
N.A., as U.S. Agent, The Bank of Nova Scotia,
-5-
as
Canadian Agent, and the other Lenders named therein providing for
U.S. dollar-denominated loans and Canadian dollar-denominated
loans, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral
documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection
therewith, and in each case as amended, modified, renewed,
refunded, replaced or Refinanced from time to time including any
agreement extending the maturity of, Refinancing from time to time
including any agreement extending the maturity of, Refinancing,
replacing or otherwise restructuring (including increasing the
amount of available borrowings thereunder or adding Restricted
Subsidiaries of Airgas as additional borrowers or guarantors
thereunder) all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such
agreement or any successor or replacement agreement and whether by
the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.
“
Credit Facilities ” means, one or more (x) debt
facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement) or
commercial paper facilities, in each case with banks or other
institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term
loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of
receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed
to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of
credit or (y) debt securities, indentures or other forms of
debt financing entered into after the date of this Indenture
(including convertible or exchangeable debt instruments or bank
guarantees or bankers’ acceptances), in each case, as
amended, extended, renewed, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount,
terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to
time, and any agreement (and related document) governing
Indebtedness incurred to Refinance, in whole or in part, the
borrowings and commitments then outstanding or permitted to be
outstanding under such Credit Facility or a successor Credit
Facility, whether by the same or any other lender or investor or
group of lenders or investors.
“
Currency Agreement ” means, with respect to any
Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or
other similar agreement designed to protect such Person against
fluctuations in currency values.
“
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 A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the
Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of
Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached
thereto.
“
Depositary ” means, with respect to the Notes issuable
or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified
in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the
Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary
hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable
provision of this Indenture.
“
Designated Senior Debt ” means (i) any
Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement; and
(ii) after payment in full of all Obligations under the Credit
Agreement, any other Senior Debt permitted under this Indenture the
principal amount of which is $25.0 million or more and that
has been designated by the Company as “Designated Senior
Debt.”
“
Disqualified Stock ” means any Capital Stock that, by
its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is
convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the
option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening
of any event (other than any event solely within the
-6-
control
of the issuer thereof), 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.
“
Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States
or any state of the United States or the District of
Columbia.
“
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.
“
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.
“
Existing Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the
Credit Facilities) in existence on the date of this Indenture,
until such amounts are repaid.
“
Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to any specified
Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:
(i) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, including, without
limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue
discount, non-cash interest payments, 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, and net of the effect of
all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations;
plus (ii) the consolidated interest of such Person and
its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such
period; plus (iii) any interest expense on Indebtedness
of another Person that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its
Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such
Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such
Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus (iv) the product
of (A) all dividends, 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 the applicable Restricted Subsidiary 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 effective combined federal, state and
local tax rate of such Person for such period as estimated by the
Chief Financial Officer in good faith, expressed as a decimal, in
each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with
GAAP.
-7-
“
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means with respect to
any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated
Cash Flow of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such
period to the Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period. In the event that the specified
Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes,
Guarantees, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other
than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or
redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the
period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being
calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which
the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the
“ Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such
incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase or
redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or
redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds
therefrom as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the
applicable four-quarter reference period. In addition, for purposes
of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio: (i) acquisitions
that have been made by the specified Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or
consolidations and including any related financing transactions,
during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such
reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date will be
given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of
the four-quarter reference period and Consolidated Cash Flow for
such reference period will be calculated to include the
Consolidated Cash Flow of the acquired entities on a pro forma
basis after giving effect to cost savings resulting from employee
terminations, facilities consolidations and closings,
standardization of employee benefits and compensation practices,
consolidation of property, casualty and other insurance coverage
and policies, standardization of sales and distribution methods,
reduction in taxes other than income taxes and other cost savings
reasonably expected to be realized from such acquisition, as
determined in good faith by the principal financial officer of the
Company (regardless of whether such cost savings could then be
reflected in pro forma financial statements under GAAP,
Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any
other regulation or policy of the Commission), but without giving
effect to clause (iii) of the proviso set forth in the
definition of Consolidated Net Income; (ii) the Consolidated
Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in
accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of
prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded; and (iii) the
Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as
determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses
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 Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date. For purposes of
this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an
acquisition of assets, the amount of income or earnings relating
thereto and the amount of Fixed Charges associated with any
Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith, the pro forma
calculations shall be determined in good faith by a responsible
financial or accounting officer of the Company. If any Indebtedness
bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma
effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if
the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the
applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any
Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness if such
Interest Rate Agreement has a remaining term in excess of
12 months).
“
Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“
GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles
set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting
Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the
accounting profession, which are in effect from the date of this
Indenture.
“
Global Note Legend ” means the legend set forth in
Section 2.06(g)(ii), which is required to be placed on all
Global Notes issued under this Indenture.
-8-
“
Global Notes ” means, individually and collectively,
each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global
Notes, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto issued in
accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(iv), 2.06(d)(ii) or
2.06(f) hereof.
“
Government Securities ” means direct obligations (or
certificates representing an ownership interest in such
obligations) of the United States of America (including any agency
or instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith
and credit of the United States of America is pledged and which are
not callable at the issuer’s option.
“
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.
“
Guarantor ” means any Subsidiary of the Company that
guarantees the Notes in accordance with the provisions of this
Indenture.
“
Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any
specified Person, the obligations of such Person under any Interest
Rate Agreement or Currency Agreement.
“
Holder ” means a Person in whose name a Note is
registered on the Registrar’s books.
“
Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified
Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:
(i) in respect of borrowed money; (ii) evidenced by
bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of
credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);
(iii) in respect of banker’s acceptances;
(iv) representing Capital Lease Obligations;
(v) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the
purchase price of any property, except any such balance that
constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or (vi)
representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent any of
the preceding items (other than letters of credit 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. The
amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:
(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any
Indebtedness issued with original issue discount; or (2) the
principal amount of the Indebtedness. In addition, for the purpose
of avoiding duplication in calculating the outstanding principal
amount of Indebtedness for purposes of Section 4.09 hereof,
Indebtedness arising solely by reason of the existence of a Lien to
secure other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under
Section 4.09 hereof will not be considered incremental
Indebtedness. Indebtedness shall not include the obligations of any
Person (A) resulting from the endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business,
(B) under stand-by letters of credit to the extent
collateralized by cash or Cash Equivalents and (C) resulting
from representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities given
by such Person that are reasonably customary for sellers or
transferors in an accounts receivable securitization
transaction.
“
Indenture ” means this Indenture, as amended or
supplemented from time to time.
“
Independent Qualified Party ” means an investment
banking firm, accounting firm or appraisal firm of national
standing, provided , however , that such firm is not
an Affiliate of the Company.
“
Indirect Participant ” means a Person who holds a
beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.
-9-
“
Interest Rate Agreement ” means in respect of a Person
any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement or
other financial agreement or arrangement designed to protect such
Person against fluctuations in interest rates.
“
Initial Notes ” means the first $400.0 million
aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on
the date hereof.
“
Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or
higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or
the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other
Rating Agency.
“
Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all
direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons
(including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees
or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding
commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees
made in the ordinary course of business), 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 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 Equity Interests
of such Subsidiary 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 Investment 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
for herein, the amount of an Investment shall be its fair value at
the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to
subsequent changes in value.
“
Issue Date ” means June 10, 2008.
“
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,
lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind
in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or
otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional
sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature
thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security
interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent
statutes) of any jurisdiction.
“
Liquidated Damages ” means liquidated damages payable
to Holders of Notes following the occurrence of a Registration
Default in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum of the principal
amount of Notes held by the Holder for the first 90 days of
the Registration Default Period, and in an amount
-10-
increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum of the principal amount
of Notes with respect to each subsequent 90 days of the
Registration Default Period until all Registration Defaults have
been cured, up to a maximum amount of Liquidated Damages for all
Registration Defaults of 1.0% per annum of the principal amount of
Notes as described under Section 5 of the Registration Rights
Agreement.
“
Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service,
Inc. and its successors.
“
Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified
Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in
accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of
preferred stock dividends, excluding, however: (i) any gain
(or loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such
gain (or loss), realized in connection with: (A) any Asset
Sale; or (B) the disposition of any securities by such Person
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any
Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(ii) any extraordinary gain (or loss), together with any
related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (or loss)
and (iii) any non-cash charges taken in connection with any
loss realized upon the sale of capital stock of, or assets
comprising, any of the Specified Businesses or any write-down of
assets constituting any of the Specified Businesses.
“
Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds
received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in
respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash
received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash
consideration received in any Asset Sale, but only as and when
received), in each case net of: (i) the direct costs relating
to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal,
accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions,
recording fees, title transfer fees, appraiser fees, cost of
preparation of assets for sale, and any relocation expenses
incurred as a result of the Asset Sale, (ii) taxes paid or
payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking
into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax
sharing arrangements, (iii) amounts required to be applied to
the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset or
assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale, (iv) all
distributions and other payments required to be made to minority
interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a
result of such Asset Sale, and (v) any reserve for adjustment
in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in
accordance with GAAP.
“
Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness: (i) 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;
(ii) no default with respect to which (including any rights
that the holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement
action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon
notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness
(other than the notes) of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or
cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable
prior to its stated maturity; and (iii) as to which the
lenders have been notified in writing (which may be by the terms of
the instrument evidencing such Indebtedness) that they will not
have any recourse to the stock (other than the stock of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary pledged by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries) or assets of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries.
“
Non-U.S. Person ” means a Person who is not a U.S.
Person.
“
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.
“
Obligations ” means any principal, interest,
penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and
other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any
Indebtedness.
-11-
“
Offering ” means the offering of the Notes by the
Company.
“
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 13.05 hereof.
“
Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion from legal
counsel that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof.
The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company.
“
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 that derives a
majority of its revenues from the business engaged in by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of original
issuance of the Notes and/or activities that are reasonably
similar, ancillary, incidental, 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 original issuance of the Notes.
“
Permitted Investments ” means: (i) any Investment
in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
(ii) any Investment in cash or Cash Equivalents;
(iii) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such
Investment: (A) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company; or (B) such Person is merged, consolidated or
amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all
of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; (iv) 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; (v) any investment to the extent
made in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the Company; (vi) Hedging Obligations;
(vii) any Investment in Permitted Joint Ventures,
provided , except with respect to any Investment resulting
from the sale of capital stock or assets of any Specified Business,
that at the time of and immediately after giving pro forma effect
to such Investment (and any related transaction or series of
transactions), the Company would be permitted to incur at least
$1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio Test set forth under the first paragraph of
Section 4.09 hereof; (viii) Investments in prepaid
expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease,
utility and workers’ compensation, performance and other
similar deposits; (ix) transactions with officers, directors
and employees of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
entered into in the ordinary course of business (including
compensation, employee benefit or indemnity arrangements with any
such officer, director or employee) and consistent with past
business practices; (x) any Investment consisting of a
guarantee permitted under Section 4.09 hereof;
(xi) Investments consisting of non-cash consideration received
in the form of securities, notes or similar obligations in
connection with dispositions of obsolete or worn out assets
permitted pursuant to this Indenture; (xii) advances, loans or
extensions of credit to suppliers in the ordinary course of
business by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(xiii) Investments (including debt obligations) received in
connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and
customers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other
disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary
course of business; (xiv) loans and advances to employees made
in the ordinary course of business;
-12-
(xv)
payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that are
expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as
expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary
course of business; (xvi) Investments in any Person to the
extent such Investment existed on March 8, 2004 and any
Investment that replaces, refinances or refunds such an Investment,
provided that the new Investment is in an amount that does
not exceed that amount replaced, refinanced or refunded and is made
in the same Person as the Investment replaced, refinanced or
refunded; (xvii) Investments relating to any special purpose
Affiliate of the Company organized in connection with a Receivables
Facility that, in the good faith determination of the Board of
Directors of the Company, are necessary or advisable to the effect
that Receivables Facility; and (xviii) other Investments in
any Person having an aggregate fair market value, when taken
together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause
(xviii) since the date of this Indenture that are at the time
outstanding not to exceed $75.0 million.
“
Permitted Joint Venture ” means a corporation,
partnership or other entity (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company) engaged in one or more Permitted Businesses in respect of
which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (a) beneficially
owns at least 25% of the Equity Interest of such entity and
(b) either is a party to an agreement empowering one or more
parties to such agreement (which may or may not be the Company or
its Restricted Subsidiary), or is a member of a group that pursuant
to the constituent documents of the applicable corporation,
partnership or other entity, has the power, to direct the policies,
management and affairs of such entity.
“
Permitted Junior Securities ” means (i) Equity
Interests in the Company or any Guarantor; or (ii) debt
securities that are subordinated to all Senior Debt and any debt
securities issued in exchange for Senior Debt to at least the same
extent as the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees are subordinated
to Senior Debt under this Indenture.
“
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
issued to Refinance other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness);
provided that: (i) 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 being Refinanced (plus all accrued
interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all expenses and
premiums incurred in connection therewith); (ii) 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 Refinanced; (iii) if the
Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment
to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final
maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and is
subordinated in right of payment to, the notes on terms at least as
favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the
documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced; and
(iv) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by
the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness
being Refinanced.
“
Person ” means any individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company,
trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company,
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any
other entity.
“
Principal ” means Peter McCausland (and in the event
of his incompetence or death, his estate, heirs, executor,
administrator, committee or other personal representative
(collectively, “heirs”)) or any Person controlled,
directly or indirectly, by Peter McCausland or his heirs.
“
Private Placement Legend ” means the legend set forth
in Section 2.06(i)(i) to be placed on all Notes issued under
this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions
of this Indenture.
-13-
“
Public Equity Offering ” means any underwritten public
offering of common stock of the Company.
“
QIB ” means a “ qualified institutional
buyer ” as defined in Rule 144A.
“
Rating Agency ” means S&P and Moody’s or, if
S&P or Moody’s or both shall not make a rating on the
Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical
rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the
Company (as certified by a resolution of the Board of Directors of
the Company) which shall be substituted for S&P or
Moody’s or both, as the case may be.
“
Receivables Facility ” means one or more receivables
financing facilities, as amended from time to time, pursuant to
which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells its
accounts receivable to an Accounts Receivable Entity.
“
Receivables Fees ” means distributions or payments
made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any
participation interests issued or sold in connection with, and
other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in
connection with, any Receivables Facility.
“
Refinance ” means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to
refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, defease or
retire, or to issue other Indebtedness in exchange or replacement
for, such Indebtedness. “Refinanced” and
“Refinancing” shall have correlative meanings.
“
Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2008 by
and among the Company 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 between the
Company 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 Company 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 the Depositary and registered in the name the
Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the
outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in
reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.
“
Related Party ” means (i) any immediate family
member (in the case of an individual) of the Principal; or
(ii) any trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the
beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, owners or Persons
beneficially holding an 80% or more controlling interest of which
consist of the Principal.
“
Representative ” means the indenture trustee or other
trustee, agent or representative for any Senior Debt.
“
Responsible Officer ,” when used with respect to the
Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust
Administration of the Trustee (or any successor group of the
Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate
trust matter, any other officer to
-14-
whom
such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity
with the particular subject and who shall have direct
responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“
Restricted 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.
“
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 the
Securities Act.
“
S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Rating
Group, Inc. and its successors.
“
Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
“
Senior Debt ” means: (i) all Indebtedness of the
Company or any Guarantor outstanding under Credit Facilities and
all Hedging Obligations with respect thereto; (ii) any other
Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor permitted to be
incurred under the terms of this Indenture; and (iii) all
Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding
clauses (i) and (ii), unless in the case of clauses (i) and
(ii), the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred
expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in
right of payment to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee, as the
case may be. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
preceding paragraph, Senior Debt will not include: (a) any
liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by
the Company or any Guarantor; (b) any intercompany
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
owing to the Company or any of its Affiliates; (c) any trade
payables; or (d) the portion of any Indebtedness that is
incurred in violation of this Indenture, provided , that
such Indebtedness shall be deemed not to have been incurred in
violation of this Indenture for purposes of this clause (d) if
(x) the Holders of such Indebtedness or their representative
or the Company shall have furnished to the trustee an opinion of
recognized independent legal counsel addressed to the trustee
(which legal counsel may, as to matters of fact, rely upon an
officers’ certificate) to the effect that the incurrence of
such Indebtedness does not violate the provisions of this Indenture
or (y) such Indebtedness consists of Indebtedness under any
Credit Facility and Holders of such Indebtedness or their agent or
representative (I) had no actual knowledge at the time of the
incurrence that the incurrence of such Indebtedness violated this
Indenture and (II) shall have received an officers’
certificate to the effect that the incurrence of such Indebtedness
does not violate the provisions of this Indenture.
“
Senior Subordinated Indebtedness ” means, with respect
to any Person, the Notes (in the case of the Company), the
Subsidiary Guarantees (in the case of a Guarantor) and any other
Indebtedness of such Person that specifically provides that such
Indebtedness is to rank pari passu with the Notes or such
Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, in right of payment and
is not subordinated by its terms in
-15-
right of
payment to any Indebtedness or other obligation of such Person
which is not Senior Debt of such Person.
“
Shelf Registration Statement ” means the Shelf
Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
“
Significant Subsidiary ” means any Restricted
Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as
defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X,
promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is
in effect on the date hereof.
“
Specified Businesses ” means the air separation
businesses and related facilities and contracts of Nitrous Oxide
Corp., Airgas Canada, Inc. and Rutland Tool & Supply Co.,
Inc.
“
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, including any mandatory redemption provision,
but excluding any provision providing for any contingent
obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or
principal at the option of the Holder thereof.
“
Subsidiary ” means, as to any Person, (a) any
corporation more than 50% of whose stock of any class or classes
having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a
majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of
whether or not at the time, any class or classes of such
corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the
happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person
directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries, and (b) any
partnership, association, joint venture or other entity in which
such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more
than 50% equity interest at any time.
“
Subsidiary Guarantee ” means a Guarantee by a
Guarantor of the Company’s obligations with respect to the
Notes.
“
TIA ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
§§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this
Indenture is qualified under the TIA.
“
Treasury Rate ” means, as of any Redemption Date, the
yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of United States
Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and
published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release
H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two
Business Days prior to the Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical
Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of
similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the
Redemption Date to October 1, 2013; provided that if
the period from the Redemption Date to October 1, 2013 is less
than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United
States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one
year shall be used.
“
Trustee ” means the party named as such above until a
successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions
of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving
hereunder.
“
Unrestricted Definitive Note ” means one or more
Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the
Private Placement Legend.
“
Unrestricted Global Note ” means a permanent Global
Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto
that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule
of Exchanges of
-16-
Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is
deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the
Depositary, representing a series of Notes that do not bear the
Private Placement Legend.
“
Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means (a) any
Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of
Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to
a resolution of the Board of Directors, and any Subsidiary of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, but, in each case, only to the extent that
such Subsidiary: (i) has no Indebtedness other than
Non-Recourse Debt; (ii) 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
(iii) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly
provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries. Any designation of a Subsidiary of
the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the
Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of a resolution
of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an
officers’ certificate certifying that such designation
complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by
Section 4.07 hereof. If, at any time, any Unrestricted
Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any
Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such
Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under
Section 4.09 hereof, the Company will be in default of such
covenant. The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time
designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted
Subsidiary, provided that such designation will be deemed to
be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted
Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if:
(x) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09
hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had
occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period; and
(y) no Default would be in existence following such
designation.
“
U.S. Dollar Equivalent ” means, with respect to any
monetary amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars, at any time
for determination thereof, the amount of U.S. dollars obtained by
converting such foreign currency involved in such computation into
U.S. dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of U.S. dollars with
the applicable foreign currency as published in The Wall Street
Journal in the “Exchange Rates” column under the
heading “Currency Trading” (or similar section of such
newspaper) on the date two Business Days prior to such
determination.
“
U.S. Person ” means a U.S. person as defined in Rule
902(k) under the Securities Act.
“
Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the
Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote
in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.
“
Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when
applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years
obtained by dividing: (i) 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 (ii) the then outstanding principal
amount of such Indebtedness.
Section 1.02.
Other Definitions .
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Defined in |
|
Term |
|
Section |
|
“Affiliate
Transaction”
|
|
|
4.11 |
|
-17-
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Defined in |
|
Term |
|
Section |
|
“Asset Sale
Offer”
|
|
|
3.09 |
|
|
“Authentication Order”
|
|
|
2.02 |
|
|
“Automatic
Exchange”
|
|
|
2.06 |
(g) |
|
“Bankruptcy
Law”
|
|
|
4.01 |
|
|
“Change of
Control Offer”
|
|
|
4.15 |
|
|
“Change of
Control Payment”
|
|
|
4.15 |
|
|
“Change of
Control Payment Date”
|
|
|
4.15 |
|
|
“Covenant
Defeasance”
|
|
|
8.03 |
|
|
“DTC”
|
|
|
2.03 |
|
|
“Event of
Default”
|
|
|
6.01 |
|
|
“Excess
Proceeds”
|
|
|
4.10 |
|
|
“Fall-Away
Covenants”
|
|
|
4.19 |
|
|
“incur”
|
|
|
4.09 |
|
|
“Legal
Defeasance”
|
|
|
8.02 |
|
|
“Offer
Amount”
|
|
|
3.09 |
|
|
“Offer
Period”
|
|
|
3.09 |
|
|
“Payment
Default”
|
|
|
6.01 |
|
|
“Paying
Agent”
|
|
|
2.03 |
|
|
“Permitted
Debt”
|
|
|
4.09 |
|
|
“Purchase
Date”
|
|
|
3.09 |
|
|
“Redemption
Date”
|
|
|
3.07 |
|
|
“Registrar”
|
|
|
2.03 |
|
|
“Restricted
Payments”
|
|
|
4.07 |
|
|
“Successor
Company”
|
|
|
5.01 |
|
Section 1.03.
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act .
This
Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the TIA, which
are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this
Indenture.
The
following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following
meanings:
“indenture
securities” means the Notes;
“indenture
security Holder” means a Holder of a Note;
“indenture
to be qualified” means this Indenture;
“indenture
trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the
Trustee; and
“obligor”
on the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees means the Company and
the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the
Notes and the Subsidiary 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
Commission rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to
them.
Section 1.04.
Rules of Construction .
Unless
the context otherwise requires:
(a) a
term has the meaning assigned to it;
-18-
(b) an
accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to
it in accordance with GAAP;
(c)
“or” is not exclusive;
(d) words
in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the
singular;
(e) provisions
apply to successive events and transactions; and
(f) references
to sections of or rules under the Securities Act shall be deemed to
include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules
adopted by the Commission 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 shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements
required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note shall be
dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in
denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess
of $2,000.
The
terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and
are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the
Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and
delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and
provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any
provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this
Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be
controlling.
(b)
Global Notes . Notes issued in global form shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto
(including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule
of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached
thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in
the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global
Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of
Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global
Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be
specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent
the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to
time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be
reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and
redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount
of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee
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. For the avoidance of doubt, Affiliates of
the Company may only hold an interest in the Notes in the form of
Definitive Notes and are prohibited from taking a beneficial
interest in one or more Global Notes.
(c)
Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable . The
provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear
System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of
Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of
Clearstream” and “Customer Handbook” of
Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial
interests in the Regulation S Global Notes that are held by
Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.
Section 2.02.
Execution and Authentication .
An
Officer shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile
signature.
-19-
If an
Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at
the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be
valid.
A Note
shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of
the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the
Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.
On the
Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company
signed by an Officer (an “ Authentication Order
”), authenticate Notes for original issue up to
$400.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and,
upon delivery of any Authentication Order at any time and from time
to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate Notes for
original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in such
Authentication Order.
The
Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the
Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may
authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference
in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes
authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same
rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the
Company.
Section 2.03.
Registrar and Paying Agent .
The
Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be
presented for registration of transfer or for exchange
(“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may
be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The
Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer
and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and
one or more additional paying agents. The term
“Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term
“Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.
The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice
to any Holder. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in
writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this
Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another
entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such.
The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or
Registrar.
The
Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company
(“DTC”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global
Notes.
The
Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and
Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global
Notes.
Section 2.04.
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .
The
Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to
agree in writing that the Paying Agent 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 Liquidated Damages
if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of
any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any
such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to
pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time
may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the
Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if
other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further
liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as
Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund
for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying
Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating
to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the
Notes.
-20-
Section 2.05.
Holder Lists .
The
Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and
addresses of all Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the
Company shall furnish to the Trustee in writing at least five
Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other
times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form
and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the
names and addresses of the Holders of Notes.
Section 2.06.
Transfer and Exchange .
(a)
Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes . A Global Note may
not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee
of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary
or to another nominee of the Depositary, 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 (i) the Company delivers to
the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or
unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a
clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either
case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within
120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary or
(ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the
Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for
Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to
the Trustee. Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events
in (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in
such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global
Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as
provided in 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 shall be effected through the Depositary, in
accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable
Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes
shall be subject to the restrictions set forth herein to the extent
required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests
in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either
subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as
one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as
applicable:
(i)
Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note .
Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be
transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in
accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private
Placement Legend. 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)(i).
(ii)
All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in
Global Notes . In connection with all transfers and exchanges
of beneficial interests that are not subject to
Section 2.06(b)(i) above, the transferor of such beneficial
interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) 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
(2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable
Procedures
-21-
containing
information regarding the Participant account to be credited with
such increase or (B) (1) 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 (2) 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)(ii) 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(j)
hereof.
(iii) 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)(ii) above and the
Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transferee will take
delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global
Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
(1) thereof; and
(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.
(iv) Transfer and Exchange of
Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial
Interests in the 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)(ii) above and:
(A) such exchange is effected
pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration
Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be
exchanged certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it
is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in
the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) 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;
(D) the Registrar receives the
following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial
interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such
beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an
-22-
Unrestricted
Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of
Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a)
thereof; or
(2) 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 Applicable
Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel 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; or
(E) such transfer is effected
pursuant to an Automatic Exchange in accordance with
Section 2.06(g) of this Indenture.
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 .
(i)
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 under the
Securities Act, 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 under the
Securities Act, 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
under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a)
thereof;
-23-
(E) 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
(F) if such beneficial interest is
being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c)
thereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of
the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to
Section 2.06(j) 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)(i) shall bear the
Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions
on transfer contained therein.
(ii)
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 (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a
Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or
(3) 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:
(1) if
the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note
proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note
that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from
such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or
(2) 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 Definitive Note that does
not bear the Private Placement Legend, 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 Applicable
Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that
such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the
-24-
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; or
(E) such transfer is effected
pursuant to an Automatic Exchange in accordance with
Section 2.06(g) of this Indenture.
(iii)
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)(ii) hereof, the
Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the
applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to
Section 2.06(j) 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 pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iii) 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 pursuant to this
Section 2.06(c)(iii) shall not bear the Private Placement
Legend.
(d)
Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial
Interests .
(i)
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 under the Securities Act, 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 under
the Securities Act, 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 under the Securities Act, 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 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
-25-
(F) 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 shall 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 144A Global Note.
(ii)
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 (1) a
broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution
of the Exchange Notes or (3) 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;
(D) the Registrar receives the
following:
(1) 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
(2) 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 Applicable
Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel 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; or
(E) such transfer is effected
pursuant to an Automatic Exchange in accordance with
Section 2.06(g) of this Indenture.
Upon
satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this
Section 2.06(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Definitive
Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal
amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.
(iii)
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
-26-
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 shall
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 (ii)(B), (ii)(D) or
(iii) 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 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 shall register the transfer or exchange of
Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or
exchange, the requesting Holder shall 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 shall
provide any additional certifications, documents and information,
as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of
this Section 2.06(e).
(i)
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 under the
Securities Act, 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.
(ii)
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 (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person
participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or
(3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144)
of the Company;
(B) any
such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights
Agreement;
-27-
(C) any
such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement;
(D) the
Registrar receives the following:
(1) 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
(2) 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), an Opinion of Counsel
in form reasonably acceptable to the Company 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; or
(E)
such transfer is effected pursuant to an Automatic Exchange in
accordance with Section 2.06(g) of this Indenture.
(iii)
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 Company
shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in
accordance with Section 2.02, the Trustee shall authenticate
(i) 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 tendered for acceptance by
Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that
(x) they are not broker-dealers, (y) they are not
participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and
(z) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of
the Company, and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer and
(ii) Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal
to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes accepted
for exchange in the Exchange Offer. Concurrently with the issuance
of such Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal
amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced
accordingly, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders
of Definitive Notes so accepted Definitive Notes in the appropriate
principal amount.
(g)
Automatic Exchange from Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted
Global Note . On the Automatic Exchange Date, beneficial
interests in a Global Note bearing a legend pursuant to
Section 2.06(i)(i) and subject to the restrictions on transfer
imposed thereby will be automatically exchanged into beneficial
interests in a freely transferable Unrestricted Global Note, which
shall not bear such legend without any action required by or on
behalf of the Holder (the “ Automatic Exchange
”). In order to effect the Automatic Exchange:
-28-
(i) the Company shall at least eight
Business Days but not more than 15 Business Days prior to the
Automatic Exchange Date, deliver a notice of Automatic Exchange (an
“ Automatic Exchange Notice ”) to the
Trustee;
(ii) within three Business Days after
its receipt of the Automatic Exchange Notice, the Trustee shall
deliver, in the Company’s name and at its expense, the
Automatic Exchange Notice to each Holder at such Holder’s
address appearing in the register of the Notes kept by the
Registrar; and
(iii) the Company shall at least one
Business Day prior to the Automatic Exchange Date, deliver to the
Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to
the Company, in form and in substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Trustee and upon which the Trustee may rely conclusively,
without liability, to the effect that such transfer of beneficial
interests to the Unrestricted Global Notes shall be in compliance
with the Securities Act.
The
Automatic Exchange Notice shall identify the Notes subject to the
Automatic Exchange and shall state: (1) the Automatic Exchange
Date; (2) that the Automatic Exchange shall occur pursuant to
this Section 2.06(g) of the Indenture; (3) the
“CUSIP” number of the Restricted Global Notes from
which such Holders’ beneficial interests will be transferred
and (4) the “CUSIP” number of the Unrestricted
Global Securities into which such Holders’ beneficial
interests will be transferred. On the Automatic Exchange Date, the
Automatic Exchange shall occur and the Registrar shall endorse
Schedule A to the relevant Notes and reflect on its books and
records the date of such transfer and a decrease and increase,
respectively, in the principal amount of the applicable Restricted
Global Note(s) and the Unrestricted Global Notes, respectively,
equal to the principal amount of beneficial interests transferred.
If, following any such transfer pursuant to this Section 2.06(g),
the principal amount of the relevant Restricted Global Note is
zero, then the relevant Restricted Global Note shall be cancelled.
In no event will the failure of the Company to provide any notice
set forth in this Section 2.06(g) or of the Trustee to effect
the Automatic Exchange constitute a failure by the Company to
comply with any of its covenants or agreements set forth in this
Indenture for purposes of Article 6 hereof or otherwise.
(h)
Transfers of Securities Held by Affiliates . Any certificate
(i) evidencing a Note that has been transferred to an
Affiliate of the Company within one year after the Issue Date, as
evidenced by a notation on the assignment form for such transfer or
in the representation letter delivered in respect thereof or
(ii) evidencing a Note that has been acquired from an
Affiliate (other than by an Affiliate) in a transaction or a chain
of transactions not involving any public offering, shall, until one
year after the last date on which either the Company or any
Affiliate of the Company was an owner of such Note, in each case,
be in certificated form and subject to the restrictions on transfer
and bear a legend pursuant to Section 2.06(i)(i). The
Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other
written communications received pursuant to Sections 2.03 and
2.05 of this Indenture. The Company, at its sole cost and expense,
shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such
letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable
time upon the giving of reasonable written notice to the
Registrar.
(i)
Legends . The following legends shall 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.
(i)
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:
-29-
“THIS
NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY,
MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR
THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW.
BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT
(a) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS
DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A
“QIB”) OR (b) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS
ACQUIRING THE NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,
(2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE
ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER
THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (a) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY
THEREOF, (b) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QIB IN COMPLIANCE
WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) OUTSIDE THE
UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE
904 OF REGULATION S 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
(3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS
SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF
THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S.
PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT.”
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs
(b)(iv), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii), (e)(iii),
(f) or (g) to this Section 2.06 (and all Notes
issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear
the Private Placement Legend.
(ii)
Global Note Legend . Each Global Note shall bear a legend in
substantially the following form:
“THIS
GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE
GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE
SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07
OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN
WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE,
(III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR
CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND
(IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR
DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE
COMPANY.”
(j)
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 shall 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
-30-
Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such
Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall
be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at
the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the
beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a
Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial
interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be
increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such
Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of
the Trustee to reflect such increase.
(k)
General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges
.
(i) To
permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall
execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and
Definitive Notes upon the Company’s order or at the
Registrar’s request.
(ii) No
service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest
in a Global Note or to a Holder of a 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, 3.06, 3.09,
4.10, 4.15 and 9.05 hereof).
(iii)
The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or
exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part,
except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in
part.
(iv)
All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration
of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall
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.
(v) The
Company shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the
transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at
the opening of business 15 days before the day of any
selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof
and ending at the close of business on the day of selection,
(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so
selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed
portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (C) to register
the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the
next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
(vi)
Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any
Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the
Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner
of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of
and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of
the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice
to the contrary.
(vii)
The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.
(viii)
All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required
to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06
to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted
by facsimile.
-31-
Section 2.07.
Replacement Notes .
If a
mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of
a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully
taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate,
upon receipt of an Authentication Order, a replacement Security. If
required by the Trustee or the Company, such Holder shall furnish
an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the
Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the
Registrar and any co-registrar from any loss which any of them may
suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may
charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note.
Every
replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and
shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally
and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued
hereunder.
Section 2.08.
Outstanding Notes .
The
Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by
the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered
to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in
a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the
provisions hereof, and those described in this Section as not
outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a
Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an
Affiliate of the Company holds the Note; however, Notes held by the
Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed to be
outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07(b) hereof.
If a
Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to
be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof
satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide
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 segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this
Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient
to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect
to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as
the case may be, and the Paying Agent is not prohibited from paying
such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of
this Indenture, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions
thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to
accrue.
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 Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with the Company, shall be considered as though not
outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether
the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction,
waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the
Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.10.
Temporary Notes .
Until
certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company
may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication
Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary
-32-
Notes
shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may
have variations that the Company considers appropriate for
temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall
prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in
exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders
of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this
Indenture.
Section 2.11.
Cancellation .
The
Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for
cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the
Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer,
exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and
dispose of such Notes in its customary manner (subject to the
record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) all Notes
surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or
cancellation and deliver a certificate of such disposition to the
Company upon request, unless the Company directs the Trustee to
deliver canceled Notes to the Company. Certification of the
disposition of all canceled Notes shall be delivered to the Company
upon request. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes
that it has redeemed or paid or that have been delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.12.
Defaulted Interest .
If the
Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall
pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent
lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons
who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case
at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.
The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of
defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of
the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed
each such special record date and payment date, provided
that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days
prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At
least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or,
upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name
and at the expense of the Company) shall mail or cause to be mailed
to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the
related payment date and the amount of such interest to be
paid.
Section 2.13.
CUSIP Numbers .
The
Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers
(if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use
“CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a
convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may
state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such
numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any
notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the
other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such
redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of
such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any
change in the CUSIP numbers.
Section 2.14.
Issuance of Additional Notes .
The
Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with
Section 4.09, to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture
which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the
Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance and
issue price. The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, any
Additional Notes and all Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes
issued in exchange therefor shall be treated as a single class for
all purposes under this Indenture.
-33-
With
respect to any Additional Notes, the Company shall set forth in a
resolution of the Board of Directors and an Officers’
Certificate, a copy of each which shall be delivered to the
Trustee, the following information:
(a) the aggregate principal amount of
such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to
this Indenture;
(b) the issue price, the issue date
and the CUSIP number of such Additional Notes; provided that
no Additional Notes may be issued at a price that would cause such
Additional Notes to have “original issue discount”
within the meaning of Section 1273 of the Code; and
(c) whether such Additional Notes
shall be transfer restricted notes and issued in the form of
Initial Notes as set forth in Section 2.02 this Indenture or
shall be issued in the form of Exchange Notes.
ARTICLE 3.
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
Section 3.01.
Notices to Trustee .
If the
Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption
provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the
Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days
before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting
forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the
redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date,
(iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and
(iv) the redemption price.
Section 3.02.
Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed .
If less
than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer
to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be
redeemed or purchased among the Holders of the Notes in compliance
with the requirements of the principal national securities
exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes
are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in accordance
with any other method the Trustee considers appropriate.
The
Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes
selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for
partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in integral multiples
of $1,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be
redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such
Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. No
Note may be redeemed in part if such redemption would result in its
face value being less than $2,000. Except as provided in the
preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to
Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called
for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of
the Notes or portions of Notes to be redeemed.
Section 3.03.
Notice of Redemption .
Subject
to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least
30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption
date, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class
mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be
redeemed at such Holder’s registered address;
-34-
provided
that in the latter case the Trustee shall be given at least five
(5) days
|