Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 24, 2011

 

 

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-33225   20-5336063

(State or other jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

2122 York Road

Oak Brook, Illinois 60523

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(630) 574-3000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

Offering of Senior Notes

On January 25, 2011, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (the “Company”), entered into a Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) by and among the Company, certain subsidiary guarantors named therein (the “Guarantors”), and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several initial purchasers, relating to the issuance and sale of $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 7.375% senior unsecured notes due February 1, 2019 (the “Notes”). The Notes were priced at 100% of face value.

The Notes are being offered to the initial purchasers as a private placement and have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The initial purchasers intend to sell the Notes only to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A and to persons outside the United States under Regulation S of the Securities Act.

The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, agreements, indemnification obligations, including for liabilities under the Securities Act, other obligations and termination provisions of the Company, certain of its subsidiaries and the initial purchasers.

The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement is a summary. The complete text of the Purchase Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Indenture Relating to 7.375% Senior Notes due 2019

On January 28, 2011, the Company completed its previously announced private placement of $250,000,000 of the Notes. The Notes were offered to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A and to persons outside the United States under Regulation S of the Securities Act. The private placement of the Notes resulted in gross proceeds to the Company of $250.0 million. The Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of January 28, 2011 by and among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

The Notes will mature on February 1, 2019, and bear interest at a rate of 7.375% per annum, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning on August 1, 2011. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and will be guaranteed by each of the Guarantors.

The terms of the Indenture will, among other things, limit the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries to (i) pay dividends, or make certain other restricted payments or investments; (ii) incur additional indebtedness and issue disqualified stock; (iii) create liens on its assets; (iv) transfer and sell assets; (v) merge, consolidate or sell all or substantially all of its assets; (vi) enter into certain transactions with affiliates; (vii) create restrictions on dividends or other payments by its restricted subsidiaries and (viii) create guarantees of indebtedness by restricted subsidiaries. These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions that are described in the Indenture.

The Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, on any time on or after February 1, 2015, on the redemption dates and at the redemption prices specified in the Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any. In addition, prior to February 1, 2014, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the


aggregate principal amount of the Notes with the net cash proceeds from one or more equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 107.375% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. Prior to February 1, 2015, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes so redeemed, plus a “make whole” premium, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

Upon the occurrence of a change of control triggering event specified in the Indenture, the Company must offer to purchase the Notes at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase.

The Indenture provides for customary events of default (subject in certain cases to customary grace and cure periods), which include nonpayment, breach of covenants in the Indenture, payment defaults or acceleration of other indebtedness, a failure to pay certain judgments and certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee or holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the principal, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable. These events of default are subject to a number of important qualifications, limitations and exceptions that are described in the Indenture.

The foregoing description of the Indenture is a summary. The complete text of the Indenture is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Registration Rights Agreement

On January 28, 2011, in connection with the private placement of the Notes, the Company, the Guarantors and the initial purchasers of the Notes entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). The terms of the Registration Rights Agreement require the Company and the Guarantors to (i) use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause a registration statement with respect to an exchange offer for the Notes to become effective within 365 days after the issue date of the Notes; (ii) consummate the exchange offer within 30 business days after the target date for effectiveness of the registration statement with respect to the exchange offer and (iii) use their commercially reasonable efforts to file a shelf registration statement for the resale of the Notes in certain circumstances. If the Company and the Guarantors fail to satisfy their registration obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, then the Company will be required to pay liquidated damages to the holders of the Notes, which will accrue at an annual rate of 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes.

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is a summary. The complete text of the Registration Rights Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

Amendment to Underwriting and Continuing Indemnity Agreement

On January 24, 2011, the Company, certain of its subsidiaries, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company and Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America (together “Travelers”) entered into a Sixth Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Underwriting and Continuing Indemnity Agreement (the “Travelers Amendment”). The amendment was entered into to, among other things, permit the Company to incur up to $250 million of debt as part of a refinancing of the Company’s $175 million principal amount senior subordinated notes due December 2013. The amendment also provides that if the Company’s outstanding credit exposure under its senior credit facility exceeds $25 million, then at Travelers’ request the Company is required to provide Travelers with $20 million of additional collateral (in cash or an irrevocable letter of credit, at the Company’s discretion). In addition, the Company is


required to grant Travelers a first priority security interest in such additional collateral in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company’s intercreditor agreement. In addition, on January 24, 2011, Travelers consented to the issuance of the Notes.

The foregoing description of the Travelers Amendment is a summary. The complete text of the Travelers Amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

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

The information in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure

On January 25, 2011, the Company announced that it had priced a previously announced offering of $250.0 million of senior unsecured notes. A copy of the press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit

  4.1   Indenture, dated January 28, 2011, by and among the Company, certain subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
  4.2   Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 28, 2011, by and among the Company, certain subsidiary guarantors named therein and the initial purchasers named therein.
10.1   Purchase Agreement, dated January 25, 2011, by and among the Company, certain subsidiary guarantors named therein and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several initial purchasers.
10.2   Sixth Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Underwriting and Continuing Indemnity Agreement, dated January 24, 2011, by and among the Company, the subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company and Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America.
99.1   Press Release of Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, dated January 25, 2011.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK CORPORATION
    (registrant)
Date: January 28, 2011     By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

    Name:   Bruce J. Biemeck
    Title:   President and Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit

  4.1   Indenture, dated January 28, 2011, by and among the Company, certain subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
  4.2   Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 28, 2011, by and among the Company, certain subsidiary guarantors named therein and the initial purchasers named therein.
10.1   Purchase Agreement, dated January 25, 2011, by and among the Company, certain subsidiary guarantors named therein and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several initial purchasers.
10.2   Sixth Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Underwriting and Continuing Indemnity Agreement, dated January 24, 2011, by and among the Company, the subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company and Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America.
99.1   Press Release of Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, dated January 25, 2011.
Indenture

Exhibit 4.1

GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK CORPORATION

as Issuer,

and

ANY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,

as Guarantors

$250,000,000

7.375% Senior Notes due 2019

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of January 28, 2011

 

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,

as Trustee


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA Section Reference

   Indenture Section
310  

(a)(1)

   7.10
 

(a)(2)

   7.10
 

(a)(3)

   N.A.
 

(a)(4)

   N.A.
 

(a)(5)

   7.10
 

(b)

   7.08, 7.10
311  

(a)

   7.11
 

(b)

   7.11
312  

(a)

   2.05
 

(b)

   12.03
 

(c)

   12.03
313  

(a)

   7.06
 

(b)(1)

   N.A.
 

(b)(2)

   7.06, 7.07
 

(c)

   7.06, 12.02
 

(d)

   7.06
314  

(a)

   4.03, 4.04, 12.02
 

(b)

   N.A.
 

(c)(1)

   12.04
 

(c)(2)

   N.A.
 

(c)(3)

   N.A.
 

(d)

   N.A.
 

(e)

   12.05
315  

(a)

   7.01
 

(b)

   7.05, 12.02
 

(c)

   7.01
 

(d)

   7.01
 

(e)

   6.11
316  

(a) (last sentence)

   2.09
 

(a)(1)(A)

   6.05
 

(a)(1)(B)

   6.04
 

(a)(2)

   N.A.
 

(b)

   6.07
317  

(a)(1)

   6.08
 

(a)(2)

   6.09
 

(b)

   2.04
318  

(a)

   12.01

N.A. means Not Applicable.

Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
ARTICLE 1.   
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE   

SECTION 1.01.

  

Definitions

     1   

SECTION 1.02.

  

Other Definitions

     26   

SECTION 1.03.

  

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

     27   

SECTION 1.04.

  

Rules of Construction

     27   
ARTICLE 2.   
THE NOTES   

SECTION 2.01.

  

Form and Dating

     28   

SECTION 2.02.

  

Execution and Authentication

     29   

SECTION 2.03.

  

Registrar and Paying Agent

     29   

SECTION 2.04.

  

Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust

     30   

SECTION 2.05.

  

Holder Lists

     30   

SECTION 2.06.

  

Transfer and Exchange

     30   

SECTION 2.07.

  

Replacement Notes

     40   

SECTION 2.08.

  

Outstanding Notes

     40   

SECTION 2.09.

  

Treasury Notes

     41   

SECTION 2.10.

  

Temporary Notes

     41   

SECTION 2.11.

  

Cancellation

     41   

SECTION 2.12.

  

Payment of Interest; Defaulted Interest

     41   

SECTION 2.13.

  

CUSIP or ISIN Numbers

     41   

SECTION 2.14.

  

Additional Interest

     42   

SECTION 2.15.

  

Issuance of Additional Notes

     42   

SECTION 2.16.

  

Record Date

     42   
ARTICLE 3.   
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT   

SECTION 3.01.

  

Notices to Trustee

     42   

SECTION 3.02.

  

Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed

     43   

SECTION 3.03.

  

Notice of Redemption

     43   

SECTION 3.04.

  

Effect of Notice of Redemption

     44   

SECTION 3.05.

  

Deposit of Redemption Price

     44   

SECTION 3.06.

  

Notes Redeemed in Part

     44   

SECTION 3.07.

  

Optional Redemption

     44   

SECTION 3.08.

  

Mandatory Redemption

     45   

SECTION 3.09.

  

Offer to Purchase

     45   
ARTICLE 4.   
COVENANTS   

SECTION 4.01.

  

Payment of Notes

     47   

SECTION 4.02.

  

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     47   

SECTION 4.03.

  

Reports

     48   

 

-i-


          Page  

SECTION 4.04.

  

Compliance Certificate

     48   

SECTION 4.05.

  

Taxes

     49   

SECTION 4.06.

  

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

     49   

SECTION 4.07.

  

Corporate Existence

     49   

SECTION 4.08.

  

Payments for Consent

     49   

SECTION 4.09.

  

Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock

     50   

SECTION 4.10.

  

Restricted Payments

     52   

SECTION 4.11.

  

Liens

     56   

SECTION 4.12.

  

Asset Sales

     56   

SECTION 4.13.

  

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries

     57   

SECTION 4.14.

  

Transactions With Affiliates

     59   

SECTION 4.15.

  

Additional Guarantees

     60   

SECTION 4.16.

  

Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries

     60   

SECTION 4.17.

  

Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon a Change of Control

     61   

SECTION 4.18.

  

Business Activities

     61   
ARTICLE 5.   
SUCCESSORS   

SECTION 5.01.

  

Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets

     61   

SECTION 5.02.

  

Successor Corporation Substituted

     62   
ARTICLE 6.   
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES   

SECTION 6.01.

  

Events of Default

     63   

SECTION 6.02.

  

Acceleration

     64   

SECTION 6.03.

  

Other Remedies

     64   

SECTION 6.04.

  

Waiver of Defaults

     65   

SECTION 6.05.

  

Control by Majority

     65   

SECTION 6.06.

  

Limitation on Suits

     65   

SECTION 6.07.

  

Rights of Holders to Receive Payment

     66   

SECTION 6.08.

  

Collection Suit by Trustee

     66   

SECTION 6.09.

  

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     66   

SECTION 6.10.

  

Priorities

     66   

SECTION 6.11.

  

Undertaking for Costs

     67   
ARTICLE 7.   
TRUSTEE   

SECTION 7.01.

  

Duties of Trustee

     67   

SECTION 7.02.

  

Rights of Trustee

     68   

SECTION 7.03.

  

Individual Rights of Trustee

     69   

SECTION 7.04.

  

Trustee’s Disclaimer

     69   

SECTION 7.05.

  

Notice of Defaults

     69   

SECTION 7.06.

  

Reports by Trustee to Holders

     69   

SECTION 7.07.

  

Compensation and Indemnity

     70   

SECTION 7.08.

  

Replacement of Trustee

     71   

SECTION 7.09.

  

Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

     72   

SECTION 7.10.

  

Eligibility; Disqualification

     72   

SECTION 7.11.

  

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

     72   

 

-ii-


          Page  
ARTICLE 8.   
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE   

SECTION 8.01.

  

Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     72   

SECTION 8.02.

  

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

     72   

SECTION 8.03.

  

Covenant Defeasance

     73   

SECTION 8.04.

  

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

     73   

SECTION 8.05.

  

Deposited Cash and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

     74   

SECTION 8.06.

  

Repayment to Company

     74   

SECTION 8.07.

  

Reinstatement

     75   
ARTICLE 9.   
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER   

SECTION 9.01.

  

Without Consent of Holders of Notes

     75   

SECTION 9.02.

  

With Consent of Holders of Notes

     76   

SECTION 9.03.

  

Compliance With Trust Indenture Act

     77   

SECTION 9.04.

  

Revocation and Effect of Consents

     77   

SECTION 9.05.

  

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

     77   

SECTION 9.06.

  

Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc.

     77   
ARTICLE 10.   
GUARANTEES   

SECTION 10.01.

  

Guarantee

     78   

SECTION 10.02.

  

Limitation on Guarantor Liability

     79   

SECTION 10.03.

  

Execution and Delivery of Guarantee

     79   

SECTION 10.04.

  

Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., on Certain Terms

     80   

SECTION 10.05.

  

Releases Following Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets, Etc.

     80   
ARTICLE 11.   
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE   

SECTION 11.01.

  

Satisfaction and Discharge

     81   

SECTION 11.02.

  

Deposited Cash and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

     81   

SECTION 11.03.

  

Repayment to Company

     82   
ARTICLE 12.   
MISCELLANEOUS   

SECTION 12.01.

  

Trust Indenture Act Controls

     82   

SECTION 12.02.

  

Notices

     82   

SECTION 12.03.

  

Communication by Holders of Notes With Other Holders of Notes

     83   

SECTION 12.04.

  

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     83   

SECTION 12.05.

  

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     83   

SECTION 12.06.

  

Rules by Trustee and Agents

     84   

SECTION 12.07.

  

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

     84   

SECTION 12.08.

  

Governing Law

     84   

 

-iii-


          Page  

SECTION 12.09.

  

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

     84   

SECTION 12.10.

  

Successors

     84   

SECTION 12.11.

  

Severability

     84   

SECTION 12.12.

  

Counterpart Originals

     85   

SECTION 12.13.

  

Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

     85   

SECTION 12.14.

  

Qualification of This Indenture

     85   

SECTION 12.15.

  

Effect of Legal Holidays

     85   

SECTION 12.16.

  

Waiver of Jury Trial

     85   

EXHIBITS.

 

EXHIBIT A-

   FORM OF NOTE

EXHIBIT B -

   FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

EXHIBIT C -

   FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

EXHIBIT D -

   FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

EXHIBIT E -

   FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

-iv-


This INDENTURE, dated as of January 28, 2011, is by and among Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, a Delaware corporation, the Guarantors from time to time party hereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

The Company, each Guarantor and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 7.375% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “Notes”) issued under this Indenture:

ARTICLE 1.

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

144A Global Note” means a Global Note in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee that shall be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold for initial resale in reliance on Rule 144A.

2003 Merger Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger among GLDD Acquisitions Corp., GLDD Merger Sub, Inc. and the Company, dated as of November 12, 2003, in connection with the sale of all of the outstanding common stock of the Company to GLDD Acquisitions Corp. and the merger of GLDD Merger Sub, Inc. with and into the Company.

“2003 Transactions” means, the transactions contemplated by the 2003 Merger Agreement and the related financing transactions.

Acquired Debt” means, with respect to any specified Person, (i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time the other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of the specified Person, including, without limitation, Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, the other Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of the specified Person, and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by the specified Person.

Additional Interest” means all additional interest then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Additional Notes” means any Notes (other than Initial Notes, Exchange Notes and Notes issued under Sections 2.06, 2.07, 2.10 and 3.06 hereof) issued under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.02, 2.15 and 4.09 hereof, as part of the same series as the Initial Notes or as an additional series.

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), 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.

Agent” means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional paying agent.

“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note on any Redemption Date, the greater of:

(1) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note; and

 


(2) the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the redemption price of such Note at February 1, 2015 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 3.07(a)), plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such Note through February 1, 2015 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over (b) then outstanding principal amount of such Note.

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer, redemption, tender 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, redemption, tender or exchange.

Asset Sale” means

(i) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights (including, without limitation, by way of a sale and leaseback) other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices (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 4.17 and/or Section 5.01 and not by Section 4.12), and

(ii) the issue or sale by any Restricted Subsidiary of Equity Interests of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries,

in the case of either clause (i) or (ii), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (a) that involve assets or Equity Interests that have a Fair Market Value in excess of $5.0 million or (b) for Net Proceeds in excess of $5.0 million.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following items shall not be deemed to be Asset Sales:

(i) a transfer of assets by the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary or by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary,

(ii) an issuance, sale, transfer or other disposition of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary,

(iii) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.10 or a Permitted Investment,

(iv) the sale and leaseback of any assets within 180 days of the date of acquisition or completion of construction of such assets,

(v) the sale or other disposition of assets that have become worn out, obsolete or damaged or no longer used or useful in the business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in the ordinary course of business,

(vi) bareboat charters, leases or licenses entered into in the ordinary course of business for a term not to exceed 12 months,

(vii) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents,

(viii) the sale or lease of products or services or the licensing of intellectual property, in each case in the ordinary course of business,

(ix) the sale for Fair Market Value of accounts receivable that are generated from operations conducted outside the United States by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and

 

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(x) the creation of a Permitted Lien and dispositions in connection with the creation of Permitted Liens.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, or the law of any other jurisdiction relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, winding up, liquidation, reorganization or relief of debtors.

Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition.

Board of Directors” means (1) in respect of a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation, or any duly authorized committee thereof; and (2) in respect of any other Person, the board or committee of that Person serving an equivalent function.

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary (or individual performing comparable duties) of the applicable Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

Bonding Agreement” means (i) the Third Amended and Restated Underwriting and Continuing Indemnity Agreement by and among the Company, certain of its Subsidiaries and Travelers Casualty and Surety Company and Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, and (ii) the International Letter of Credit Agreement, dated September 29, 2006, by and among the Company and Wells Fargo HSBC Trade Bank, as amended on July 16, 2007, and as further amended on September 29, 2009 (the “International Letter of Credit Facility) (and any related obligations, including, without limitation, any Export-Import Bank guarantee program), in each case, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.

Business Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.

Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination of a capital lease obligation is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such 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 or money in other currencies received in the ordinary course of business,

 

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(ii) obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government or any agency of the United States (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition,

(iii) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500 million,

(iv) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than thirty days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above entered into with any institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iii) above,

(v) obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state maturing within one year from the date of acquisition and, at the time of acquisition, having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s,

(vi) commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition,

(vii) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (i) through (vi) of this definition,

(viii) short-term asset management accounts offered by any lender under Credit Facilities for the purpose of investing in notes issued by a corporation (other than the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) organized under the laws of any state of the United States or of the District of Columbia and rated A-2 or higher by S&P, or P-2 or higher by Moody’s,

(ix) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully and unconditionally guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America or the federal government of Canada, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from S&P or Moody’s,

(x) time or demand deposits with any bank or trust company,

(xi) participation in loans made to a borrower (other than an Affiliate of the Company) with a debt rating of A–2 or higher from S&P, or P-2 or higher from Moody’s; provided, however, that such loans must mature within one year from the date such participation is purchased,

(xii) bonds issued by a municipality or governmental agency and rated not lower than BBB by S&P, or Baa2 by Moody’s and purchased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of its business in connection with retainage under contracts with its customers, and

(xiii) in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries, short term investments comparable to the foregoing.

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

(i) the sale, lease, 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 assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis), in each case, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,

(ii) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company (other than in a transaction which complies with the provisions described under Section 5.01),

 

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(iii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above) 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. and any successor thereto.

Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or if at any time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the TIA, then the body performing such duties on such date.

Company” means Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, and any successor thereto.

Consolidated Cash Flow” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, plus

(i) an amount equal to any extraordinary or nonrecurring loss (including any loss on extinguishment or conversion of Indebtedness) plus any net loss realized in connection with an Asset Sale (without giving effect to the $5.0 million threshold provided in the definition thereof), to the extent those losses were deducted in computing the 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 the Consolidated Net Income, plus

(iii) consolidated Fixed Charges to the extent that any such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing the 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 items (excluding any non-cash item 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 items were deducted in computing the Consolidated Net Income, minus

(v) non-cash items increasing the Consolidated Net Income for such period other than (i) accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business and (ii) reversals of prior accruals or reserves for cash items previously excluded from Consolidated Cash Flow pursuant to clause (iv) of this definition,

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any 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 of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent Person or its Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(ii) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders;

(iii) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded;

(iv) the Net Income of any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be excluded, whether or not distributed to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries;

(v) any non-cash goodwill or other intangible asset impairment charges incurred subsequent to the Issue Date resulting from the application of ASC Topic 350, “Intangibles- Good Will and Other,” ASC Topic 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment” and ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations” or any related subsequent statement of financial accounting standards shall be excluded;

(vi) any non-cash compensation charges, including any such charges arising from stock options, restricted stock grants or other equity-incentive programs shall be excluded;

(vii) any increase in amortization or depreciation expense or any one-time non-cash charges resulting from purchase accounting or any non-recurring costs and expenses incurred in connection with the 2003 Transactions, the acquisition of L.W. Matteson, Inc. and the transactions related thereto, or any acquisition that is consummated after the Issue Date shall be excluded;

(viii) any fees, expenses and debt issuance costs paid in connection with issuance of the Notes shall be excluded;

(ix) the Net Income from any disposed or discontinued operations or any net gains or losses on disposed or discontinued operations, on an after tax basis, shall be excluded;

(x) the non-cash gains, losses, income, and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” or any related subsequent statement of financial accounting standards shall be excluded; and

(xi) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offsets) resulting from any foreign currency translation shall be excluded.

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 the Board of Directors on the Issue Date or (ii) was nominated for election or elected to the Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of the Board at the time of the nomination or election.

Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.02 hereof, or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company, and for purposes of Section 2.03 and Section 4.02 such office shall also mean the office or agency of the Trustee located at 608 Second Avenue South, N9303-121, Minneapolis, MN 55479, Attn: Corporate Trust Operations.

Credit Agreement” means that Credit Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2007 (as amended on or prior to the Issue Date), by and among the Company, Bank of America, N.A. (successor by merger to LaSalle Bank National Association), as swing line lender, sole lead arranger and administrative agent, and the other lenders that are party to the Credit Agreement, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as increased as permitted by the terms of this Indenture, and amended, modified, renewed, restated, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time, including any agreement extending the maturity of, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring (including adding Subsidiaries of the

 

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Company 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 or through the issuance of debt securities.

Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement) or commercial paper facilities or indentures with banks or other institutional lenders or a trustee providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit or issuance of debt securities to institutional investors, in each case, as increased as permitted by the terms of this Indenture, and amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced, restated, substituted or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.

Custodian” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03(c) as Custodian with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as custodian hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

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 or 2.10 hereof, in substantially 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(b) 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 provisions of this Indenture.

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means any non-cash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Such Officers’ Certificate shall state the basis of such valuation. A particular item of Designated Non-cash Consideration shall no longer be considered to be outstanding to the extent it has been sold or liquidated for cash (but only to the extent of the cash received).

Designated Vessels” means the dredge “New York,” the dredge “Liberty Island,” the bottom-dump barges G.L.65, G.L.501 and G.L.502, the self-unloading barge “Long Island,” the trailing suction hopper dredge “Terrapin Island” and the barge “U.S. Flag Idler,” G.L.177, and ancillary equipment related thereto.

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, at the option of the holder), or upon the happening of any event (other than optional redemption by the Company thereof), matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature; provided, however, that any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders have the right to require the Company to repurchase the Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a Change of Control or an Asset Sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of the Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless the repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.10.

Distribution Compliance Period” means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.

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.

 

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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).

Equity Offering” means a public or private offering or sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or a direct or indirect parent of the Company (so long as the net proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Company).

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear systems, and any successor thereto.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.

Exchange Notes” means new Notes of the Company issued in the Exchange Offer, provided that such new Notes have terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Notes (except that Exchange Notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions) for which such offer is being made.

Exchange Offer” means the registration by the Company under the Securities Act of the Exchange Notes pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to which the Company offers the holders of all outstanding Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Registrable Securities held by such holders for Exchange Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities validly tendered in such exchange offer by such holders.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in a Registration Rights Agreement.

Excluded Contribution” means the net cash proceeds received by the Company after the Issue Date from (a) contributions to its common equity capital and (b) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary or pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, in each case designated within 60 days of the receipt of such net cash proceeds as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (iv)(c)(ii) of the first paragraph of Section 4.10.

Excluded Subsidiaries” means each Foreign Subsidiary and each Domestic Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary.

Existing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (including guarantees) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (i) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09) in existence on the Issue Date, until permanently repaid.

Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset, the price (after taking into account any liabilities relating to such assets) that would be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction; provided that, other than as expressly set forth in this Indenture, for purposes of determining the “Fair Market Value” of any property or assets, such Fair Market Value shall be determined by (x) the Company in good faith with respect to assets or property with a Fair Market Value not in excess of $5.0 million, (y) the Company’s Chief Financial Officer with respect to assets or property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $5.0 million but not in excess of $10.0 million and (z) the Company’s Board of Directors with respect to assets or property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $10.0 million.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the referent Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays or redeems any Indebtedness (other than repayment of revolving credit borrowings that are not accompanied by a permanent reduction in the commitment

 

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amount) or issues or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of preferred stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period. In addition, for purposes of making the computation referred to above,

(i) acquisitions and dispositions that have been made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date shall be given pro forma effect as if they occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and, in connection with any acquisition, shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to Pro Forma Cost Savings;

(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, shall be excluded in accordance with clause (i) above;

(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, shall be excluded in accordance with clause (i) or (ii) above, as applicable, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the referent Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date;

(iv) Consolidated Cash Flow shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to the creation, designation or redesignation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries, as if such creation, designation or redesignation occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period; and

(v) if any Indebtedness being incurred bears a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligation applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term as at the Calculation Date in excess of 12 months).

Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of

(i) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net payments (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations (but excluding the amortization or write-off of financing fees in connection with the transactions contemplated in connection with the initial offering of the Notes), net of interest income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, and

(ii) the consolidated interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period, and

(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 the guarantee or Lien is called upon), and

(iv) the product of (a) all cash dividend payments and non-cash dividend payments on any series of preferred stock and any series of Disqualified Stock, in each case, of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividend payments (x) on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity

 

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Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or (y) to the Company or a Guarantor, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

Foreign Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary 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, in each case, which are in effect on the Issue Date.

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.

Global Notes” means the global Notes in the form of Exhibit A hereto issued in accordance with Article 2 hereof.

Government Securities” means securities that are:

(1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or

(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit Obligation by the United States of America, which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. government obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. government obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. government obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. government obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

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), of all or any part of any Indebtedness.

Guarantee” means a full and unconditional senior unsecured guarantee of the Notes pursuant to this Indenture.

Guarantor” means each of the Persons identified on the signature page hereto under the heading “Guarantors” and any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that hereafter issues a Guarantee of the Notes, pursuant to Section 4.15, in each case, until such Person is released from its Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture.

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under

(i) interest rate or currency swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements,

(ii) other agreements or arrangements designed for the purpose of fixing, hedging or swapping interest rate risk or currency exchange rate risk, and

 

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(iii) commodities purchase and sale agreements and other similar agreements designed for the purpose of fixing, hedging or swapping the price risk related to raw materials or other commodities (including fuel) used by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.

IAI Global Note” means a Global Note in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold to Institutional Accredited Investors, if any, to the extent required by the Applicable Procedures.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of:

(i) borrowed money, or

(ii) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or related reimbursement agreements), or

(iii) bankers’ acceptances, or

(iv) representing Capital Lease Obligations, or

(v) 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 the net amount owing under any Hedging Obligations relating to interest rate risk,

if and to the extent any of the foregoing (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by such Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person.

Indenture” means this instrument, as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended in accordance with Article 9 hereof.

Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

Initial Notes” means $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.

Institutional Accredited Investor” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

Interest Payment Dates” shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 1 of each Note.

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of direct or indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness 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 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; provided that an acquisition of Equity Interests or other securities by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for consideration consisting solely of Equity Interests (other than

 

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Disqualified Stock) of the Company shall not be deemed to be an Investment. 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 the sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Equity Interests of the Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.10.

Issue Date” means January 28, 2011.

Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the city of New York, the city of Chicago, the city in which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located or any other place of payment on the Notes are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Letter of Transmittal” means the letter of transmittal, or its electronic equivalent in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, to be prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes for use by such Holders in connection with an Exchange Offer.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind, 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 of a conditional sale or title retention agreement, 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).

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of dividends on preferred interests, excluding, however,

(a) any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on the gain or loss, realized in connection with (1) any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions) (without giving effect to the $5.0 million threshold provided for in the definition thereof) or (2) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and

(b) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on the extraordinary or nonrecurring gain or loss.

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 (including Designated Non-cash Consideration)), net of

(i) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and any related relocation expenses,

(ii) any taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions, any tax sharing arrangements),

(iii) any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of the asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP,

(iv) payments made to repay Indebtedness or any other obligation outstanding at the time of such Asset Sale that is secured by a Lien on the property or assets sold,

 

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(v) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Sale, and

(vi) appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as a reserve against any liabilities associated with such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental matters and liabilities under any indemnification obligations associated with such Asset Sale, all as determined in conformity 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; and

(ii) no default with respect to which (including any rights that any holders 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 its payment to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and

(iii) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, costs, expenses, reimbursement obligations, damages and other liabilities and obligations which may arise under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the Bonding Agreement or under or in connection with the documentation governing any Indebtedness, and in all cases whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now outstanding or hereafter created, assumed or incurred and including, without limitation, interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or similar proceedings at the rate provided in the relevant document, whether or not an allowed claim, and any obligation to redeem or defease any of the foregoing.

Offering Memorandum” means the offering memorandum, dated January 25, 2011 relating to the Initial Notes.

Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary, any Executive Vice President or any Senior Vice President of the Company.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, signed by two Officers of the Company, at least one of whom shall be the principal executive officer or principal financial officer of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel and which meets the requirements of Section 12.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to 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 Bonding Obligations” means (i) obligations incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including guarantees) with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bid, payment, performance, surety, appeal or similar bonds and completion guarantees in the ordinary course of business and (ii) obligations incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including guarantees) under the Bonding Agreement.

 

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Permitted Business” means any of the businesses engaged in by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date, together with other marine specialty contractor services, marine infrastructure construction, demolition and environmental services, dredging, repair, salvage and maintenance services, marine transportation, aggregates production, storage, handling, sales and supply and any other reasonably related, complementary or ancillary business or other business that is a reasonable extension or expansion of such business.

Permitted Investments” means

(a) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(b) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

(c) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment (i) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or (ii) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(d) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of assets not constituting Cash Equivalents from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.12;

(e) any acquisition of assets solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

(f) other Investments in any Person having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (f) that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $35.0 million and 7.5% of Total Tangible Assets, provided, however, that if an Investment pursuant to this clause (f) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of the Investment and such person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (a) above, and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (f);

(g) Investments received in settlement, compromise or resolution of: (a) obligations of trade creditors, suppliers or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries including pursuant to a plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of such trade creditors, suppliers or customers or (b) litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons;

(h) Investments existing on the Issue Date;

(i) loans and advances to officers, directors, members and employees for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $2.0 million in the aggregate at any time;

(j) any Hedging Obligation;

(k) Investments consisting of intercompany loans from the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to Restricted Subsidiaries, including Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors;

(l) Investments in any Person engaging in a Permitted Business in an aggregate amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $25.0 million;

 

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(m) guarantees otherwise permitted by the terms of this Indenture; and

(n) Investments resulting from the acquisition of a Person that at the time of such acquisition held instruments constituting Investments that were not acquired in contemplation of the acquisition of such Person.

Permitted Liens” means

(i) Liens securing Indebtedness under Credit Facilities incurred pursuant to clause (i) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09;

(ii) Liens in favor of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(iii) Liens on property or assets of, or any equity interest in or secured debt of, a Person existing at the time that Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(iv) Liens on property (including Capital Stock) existing at the time the property was acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of the acquisition of property;

(v) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, bid bonds, payment bonds, performance and lien bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business, including any Permitted Bonding Obligations;

(vi) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by clause (iv) or (viii) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 covering, in the case of such clause (iv), only the assets (including any insurance, leases and charters relating to such assets, and any proceeds thereof) acquired, constructed, repaired or improved with such Indebtedness;

(vii) Liens existing on the Issue Date and any renewals or extensions thereof on terms no more restrictive and secured by the same collateral as existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens securing Indebtedness under Credit Facilities incurred pursuant to clause (i) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09);

(viii) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor;

(ix) Liens to secure Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09 covering only the assets of such Foreign Subsidiary;

(x) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company with respect to obligations that do not exceed $20.0 million at any one time outstanding and that (a) are not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit (other than trade credit in the ordinary course of business) and (b) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the property or materially impair the use of the property in the operation of business by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

(xi) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers, materialmen, repairmen and other Liens (including maritime Liens) imposed by law incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(xii) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or similar obligations, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory or regulatory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, payment and performance and return-of-money bonds, bankers’ acceptances, and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money);

(xiii) judgment or attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default;

(xiv) easements, rights-of-way, municipal and zoning restrictions and other similar charges, title defects, encumbrances or irregularities in respect of real property not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary course of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(xv) any interest or title of a lessor under any lease, whether or not characterized as capital or operating; provided that such Liens do not extend to any property or assets which are not leased property subject to such lease;

(xvi) Liens securing Hedging Obligations;

(xvii) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;

(xviii) Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness which is incurred to refinance any Indebtedness which has been secured by a Lien permitted under this Indenture and which has been incurred in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture;

(xix) Liens in favor of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor;

(xx) Liens with respect to current wages of the master and crew and for wages of a stevedore when employed directly by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or by the charterer, operator, master or agent of any of the vessels owned or operated by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

(xxi) Liens for salvage (including contract salvage);

(xxii) Liens arising by operation of law or by contract in each case encumbering insurance policies and proceeds thereof to secure the financing of premiums of such insurance policies;

(xxiii) Liens arising pursuant to a purchase agreement or sale agreement securing the obligations under such purchase agreement or sale agreement and encumbering solely the assets that are to be sold in any asset sale permitted under Section 4.12; and

(xxiiii) Liens with respect to bareboat charters, leases and licenses of assets in the ordinary course of business.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund, other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:

(i) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus accrued interest on, the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the amount of reasonable expenses, premiums, penalties, fees and interest incurred in connection therewith);

 

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(ii) if the final maturity date of the Indebtedness being refinanced is earlier than the final maturity of the Notes, the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded or (b) if the final maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced is later than the final maturity of the Notes, the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity at least 91 days later than the Notes;

(iii) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and

(iv) such Indebtedness is incurred either (a) by the Company or any Guarantor or (b) by the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.

Permitted Tax Distributions” means the payment of any distributions to permit direct or indirect beneficial owners of shares of Capital Stock of the Company to pay federal, state or local income tax liabilities arising from income to the Company and attributable to them solely as a result of the Company’s and any intermediate entity through which the holder owns such shares being a limited liability company, partnership or similar entity for federal income tax purposes.

Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, unincorporated organization, trust or joint venture, or a governmental agency or political subdivision thereof.

Predecessor Note” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same Indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular Note; and any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 2.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same Indebtedness as the lost, destroyed or stolen Note.

Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(i) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except as otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

Pro Forma Cost Savings” means, with respect to any period, the reduction in costs that were (i) directly attributable to an asset acquisition and calculated on a basis that is consistent with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act in effect and as applied as of the Issue Date, or (ii) were actually implemented by the business that was the subject of any such asset acquisition within six months of the date of the asset acquisition and that are supportable and quantifiable by the underlying accounting records of such business, in each case as if such reductions in cost had been effected as of the beginning of the applicable period and, in the case of each of (i) and (ii), are described, as provided below, in an officer’s certificate, as if all such reductions in costs had been effected as of the beginning of such period. Pro Forma Cost Savings described above shall be accompanied by a certificate delivered to the Trustee from the Company’s Chief Financial Officer that outlines the specific actions taken or to be taken and the net cost savings achieved or to be achieved from each such action.

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

Qualified Proceeds” means any of the following or any combination of the following: (i) cash, (ii) Cash Equivalents, (iii) assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business and (iv) the Capital Stock of any Person engaged in a Permitted Business if, in connection with the receipt by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of such Capital Stock, (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any 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 any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

 

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Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and Lazard Capital Markets LLC, as initial purchasers, 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, or exchange such Additional Notes for registered Notes, under the Securities Act.

Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date means the applicable date specified as a “Record Date” on the face of the Note.

Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

Regulation S Global Note” means a Global Note in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold for initial resale in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

Regulation S Permanent Global Note” means a permanent Global Note in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon expiration of the Restricted Period.

Regulation S Temporary Global Note” means a temporary Global Note in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend, the Private Placement Legend and the Temporary Regulation S Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

Restricted Definitive Note” means one or more Definitive Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend.

Restricted Global Notes” means 144A Global Notes, IAI Global Notes and Regulation S Global Notes.

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 under the Securities Act.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

Shelf Registration Statement” means the registration statement relating to the registration of the Notes under Rule 415 of the Securities Act, as may be set forth in a Registration Rights Agreement.

Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Act, as in effect on the Issue Date.

Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal (including any sinking fund payment) on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for their payment.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof) and (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).

Temporary Regulation S Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(iii) hereof to be placed on the Regulation S Temporary Global Note.

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Total Tangible Assets” means, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as would be shown on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, less goodwill and intangibles.

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 (2) 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 February 1, 2015; provided, however, that if the period from the Redemption Date to February 1, 2015 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean such successor Trustee.

Unrestricted Definitive Notes” means one or more Definitive Notes that do not and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Global Notes” means one or more Global Notes that do not and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend and are deposited with and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

(a) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;

 

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(b) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;

(c) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (x) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (y) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results;

(d) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(e) has at least one director on its Board of Directors that is not a director or executive officer of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and has at least one executive officer that is not a director or executive officer of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

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, 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.

Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” of any Person means a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person.

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.

 

Term

   Defined in
Section

“Acceleration Notice”

   6.02

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.14

“Asset Sale Offer”

   4.12

“Authentication Order”

   2.02

“Benefited Party”

   10.01

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.17

“Change of Control Payment”

   4.17

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.03

“defeasance trust”

   8.04

“DTC”

   2.03

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.12

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.02

“losses”

   7.07

“Offer Amount”

   3.09

“Offer Period”

   3.09

“Offer to Purchase”

   3.09

“Paying Agent”

   2.03

“Payment Default”

   6.01

“Permitted Debt”

   4.09

“Purchase Date”

   3.09

“Redemption Date”

   3.07

“Registrar”

   2.03

“Restricted Payments”

   4.10

“Security Register”

   2.03

“Tax Payments”

   4.10

 

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SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

(a) Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

(b) The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

indenture securities” means the Notes and the Guarantees;

indenture security holder” means a Holder;

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

obligor” on the Notes means the Company, each Guarantor, and any successor obligor upon the Notes.

(c) 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 and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings so assigned to them either in the TIA, by another statute or Commission rule, as applicable.

SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction.

(a) Unless the context otherwise requires:

(i) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(ii) an accounting term not otherwise defined herein has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(iii) “or” is not exclusive;

(iv) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

(v) all references in this instrument to “Articles,” “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and subdivisions of this instrument as originally executed;

(vi) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

(vii) “including” means “including without limitation”;

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

(ix) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the TIA shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time thereunder; and

(x) for the avoidance of doubt, any references to “interest” shall include any Additional Interest that may be payable.

 

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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 included in Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, exchange rule or usage in addition to those set forth on Exhibit A. 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 thereof. The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute 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. 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) Form of Notes. Notes shall be issued initially in global form and 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 aggregate principal amount 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 and transfers of interests therein. 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.

(c) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.01(c) shall apply only to Global Notes deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary. Participants and Indirect Participants shall have no rights under this Indenture or any Global Note with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary, and the Depositary shall be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Participants or Indirect Participants, the Applicable Procedures or the operation of customary practices of the Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

(d) Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable. The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” of Euroclear and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in Global Notes that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

(e) Certificated Securities.

(i) The Company shall issue Definitive Notes to all owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes if: (1) at any time the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary for the Global Notes or if at any time the Depositary shall no longer be eligible to act as such because it ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company shall not have appointed a successor Depositary within 120 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility or (2) the Company, at its option, determines that the Global Notes shall be exchanged for Definitive Notes and

 

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delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee. Upon the occurrence of any of the events set forth in clauses (1) or (2) above, the Company shall execute, and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, Definitive Notes, in authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Notes in exchange for such Global Notes. Upon the exchange of a Global Note for Definitive Notes, such Global Note shall be cancelled by the Trustee or an agent of the Company or the Trustee.

(ii) The Company shall issue Definitive Notes to a Holder of, or an owner of a beneficial interest in, a Global Note in exchange for such Global Note or beneficial interest, as the case may be, upon written request from a Holder of, or an owner of a beneficial interest in, a Global Note if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Upon the occurrence of the foregoing, the Company shall execute, and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, Definitive Notes, in authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Note owned by such Holder or such owner of a beneficial interest. Upon the exchange of all or a portion of a Global Note for Definitive Notes, such Global Note shall be cancelled or correspondingly reduced by the Trustee or an agent of the Company or the Trustee. In the event that the Definitive Notes are not issued to an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note promptly after the Company has received a request from such owner, the Company expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to this Indenture, the right of any such owner to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Note that represents such owner’s beneficial interest as if such Definitive Notes had been issued.

(iii) Definitive Notes issued in exchange for a Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.01 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its Participants or its Applicable Procedures, shall instruct the Trustee or an agent of the Company or the Trustee in writing. The Trustee or such agent shall deliver such Definitive Notes to or as directed by the Persons in whose names such Definitive Notes are so registered or to the Depositary.

SECTION 2.02. Execution and Authentication.

(a) One Officer shall execute the Notes on behalf of the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

(b) If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated by the Trustee, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

(c) 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.

(d) The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by an Officer (an “Authentication Order”) and the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trustee (and substantially in the form delivered to the Trustee on the Issue Date), authenticate Notes for issuance.

(e) The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. Unless otherwise provided in such appointment, 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 shall have the same rights as the Trustee to deal with Holders, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

SECTION 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent.

(a) 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 (the “Security 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 notify the

 

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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.

(b) The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

(c) The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes, and the Trustee hereby agrees so to initially act.

(d) The Company will be responsible, in its good faith judgment, for making calculations called for under the Notes, including but not limited to determination of redemption price, premium, if any, and any additional amounts or other amounts payable on the Notes. The Company will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee when requested by the Trustee, and the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification.

SECTION 2.04. Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust.

The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all funds held by it relating to the Notes to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all funds 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 such funds. 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 funds held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any Event of Default under Sections 6.01(vii) and (viii) hereof relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

SECTION 2.05. Holder Lists.

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA §312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee at least seven (7) 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 or such shorter time as the Trustee may allow, as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA §312(a).

SECTION 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Upon the occurrence of any of the events set forth in Section 2.01(e) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee in writing. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Except as provided above, 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), and beneficial interests in a Global Note may not be transferred and exchanged other than as provided in Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f) hereof.

 

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(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 restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in Global Notes also shall require compliance with either clause (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following clauses, 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 and any Applicable Procedures; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to or for the account or benefit of a “U.S. Person” (as defined in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S) (other than a “distributor” (as defined in Rule 902(d) of the Regulation S)). 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. Except as may be required by any Applicable Procedures, 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 containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B)(1) if permitted under Section 2.06(a), a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to 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 (B)(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(h) hereof.

(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note to Another Restricted Global Note. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may transfer such beneficial interest 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 or, if permitted by the Applicable Procedures, item (3) thereof;

(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note or the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as the case may be, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

(C) if the transferee is required by the Applicable Procedures to take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications and certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

 

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(iv) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) above and:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, makes any and all certifications required in the applicable Letter of Transmittal (or is deemed to have made such certifications if delivery is made through the Applicable Procedures) as may be required by such Registration Rights Agreement;

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with a 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 beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or

(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 clause (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer complies 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.

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to clause (B) or (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall execute 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 clause (B) or (D) above.

(v) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note Prohibited. Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note may not be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note.

 

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(c) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes for Definitive Notes.

(i) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Subject to Section 2.06(a) hereof, if any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;

(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a “non-U.S. Person” in an offshore transaction (as defined in Section 902(k) of Regulation S) in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 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 beneficial interest is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in clauses (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3)(d) thereof, if applicable; or

(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof,

the Trustee shall reduce or cause to be reduced in a corresponding amount pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Note, and the Company shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver a Restricted Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount to the Person designated by the holder of such beneficial interest in the instructions delivered to the Registrar by the Depositary and the applicable Participant or Indirect Participant on behalf of such holder. Any Restricted Definitive Note issued in exchange for beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall designate in such instructions. The Trustee shall deliver such Restricted Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Restricted 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) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Subject to Section 2.06(a) hereof, 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 an Exchange Offer in accordance with a 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, makes any and all certifications in the applicable Letter of Transmittal (or is deemed to have made such certifications if delivery is made through the Applicable Procedures) as may be required by such Registration Rights Agreement;

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement;

 

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(C) such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with a 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 an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or

(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 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 clause (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer complies with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of any of the conditions of any of the clauses of this Section 2.06(c)(ii), the Company shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver an Unrestricted Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount to the Person designated by the holder of such beneficial interest in instructions delivered to the Registrar by the Depositary and the applicable Participant or Indirect Participant on behalf of such holder, and the Trustee shall reduce or cause to be reduced in a corresponding amount pursuant to Section 2.06(h), the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Note.

(iii) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Subject to Section 2.06(a) hereof, if any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall reduce or cause to be reduced in a corresponding amount pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Unrestricted Global Note, and the Company shall execute, and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver an Unrestricted Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount to the Person designated by the holder of such beneficial interest in instructions delivered to the Registrar by the Depositary and the applicable Participant or Indirect Participant on behalf of such holder. Any Unrestricted 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 designate in such instructions. The Trustee shall deliver such Unrestricted Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Unrestricted 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 in the Global Notes.

(i) Transfer or Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If any holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Restricted Definitive 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 Restricted Definitive 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;

 

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(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a “non-U.S. Person” in an offshore transaction (as defined in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S) in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

(E) on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in clauses (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3)(d) thereof, if applicable; or

(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof,

the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased in a corresponding amount pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, a 144A Global Note, in the case of clause (C) above, a Regulation S Global Note, and in all other cases, an IAI Global Note.

(ii) Transfer or Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Restricted Definitive 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 an Exchange Offer in accordance with a 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, makes any and all certifications in the applicable Letter of Transmittal (or is deemed to have made such certifications if delivery is made through the Applicable Procedures) as may be required by such Registration Rights Agreement;

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(1) if the holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or

(2) if the holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to transfer such Restricted Definitive Note 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;

 

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and, in each such case set forth in this clause (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer shall be effected in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend shall no longer be required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the clauses in this Section 2.06(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel such Restricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased in a corresponding amount pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

(iii) Transfer or Exchange of Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Unrestricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Unrestricted Definitive Note 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 in a corresponding amount pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.

(iv) Transfer or Exchange of Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes Prohibited. An Unrestricted Definitive Note may not be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note.

(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. 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) Transfer of 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, 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, 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, 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) Transfer or Exchange of 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 only if:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement and the holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, makes any and all certifications in the applicable Letter of Transmittal (or is deemed to have made such certifications if delivery is made through the Applicable Procedures) as may be required by a Registration Rights Agreement;

 

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(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) any such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(1) if the holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Restricted Definitive 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 Restricted Definitive 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 clause (D), if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer complies with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the clauses of this Section 2.06(e)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the prior Restricted Definitive Note and the Company shall execute, and upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver an Unrestricted Definitive Note in the appropriate aggregate principal amount to the Person designated by the holder of such prior Restricted Definitive Note in instructions delivered to the Registrar by such holder.

(iii) Transfer of Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Unrestricted Definitive 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 an Exchange Offer in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate (A) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the beneficial interests in the applicable Restricted Global Notes (1) tendered for acceptance by Persons that make any and all certifications in the applicable Letters of Transmittal (or are deemed to have made such certifications if delivery is made through the Applicable Procedures) as may be required by such Registration Rights Agreement and (2) accepted for exchange in such Exchange Offer and (B) Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons who made the foregoing certifications and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer. Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall reduce or cause to be reduced in a corresponding amount the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes, and the Company shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order and an Opinion of Counsel in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the holders of Restricted Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate aggregate principal amount.

 

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(g) 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 clause (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED 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), OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN ONE YEAR 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 QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (D) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS), OR (F) 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 clauses (b)(iv), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii), (e)(iii) or (f) of 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 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

 

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UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY NOTE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

(iii) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend. The Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR DEFINITIVE NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.”

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or cancelled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be retained and cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the aggregate 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, the aggregate principal amount of such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests” in such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

(i) 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, 4.12, 4.17 and 9.05 hereof).

(ii) 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 as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

(iii) Neither the Registrar nor the Company shall 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 date 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 (including a Regular Record Date) and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

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(iv) Prior to due presentment for the registration of 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, premium, if any, and interest on such Note and for all other purposes, in each case regardless of any notice to the contrary.

(v) 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.

(vi) Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall have any duty to monitor the Company’s compliance with or have any responsibility with respect to the Company’s compliance with any federal or state securities laws. The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Notes (including any transfers between or among the Depositary’s participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation, as is expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

SECTION 2.07. Replacement Notes.

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note. If required by the Trustee or the Company, the Holder of such Note shall provide indemnity that is sufficient, in the judgment of the Trustee or the Company, to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer in connection with such replacement. If required by the Company, such Holder shall reimburse the Company for its reasonable expenses in connection with such replacement.

Every replacement Note issued in accordance with this Section 2.07 shall be the valid obligation of the Company, evidencing the same debt as the destroyed, lost or stolen Note, 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.

(a) The Notes outstanding at any time shall be the entire principal amount of Notes represented by all of the Global Notes and Definitive Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those subject to reductions in beneficial interests effected by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note shall not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note; provided, however, that Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed not to be outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07(b) hereof.

(b) If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it shall cease to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

(c) If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it shall cease to be outstanding and interest on it shall cease to accrue.

(d) If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a Redemption Date, a Purchase Date or a maturity date, funds sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.

 

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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 Affiliate of the Company, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that 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, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes or Definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes, as applicable.

Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

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. Upon sole direction of the Company, the Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such cancelled Notes (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act or other applicable laws) in its customary manner. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

SECTION 2.12. Payment of Interest; 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 Interest 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 Interest Payment Date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

SECTION 2.13. CUSIP or ISIN Numbers.

The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” and/or “ISIN” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” and/or “ISIN” numbers in notices, including notices of redemption or Offers to Purchase as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption or notice of an Offer to Purchase and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or Offer to Purchase 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” and/or “ISIN” numbers.

 

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SECTION 2.14. Additional Interest.

If Additional Interest is payable on the Notes by the Company pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement and paragraph 1 of the Notes, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee on or before the Regular Record Date for each Interest Payment Date such Additional Interest is payable an Officers’ Certificate setting forth in reasonable detail (i) the amount of such Additional Interest that is payable and (ii) the date on which such interest is payable pursuant to Section 4.01 hereof. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives such a certificate or instruction or direction from the Holders in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may assume without inquiry that no Additional Interest is payable. The foregoing shall not prejudice the rights of the Holders with respect to their entitlement to Additional Interest as otherwise set forth in this Indenture or the Notes and pursuing any action against the Company directly or otherwise directing the Trustee to take any such action in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Notes. If the Company has paid Additional Interest directly to the Persons entitled to it, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such payment. The Trustee may provide a copy of such Officers’ Certificate or other notice received from the Company relating to Additional Interest to any Holder upon request.

SECTION 2.15. Issuance of Additional Notes.

The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.09 hereof, to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the date hereof, other than with respect to the date of issuance, issue price and rights under a related Registration Rights Agreement, if any. The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof, any Additional Notes and all Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including directions, waivers, amendments, consents, redemptions and Offers to Purchase.

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Company shall set forth in a Board Resolution and an Officers’ Certificate, a copy of each of 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 and/or ISIN number of such Additional Notes; and

(c) whether such Additional Notes shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 2.06 hereof relating to Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes.

SECTION 2.16. Record Date.

The record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of Notes entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent or permitted under this Indenture shall be determined as provided for in TIA Section 316(c).

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 (or such shorter period as allowed by the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (a) the applicable section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (b) the Redemption Date, (c) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (d) the redemption price.

 

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SECTION 3.02. Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, subject to Applicable Procedures, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed 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 deems fair and appropriate. In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; 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 an integral multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. 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.

SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption.

At least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior to 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 appearing in the Security Register.

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(a) the Redemption Date;

(b) the appropriate calculation of the redemption price, but need not include the redemption price itself; the actual redemption price shall be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the Redemption Date;

(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date upon surrender of such Note, if applicable, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Note, or in the case of a Global Note an adjustment will be made on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests” attached thereto;

(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(f) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date;

(g) the applicable section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and

(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness of the CUSIP and/or ISIN numbers, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days (or such shorter period allowed by the Trustee), prior to the Redemption Date, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice (in the name and at the expense of the Company) and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in this Section 3.03.

 

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SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption shall become irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional.

SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.

On or prior to 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on the Business Day prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and, if applicable, accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that Redemption Date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly, and in any event within two (2) Business Days after the Redemption Date, return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, all Notes to be redeemed.

If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for purchase or redemption in accordance with Section 2.08(d) hereof, whether or not such Notes are presented for payment. If a Note is redeemed on or after a Regular Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal from the Redemption Date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

SECTION 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part.

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and, upon the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered, or in the case of a Global Note an adjustment will be made on the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests” attached thereto.

SECTION 3.07. Optional Redemption.

(a) Except as set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of this Section 3.07, the Notes shall not be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to February 1, 2015. Beginning on February 1, 2015, the Company may redeem all or a portion of the Notes, at once or over time, after giving the notice required pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, in cash, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to the applicable Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on February 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2015

     103.688

2016

     101.844

2017 and thereafter

     100.000

(b) At any time prior to February 1, 2014, the Company may (but will not have the obligation to) on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the original principal amount of the Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) equal to 107.375% of the principal

 

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amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings, provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes initially issued under this Indenture remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of the redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); provided, further, that the redemption shall occur within 180 days of the date of the closing of the Equity Offering.

(c) At any time prior to February 1, 2015, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part after giving the notice required pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, in cash, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”) (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

(d) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

SECTION 3.08. Mandatory Redemption.

Except as set forth in Sections 4.12 and 4.17 hereof, the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

SECTION 3.09. Offer to Purchase.

(a) In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.12 or 4.17 hereof, the Company shall be required to commence an Asset Sale Offer or Change of Control Offer (each, an “Offer to Purchase”), it shall follow the procedures specified below.

(b) The Company shall cause a notice of the Offer to Purchase to be sent at least once to the Dow Jones News Service or similar business news service in the United States.

(c) The Company shall commence the Offer to Purchase by sending, by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register, a notice the terms of which shall govern the Offer to Purchase stating:

(i) that the Offer to Purchase is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.12 or Section 4.17, as the case may be, and, in the case of a Change of Control Offer, that a Change of Control has occurred, the circumstances and relevant facts regarding the Change of Control and that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to Section 4.17;

(ii) the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 4.12 or Section 4.17, as the case may be (the “Offer Amount”), the purchase price set forth in Section 4.12 or Section 4.17, as applicable, the Offer Period and the Purchase Date (each as defined below);

(iii) except as provided in clause (ix), that all Notes timely tendered and not withdrawn shall be accepted for payment;

(iv) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest;

(v) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer to Purchase shall cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

(vi) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Offer to Purchase may only elect to have Notes purchased in minimum principal amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

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(vii) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Offer to Purchase shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, the Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice before the close of business on the third Business Day before the Purchase Date;

(viii) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note (or portions thereof) the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

(ix) that, in the case of an Asset Sale Offer, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof shall be purchased) (or if the Note is a Global Note, pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary);

(x) that Holders whose Notes were purchased in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer); and

(xi) any other procedures the Holders must follow in order to tender their Notes (or portions thereof) for payment and the procedures that Holders must follow in order to withdraw an election to tender Notes (or portions thereof) for payment.

(d) The Offer to Purchase shall remain open for a period of at least 30 days but no more than 60 days following its commencement, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five (5) Business Days (and in any event no later than the 60th day following the Change of Control) after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Company shall purchase the Offer Amount or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response to the Offer to Purchase. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Offer to Purchase on the Purchase Date.

(e) On or prior to the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

(i) accept for payment (on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary in connection with an Asset Sale Offer), the Offer Amount of Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered;

(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent funds in an amount equal to the purchase price as set forth in Section 4.12 or Section 4.17, as applicable, in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company and that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09.

(f) The Depositary or the Paying Agent (or the Company, if acting as the Paying Agent), as the case may be, shall promptly (but in the case of a Change of Control, not later than 60 days from the date of the Change of Control) deliver to each tendering Holder the purchase price as set forth in Section 4.12 or Section 4.17, as applicable. In the event that any portion of the Notes surrendered is not purchased by the Company, the Company shall promptly execute and issue a new Note or adjust the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests” on a Global Note in a principal amount equal to such unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered, and, upon receipt of an

 

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Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) such new Note to such Holder; provided, however, that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(g) If the Purchase Date is on or after a Regular Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Offer to Purchase.

(h) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the Offer to Purchase. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with Sections 4.12 or 4.17, as applicable, this Section 3.09 or other provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall comply with applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Sections 4.12 or 4.17, as applicable, this Section 3.09 or such other provision by virtue of such compliance.

(i) Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

ARTICLE 4.

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes.

The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. Such Paying Agent shall return to the Company promptly, and in any event, no later than five (5) Business Days following the date of payment, any money that exceeds such amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest paid on the Notes. The Company shall pay Additional Interest, if any, in the same manner, on the dates and in the amounts set forth in a Registration Rights Agreement, the Notes and the Indenture. 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.

The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods), from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

(a) The Company shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office or drop facility of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

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(b) The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

(c) The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, as one such office, drop facility or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

SECTION 4.03. Reports.

Whether or not required to file by the rules and regulations of the Commission, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will file with the Commission (unless the Commission will not accept such filing) and furnish to the Trustee and Holders of Notes

(a) all quarterly and annual financial and other information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company was required to file these Forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” that describes the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (showing in reasonable detail, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company) and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon by the Company’s certified independent accountants and

(b) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file these reports, in each case within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and regulations;

provided, however, that the Company will not be required to furnish such information to the Trustee or the registered Holders of the Notes to the extent such information is electronically filed with the Commission and is electronically available to the public free of cost.

In addition, (i) at all times the Commission does not accept the filings provided for in the preceding sentence or (ii) the filings provided for in the preceding sentence do not contain the information required to be delivered upon request pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act, then, in each case, the Company will, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, furnish to the Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee hereunder is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates or certificates delivered pursuant to Section 4.04).

SECTION 4.04. Compliance Certificate.

(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate that need not comply with Section 12.05 stating that a review of the activities of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company, the Guarantors and their respective Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company,

 

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the Guarantors and their respective Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and are not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

(b) The Company shall otherwise comply with TIA §314(a)(4).

(c) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, upon any Officer of the Company becoming aware thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers’ Certificate of any Default or Event of Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 4.05. Taxes.

The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments and governmental levies, except such as are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

SECTION 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

The Company and the Guarantors covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and the Guarantors (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant that they shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

SECTION 4.07. Corporate Existence.

Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each Restricted Subsidiary, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any Restricted Subsidiary, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes, or that such preservation is not necessary in connection with any transaction not prohibited by this Indenture.

SECTION 4.08. Payments for Consent.

Neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries will, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder of any Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless the consideration is offered to be paid or is paid to all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to the consent, waiver or agreement.

 

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SECTION 4.09. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock and the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness or issue shares of preferred stock if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which the additional Indebtedness is incurred or the Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued would have been at least 2.0 to 1, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or preferred stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period; provided that the maximum principal amount of Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), Disqualified Stock and preferred stock that may be incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to this paragraph by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors shall not exceed $50.0 million.

The provisions of the first paragraph of this Section 4.09 will not apply to the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “Permitted Debt”):

(i) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness and reimbursement obligations under letters of credit under the Credit Facilities (including any guarantee of the Indebtedness by any Restricted Subsidiary); provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness outstanding under all Credit Facilities after giving effect to the incurrence does not exceed an amount equal to $250.0 million (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum face amount thereunder) plus (in the case of any refinancing) the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the refinancing, less the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to repay any term Indebtedness under Credit Facilities pursuant to Section 4.12;

(ii) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;

(iii) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness evidenced by the Initial Notes and related Guarantees, and any Exchange Notes and related Guarantees issued in respect of Notes outstanding under this Indenture;

(iv) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage or construction financings or purchase money obligations or similar financings or refinancings thereof, in each case incurred for the purpose of financing or refinancing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, installation, construction, repair or improvement of property (real or personal), plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether through the direct acquisition, construction, repair or improvement of such assets or the acquisition of Equity Interests of any Person acquiring, constructing, repairing, improving or otherwise owning such assets), in an aggregate principal amount (which amount may, but need not, be incurred in whole or in part after the Issue Date under the Credit Facilities) not to exceed the greater of: (a) $75.0 million or (b) 12.5% of Total Tangible Assets (measured at the time of each incurrence of any such Indebtedness), in either case outstanding at any time;

(v) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to refund, refinance or replace Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that would have been permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph hereof or clauses (ii), (iii), (v) and (xiv) of this paragraph;

(vi) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (A) if the Company is the obligor on this Indebtedness, the Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes, (B) if any Guarantor is the

 

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obligor on this Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, the Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Guarantee of such Guarantor and (C) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any Indebtedness to a Person that is neither the Company nor a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (vi);

(vii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations (other than for speculative purposes);

(viii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness (in addition to Indebtedness permitted by other clauses of this paragraph) in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (viii), not to exceed $50.0 million;

(ix) the guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, which Indebtedness was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09; provided that in the case of a guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, such Restricted Subsidiary complies with Section 4.15;

(x) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary owed to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit for the benefit of) any Person in connection with worker’s compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance provided by such Person to the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such Person, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;

(xi) the incurrence of Permitted Bonding Obligations;

(xii) the incurrence of Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that with respect to any such disposition, the maximum aggregate liability of this Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any such disposition;

(xiii) the issuance by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that:

(a) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred stock being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

(b) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred stock to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred stock by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (xiii);

(xiv) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness (in addition to Indebtedness permitted by other clauses of this paragraph) to finance the repurchase of the Designated Vessels, which are utilized at the time of incurrence by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary under operating leases, in each case on terms not materially less favorable on the whole than those set forth in the repurchase provisions contained in such operating leases as in effect as of the Issue Date;

 

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(xv) the guarantee by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of any entity which is not wholly owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the maximum liability of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereunder does not exceed $15.0 million at any time; and

(xvi) Indebtedness incurred as a result of the accounting for an extension of the term of any lease existing on the Issue Date as a capital lease under GAAP as a result of such extension.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (i) through (xvi) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.09, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify (or later reclassify in whole or in part, in its sole discretion) that item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09. Accrual of interest, accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09; provided, in each case, that the amount is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 4.09 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values. The principal amount of any Indebtedness supported by a letter of credit issued under a Credit Facility in accordance with clause (i) above shall not be deemed a separate incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.09, but only to the extent of the stated amount of such letter of credit.

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;

(2) the maximum fixed redemption liability with respect to any Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary;

(3) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, in the case of any other Indebtedness; and

(4) in respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the specified Person, the lesser of:

(a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at the date of determination, and

(b) the amount of the Indebtedness of the other Person.

SECTION 4.10. Restricted Payments.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than, in each case, dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or dividends or distributions payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

 

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(ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company (other than Equity Interests owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;

(iii) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness of the Company that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or to the Guarantees (other than any subordinated Indebtedness held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), except a payment of interest or principal at Stated Maturity; or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment

(all these payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless:

(a) at the time of and after giving effect to the Restricted Payment, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of the Restricted Payment; and

(b) the Company would, at the time of the Restricted Payment and after giving it pro forma effect as if the Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09; and

(c) the Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after December 22, 2003 (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (vii), (viii), (x), (xi), (xii), (xiv) and (xv) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum, without duplication, of

(i) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the first day of the fiscal quarter of the Company commencing on October 1, 2003 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of the Restricted Payment (or, if Consolidated Net Income for the period is a deficit, less 100% of the deficit), plus

(ii) 100% of the aggregate Fair Market Value of Qualified Proceeds received by the Company since December 22, 2003 as a contribution to its equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of Disqualified Stock or debt securities of the Company that have been converted into Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or convertible debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company), plus

(iii) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after December 22, 2003 is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the cash return of capital received with respect to the Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any), plus

(iv) 50% of any dividends received by the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary after December 22, 2003 from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company, to the extent that the dividends were not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period, plus

(v) to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary, or upon a merger or consolidation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after December 22, 2003, the lesser of (A) the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investment in the Subsidiary as of the date of the redesignation or merger or consolidation and (B) the Fair Market Value as of the date on which the Subsidiary was originally designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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The foregoing provisions will not prohibit:

(i) the payment of any dividend or other distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration, if at said date of declaration payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the sale within 30 days of the making of such Restricted Payment (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, other Equity Interests of the Company (other than any Disqualified Stock) or the net cash proceeds of a common equity capital contribution to the Company; provided that the amount of any net cash proceeds that are utilized for any Restricted Payment pursuant to this clause (ii) shall be excluded from clause (c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph;

(iii) (A) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; and

(B) the purchase, redemption or other acquisition for value of any Disqualified Stock with the net cash proceeds from the sale of other Equity Interests of the Company or an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

(iv) the payment of any dividend or making of any distribution by a Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

(v) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result of the making of such Restricted Payment, the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company held by any present, future or former member of the Company’s or any direct or indirect parent of the Company’s (or any of their Subsidiaries’) Board of Directors or any present, future or former officer, employee or director of the Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of the Company pursuant to any equity subscription agreement, stockholder agreement, stock option agreement, employment agreement or other similar agreements or employee benefit plan; provided that

(A) the aggregate price paid for all the repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests shall not exceed $3.0 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to clause (B)) of $6.0 million), plus

(B) in the case of a repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of Equity Interests of the Company or of any direct or indirect parent of the Company, the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company, or its direct or indirect parent to the extent such cash proceeds are contributed to the common equity capital of the Company, during that calendar year from any reissuance of Equity Interests by the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company to employees, officers and directors of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries plus the cash proceeds of any “key man” life insurance policy received by the Company, and any cash proceeds paid to the Company in connection with the issuance or exercise of, any management or employee Equity Interests so acquired;

(vi) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result of the making of such Restricted Payment, the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company, or any class or series of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary that was issued after December 22, 2003 (other than to the Company or another Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) in compliance with Section 4.09;

 

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(vii) repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options and warrants if those Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of the options or warrants;

(viii) loans to employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $2.0 million at any one time outstanding;

(ix) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result of the making of such Restricted Payment, Restricted Payments not to exceed $35.0 million since December 22, 2003;

(x) any payments made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary for the purposes described in the Offering Memorandum under the caption “Use of Proceeds”;

(xi) payments, advances, loans or expense reimbursements made to any direct or indirect parent corporation of the Company to permit the payment by such entity of reasonable general operating expenses, accounting, legal, corporate reporting and administrative expenses incurred in the ordinary course of its business in an amount not to exceed $1.0 million per annum;

(xii) (a) for so long as the Company is a member of a group filing a consolidated or combined tax return with a parent corporation, payments to the parent in respect of an allocable portion of the tax liabilities of such group that is attributable to the Company and its Subsidiaries (“Tax Payments”); provided, that the Tax Payments shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the amount of the relevant tax (including any penalties and interest) that the Company would owe if the Company were filing (and had always filed) a separate tax return (or a separate consolidated or combined return with its Subsidiaries that are members of the consolidated or combined group), taking into account any carryovers and carrybacks of tax attributes (such as net operating losses) of the Company and such Subsidiaries from other taxable years and (B) the proportionate share of the Company and its Subsidiaries of the net amount of the relevant tax that the parent actually owes to the appropriate taxing authority or (b) in the event that and for so long as the Company is organized as a limited liability company or partnership, the payment of Permitted Tax Distributions;

(xiii) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes with Excess Proceeds to the extent such Excess Proceeds are permitted to be used for general corporate purposes under Section 4.12;

(xiv) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition for value of Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company representing fractional shares of such Capital Stock in connection with a merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other combination involving the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;

(xv) Investments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

(xvi) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing or would occur as the result of making such Restricted Payment, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control and within 60 days after completion of the offer to repurchase Notes pursuant to Section 4.17 (including the purchase of all Notes tendered), any purchase or redemption of Indebtedness of the Company subordinated to the Notes that is required to be repurchased or redeemed pursuant to the terms thereof as a result of such Change of Control, at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the outstanding principal amount (or accreted amount, in the case of any debt issued at a discount from its principal amount at maturity) thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any; and

 

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(xvii) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as the result of the making of such Restricted Payment, the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Company if the Company would have been entitled to incur or assume Indebtedness under Section 4.09, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation value of the preferred stock at the time of issuance of such preferred stock (provided that the cash proceeds from the issuance of such preferred stock shall be excluded from clause (c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph).

The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.16.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.10, in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the exceptions described in (i) through (xvii) above or is entitled to be made pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.10, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify the Restricted Payment in any manner that complies with this Section 4.10. The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The Fair Market Value of any non-cash Restricted Payment or return of capital on any Restricted Subsidiary shall be determined by the Board of Directors whose resolution regarding the Fair Market Value shall be delivered to the Trustee, the determination to be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if the Fair Market Value exceeds $20.0 million. Not later than 30 days after the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by this Section 4.10 were computed, together with a copy of any fairness opinion or appraisal required by this Indenture.

SECTION 4.11. Liens.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien securing Indebtedness or trade payables on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, including any income or profits therefrom, except (i) Permitted Liens, and (ii) in the case of Liens securing Indebtedness that is expressly subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Notes or a Guarantee, the Notes or such Guarantee, as the case may be, are secured by a Lien on property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens (with the same relative priority as the subordinate or junior Indebtedness shall have with respect to the Notes and the Guarantees) and (iii) in the case of Liens securing Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes or a Guarantee, the Notes or such Guarantee, as the case maybe, are secured by the Lien on an equal and ratable basis.

SECTION 4.12. Asset Sales.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

(i) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(ii) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of Qualified Proceeds.

For the purposes of clause (ii) above and no other provision, each of the following shall be deemed cash:

(a) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or the Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet), of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee of the Notes) that are assumed by the transferee of any assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement or by operation of law that releases the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary from further liability therefor;

 

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(b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary from a transferee that are converted by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of the Asset Sale; and

(c) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) then outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $50.0 million and (y) 8% of Total Tangible Assets at the time of receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may apply the Net Proceeds, at its option,

(a) to repay or otherwise retire amounts owing under the Credit Agreement in accordance with the Credit Agreement and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto,

(b) to repay or otherwise retire amounts owing under other Secured Indebtedness (other than subordinated obligations), which Secured Indebtedness is permitted by the Indenture, and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto, and/or

(c) to the acquisition of a majority of the assets of, or a majority of the Voting Stock of, another Permitted Business, to making a capital expenditure for the construction, repair, improvement or acquisition of assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business (or commitment to do any of the foregoing, provided that this commitment or its reasonable replacement is consummated substantially in accordance with its terms), or

(d) for a combination of uses described in clauses (a), (b) or (c).

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20.0 million, the Company will be required to make an offer to all Holders of Notes (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and, if the Company is required to do so under the terms of any other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes, such other Indebtedness on a pro rata basis with the Notes, that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon, if any, to the date of repurchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture. To the extent that any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use the Excess Proceeds for any general corporate purpose. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, subject to Applicable Procedures, the Trustee will select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

SECTION 4.13. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(i) (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or (b) pay any Indebtedness or other liabilities owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,

 

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(ii) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or

(iii) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

However, the foregoing restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(a) Existing Indebtedness as in effect on the Issue Date,

(b) the Credit Agreement and Permitted Bonding Obligations as in effect as of the Issue Date, and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings, provided that any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacement or refinancings are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the Credit Agreement or in agreements with respect to Permitted Bonding Obligations, as applicable, as in effect on the Issue Date,

(c) this Indenture, the Notes (including the Exchange Notes) and the Guarantees (including the Guarantees of the Exchange Notes),

(d) applicable law, rule, regulation or order,

(e) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of acquisition (except to the extent the Indebtedness was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of the acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired, provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, the Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred,

(f) customary non-assignment provisions in leases, licenses, charters or other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(g) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature described in clause (iii) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.13 on the property so acquired,

(h) any agreement for the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale,

(i) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced,

(j) secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.09 and Section 4.11 that limits the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets (including any insurance, leases and charters relating to such assets, and any proceeds thereof) securing the Indebtedness,

(k) provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business,

(l) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business,

(m) mortgage, construction, purchase money or similar financings that impose restrictions on the transfer of the property acquired, constructed repaired or improved,

 

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(n) encumbrances or restrictions imposed by amendments to the contracts, agreements or obligations referred to in the foregoing clauses (a), (c), (e), (f), (g), (h), (j), (k), (l) and (m), provided that the amendments are not materially more restrictive than the agreement so amended,

(o) any other agreement, instrument or document relating to Indebtedness hereafter in effect, provided, that the terms and conditions of such encumbrances or restrictions are not materially more restrictive taken as a whole than those encumbrances or restrictions imposed in connection with the Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date (which may result in encumbrances or restrictions upon a Restricted Subsidiary so long as such encumbrances or restrictions are not materially more restrictive taken as a whole than the comparable restriction that is applicable to the Company), or

(p) encumbrances or restrictions contained in any Indebtedness incurred by a Foreign Subsidiary that apply only to such Foreign Subsidiary.

SECTION 4.14. Transactions With Affiliates.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”), unless

(i) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person and

(ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee:

(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $2.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that the Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above and that the Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company (and, if there are disinterested directors, a majority thereof) and

(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $10.0 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following items shall not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions:

(i) any employment agreement, compensation, employee benefit arrangements and incentive arrangements or indemnification agreement or arrangement with any officer, director, member or employee entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

(ii) transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(iii) payment of reasonable directors fees and customary indemnification agreements with directors and officers of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;

(iv) Restricted Payments that are permitted by Section 4.10;

 

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(v) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary for travel, entertainment, moving and other relocation expenses, in each case made in the ordinary course of business;

(vi) transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company) that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns, directly or through a Restricted Subsidiary, an Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person;

(vii) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to any direct or indirect parent of the Company;

(viii) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture that are on terms no less favorable than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction with an unrelated party or on terms that are approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, including a majority of the disinterested directors, if any;

(ix) transactions pursuant to any contract or agreement described under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Agreements with Related Persons” in the Company’s Proxy Statement on Form DEF 14A as filed with the Commission on April 6, 2010, as in effect on the Issue Date, in each case as amended, modified or replaced from time to time so long as the amended, modified or new agreements, taken as a whole, are no less favorable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those in effect on the Issue Date; and

(x) any payments or other transactions pursuant to any tax-sharing agreement between the Company and any other Person with which the Company files a consolidated tax return or with which the Company is part of a consolidated group for tax purposes.

SECTION 4.15. Additional Guarantees.

The Company will cause any Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary), whether currently existing, or subsequently acquired or created, that guarantees the Company’s Obligations or the Obligations of any other Restricted Subsidiary under the Credit Agreement to fully and unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s Obligations under the Notes and this Indenture on the terms set forth in this Indenture. Thereafter, such Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of this Indenture until released in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. Any such Guarantee shall provide by its terms that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged as described in Article 10.

SECTION 4.16. Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

The Company’s Board of Directors may designate any of its Subsidiaries, including any newly formed Subsidiary or any Person that will become a Subsidiary by way of acquisition, to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. For purposes of making this determination, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid in cash) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments at the time of the designation and shall either reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under the first paragraph of Section 4.10(c) or reduce the amount available for future Investments under one or more clauses of the definition of “Permitted Investments,” as the Company determines in its sole discretion. All outstanding Investments will be deemed to constitute Investments in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Investments at the time of the designation. Such designation will only be permitted if a Restricted Payment in that amount would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an “Unrestricted Subsidiary.”

Any designation by the Board of Directors of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to the designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that the designation complied with the foregoing conditions and was permitted by Section 4.10.

 

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If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture, and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall 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 under Section 4.09, the Company shall be in default of Section 4.09). The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and the designation shall only be permitted if (i) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09, calculated on a pro forma basis as if the designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period, and (ii) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following the designation.

SECTION 4.17. Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon a Change of Control.

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall, within 30 days following a Change of Control, make an offer (the “Change of Control Offer”) pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 3.09. Each Holder shall have the right to accept such offer and require the Company to repurchase all or any portion (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such Holder’s Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer at a purchase price, in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”), equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased, to the Purchase Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

(b) The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer or (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to this Indenture as described in Section 3.03, unless and until there has been a default in payment of the applicable redemption price. A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control or conditional upon a Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

SECTION 4.18. Business Activities.

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any business other than Permitted Businesses, except to the extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

ARTICLE 5.

SUCCESSORS

SECTION 5.01. Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets.

The Company may not consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to another Person unless:

(i) the Company is the surviving corporation or the entity or the Person formed by or surviving the consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which the sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any individual state or the District of Columbia; provided, however, that if such Person is a limited liability company or partnership, a corporate Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of such Person becomes a co-issuer of the Notes in connection therewith;

 

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(ii) the entity or Person formed by or surviving any consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the entity or Person to which the sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the then existing obligations of the Company under the Registration Rights Agreement, the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(iii) immediately after the transaction no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(iv) except in the case of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company or the Person formed by or surviving the consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which the sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made will, at the time of the transaction and after giving pro forma effect to it as if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, (a) be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 or (b) have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio that is greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company without giving effect to the transaction.

The Company will not, directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of its properties or assets to any Person. This Section 5.01 will not apply to any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets (including by way of merger or consolidation) between or among the Company and any of its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries that are Guarantors.

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition by the Company (other than by lease) of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company, in accordance with this Section 5.01, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture and the Notes. In the event of any such transfer (other than a transfer of less than all of the properties and assets of the Company), the Company shall be released and discharged from all liabilities and obligations in respect of the Notes and this Indenture, and the Company may be dissolved, wound up or liquidated at any time thereafter.

SECTION 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted.

The surviving Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, under this Indenture; provided, however, that the predecessor entity shall not be released from any of the obligations or covenants under this Indenture, including with respect to the payment of the Notes and obligations under the Guarantee, as the case may be, in the case of:

(a) a sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition (unless such sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition is of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or, in the case of a Guarantor, such sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition is of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor, in either case, to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a Subsidiary of the Company, or

(b) a lease.

 

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ARTICLE 6.

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default.

Each of the following constitutes an “Event of Default” with respect to the Notes:

(i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Additional Interest with respect to, the Notes;

(ii) default in payment when due of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with Section 4.17;

(iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice by the Trustee or by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of Notes then outstanding to comply with any of its other agreements in this Indenture or the Notes;

(v) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether the Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, which default:

(A) is caused by a failure to pay principal on such Indebtedness at final stated maturity prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in the Indebtedness on the date of the default (a “Payment Default”) or

(B) results in the acceleration of the Indebtedness prior to its stated maturity

and, in each case, the principal amount of any Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated (after giving effect to any applicable grace period), aggregates $20.0 million or more;

(vi) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $20.0 million (net of any amount with respect to which a reputable insurance company with assets over $100.0 million has acknowledged liability in writing), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days after their entry;

(vii) the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences a voluntary case or gives notice of intention to make a proposal under any Bankruptcy Law;

(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or consents to its dissolution or winding up;

(C) consents to the appointment of a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, liquidator, trustee or custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

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

(E) admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due or otherwise admits its insolvency;

(viii) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(A) is for relief against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in an involuntary case; or

 

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(B) appoints a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, liquidator, trustee or custodian of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries; or

(C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries;

and such order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; and

(ix) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary (or group of Guarantors that, collectively, would be a Significant Subsidiary) shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary (or group of Guarantors that, collectively, would be a Significant Subsidiary), or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary (or group of Guarantors that, collectively, would be a Significant Subsidiary), shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Guarantee.

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration.

If any Event of Default (other than those of the type described in Section 6.01(vii) or (viii)) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding Notes may, declare the principal of all the Notes, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, premium, if any, to be due and payable by notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee specifying the respective Event of Default and that such notice is a notice of acceleration (the “Acceleration Notice”), and the same shall become immediately due and payable.

In the case of an Event of Default specified in Section (vii) or (viii) of Section 6.01 hereof, all outstanding Notes shall become due and payable immediately without any further declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the Holders. Holders may not enforce this Indenture or the Notes except as provided in this Indenture.

In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes because an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as a result of the acceleration of any Indebtedness described in Section 6.01(v) (excluding any resulting payment default under this Indenture or the Notes), the declaration of acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically annulled if the holders of all Indebtedness described in such Section 6.01(v) have rescinded the declaration of acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness within 20 days of the date of such declaration, and if the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, and all existing Events of Default, except non-payment of principal or interest on the Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Notes, have been cured or waived.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee may waive all past Defaults and rescind and annul a declaration of acceleration and its consequences if:

(1) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, premium, or Additional Interest if any, and interest on, the Notes that have become due solely by the declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived,

(2) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, and

(3) all amounts to the Trustee under Section 7.07 have been paid.

SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

 

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

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Defaults.

The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, waive any existing Default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a continuing Default or Event of Default (i) in the payment of the principal of, premium, Additional Interest, if any, or interest on the Notes and (ii) in respect of a covenant or provision which under this Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Note affected by such modification or amendment. Upon any waiver of a Default or Event of Default, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed cured for every purpose of this Indenture but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority.

Subject to Section 7.01, Section 7.02(f) (including the Trustee’s receipt of the security or indemnification described therein) and Section 7.07 hereof, in case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Notes. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture, that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability, and the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which not inconsistent with such direction.

SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits.

A Holder may not institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or the Notes, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy under this Indenture or the Notes, unless:

(1) the Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

(2) Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of the Event of Default in its own name as Trustee under this Indenture;

(3) Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any costs, liabilities or expenses to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

(5) during such 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction that is inconsistent with such written request.

The preceding limitations shall not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder for enforcement of payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, a Note on or after the Stated Maturity.

A Holder may not use this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.

 

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SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture (including Section 6.06), the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes held by such Holder, on or after the Stated Maturity, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01 (i) or (ii) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company (or any obligor upon the Notes) for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest then due and owing (together with interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest) and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee shall be authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on particular Notes, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, moneys, securities and any other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding. The Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

SECTION 6.10. Priorities.

After an Event of Default has occurred which is continuing, any moneys or properties distributable in respect of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, or any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article 6, shall be paid out or distributed in the following order:

First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

Second: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

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The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10.

SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 shall not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by the Company, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

ARTICLE 7.

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee.

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

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(1) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of certificates or opinions specifically required by any provision hereof to be furnished to it, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

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

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

(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

 

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(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee.

Subject to TIA Section 315:

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in any such document. Whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate.

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

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

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture, provided that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.

(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its reasonable discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall reasonably determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(h) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it under this Indenture.

(i) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default or Event of Default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee from the Company or the Holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes, and such notice references the specific Default or Event of Default, the Notes and this Indenture.

 

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

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

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

(m) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest as defined in the TIA it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue as Trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee shall also be subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer.

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

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders.

Within 60 days after each January 15 beginning with the January 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders a brief report dated as of such

 

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reporting date that complies with TIA §313(a) (but if no event described in TIA §313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA §313(b)(2) to the extent applicable. The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA §313(c).

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the Commission and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA §313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange and any delisting thereof.

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.

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

The Company shall indemnify the Trustee (in its capacity as Trustee) or any predecessor Trustee (in its capacity as Trustee) against any and all losses, claims, damages, penalties, fines, liabilities or expenses, including incidental and out-of-pocket expenses and reasonable attorneys fees (for purposes of this Article 7, “ losses”) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent such losses are determined to have been caused by its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations under this Indenture. The Company shall defend the claim, and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel if the Trustee has been reasonably advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those available to the Company and in the reasonable judgment of such counsel it is advisable for the Trustee to engage separate counsel. The Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss incurred by the Trustee that has been determined to have been caused by the Trustee’s own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.

The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the resignation or removal of the Trustee and payment in full of the Notes through the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations.

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(vii) or (viii) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA §313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

The provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the discharge of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations pursuant to Article 8 or Article 12 and the termination of this Indenture. “Trustee” for the purposes of this Section 7.07 shall include any predecessor Trustee and the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and each agent, custodian and other person employed to act hereunder; provided, however, that the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.

 

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SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.

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

The Trustee may resign in writing at any time upon 30 days’ prior notice to the Company and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

(b) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(c) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. Subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof, the retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided, however, that all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder shall have been paid. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

In the case of an appointment hereunder of a separate or successor Trustee with respect to the Notes, the Company, the Guarantors, any retiring Trustee and each successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Notes shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto (1) which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of any retiring Trustee with respect to the Notes as to which any such retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in such retiring Trustee and (2) that shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustee co-trustees of the same trust and that each such separate, retiring or successor Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any such other Trustee.

 

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SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or banking association, the successor corporation or banking association without any further act shall, if such successor corporation or banking association is otherwise eligible hereunder, be the successor Trustee.

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50.0 million (or a wholly-owned subsidiary of a bank or trust company, or of a bank holding company, the principal subsidiary of which is a bank or trust company having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50.0 million) as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA §310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA §310(b). There shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(i) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company or any of the Guarantors are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(i) are met.

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

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

ARTICLE 8.

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth in this Article 8.

SECTION 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”) and each Guarantor shall be released from all of its obligations under its Guarantee. For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Debt represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Sections 4.01 and 4.02, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article 8. If the Company exercises under Section 8.01 the option applicable to

 

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this Section 8.02, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03.

SECTION 8.03. Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.08 through 4.18 hereof, and the operation of Section 5.01, with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”) and each Guarantor shall be released from all of its obligations under its Guarantee with respect to such covenants in connection with such outstanding Notes and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. If the Company exercises under Section 8.01 the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in clauses (iii), (iv) (with respect to the covenants contained in Sections 4.08 through 4.18 hereof), (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii) of Section 6.01 (but in the case of (vii) and (viii) of Section 6.01, with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only) or because of the Company’s failure to comply with Section 5.01.

SECTION 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 to the outstanding Notes.

The Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance may be exercised only if:

(a) the Company irrevocably deposits with the Trustee, in trust (the “defeasance trust”), for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certificate thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay the principal of, and interest and premium and Additional Interest, if any, on the outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity or on the next Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to such particular Redemption Date;

(b) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (i) the Company has received from the Internal Revenue Service a ruling directed to it or (ii) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law (including by reason of a published ruling from the Internal Revenue Service), in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

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(c) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(d) no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is bound;

(f) reserved;

(g) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding such other creditors; and

(h) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

SECTION 8.05. Deposited Cash and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to Section 8.06, all cash and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest but such cash and securities need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any cash or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

SECTION 8.06. Repayment to Company.

The Trustee shall promptly, and in any event, no later than five (5) Business Days, pay to the Company after request therefor, any excess money held with respect to the Notes at such time in excess of amounts required to pay any of the Company’s Obligations then owing with respect to the Notes.

Any cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for one year after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall, subject to applicable abandoned

 

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property law, be discharged from such trust; and the Holder shall thereafter, as an unsecured creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such cash and securities, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such cash and securities remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such cash and securities then remaining shall be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 8.07. Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any cash or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such cash and securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders to receive such payment from the cash and securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9.

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors, and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes or the Guarantees without the consent of any Holder to:

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

(2) to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes,

(3) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or Guarantor’s assets that is permitted by this Indenture,

(4) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Indenture on the Issue Date,

(5) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any Holder,

(6) to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA,

(7) to allow any Guarantor to guarantee the Notes or to comply with Section 4.15 or 10.03, or

(8) to conform any provision of this Indenture to the “Description of Notes” contained in the Offering Memorandum.

 

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SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes.

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture and the Notes and the Guarantees with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes, including Additional Notes, if any, then outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07, any existing Default or Event of Default (except a continuing Default or Event of Default in (i) the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes and (ii) in respect of a covenant or provision which under this Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Note affected by such modification or amendment) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes, including Additional Notes, if any, then outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes).

Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

(i) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver,

(ii) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the Notes (other than provisions relating to Sections 4.12 and 4.17),

(iii) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note,

(iv) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or Additional Interest, if any, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from the acceleration),

(v) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes,

(vi) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes,

(vii) waive a redemption or repurchase payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Section 4.12 or 4.17),

(viii) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture,

(ix) expressly subordinate in right of payment the Notes or any Guarantee to any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor, or

(x) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any supplemental indenture. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is 120 days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no further effect.

 

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

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holder of each Note affected thereby to such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

SECTION 9.03. Compliance With Trust Indenture Act.

Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion thereof that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Note or portion thereof if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver shall become effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter shall bind every Holder.

SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, Etc.

The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. None of the Company nor any Guarantor may sign an amendment or supplemental indenture until its Board of Directors (or committee serving a similar function) approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amended or supplemental indenture is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions and that such amended or supplemental indenture complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03). Any supplemental indenture executed for the purpose of conforming any provision in this Indenture to the “Description of the Notes” in the Offering Memorandum shall be based upon an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee stating that such provision was intended to be a substantially verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture.

 

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ARTICLE 10.

GUARANTEES

SECTION 10.01. Guarantee.

Subject to this Article 10, the Guarantors hereby unconditionally guarantee to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns: (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on the overdue principal of and premium, if any, and, to the extent permitted by law, interest, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee under this Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement or any other agreement with or for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same shall be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration pursuant to Section 6.02, redemption or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations with regard to its Guarantee shall be joint and several, unconditional, irrespective of the validity or enforceability of the Notes or the obligations of the Company under this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, the recovery of any judgment against the Company or any other obligor with respect to this Indenture, the Notes or the Obligations of the Company under this Indenture or the Notes, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances (other than complete performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each Guarantor further, to the extent permitted by law, waives and relinquishes all claims, rights and remedies accorded by applicable law to guarantors and agrees not to assert or take advantage of any such claims, rights or remedies, including but not limited to: (a) any right to require any of the Trustee, the Holders or the Company (each a “Benefited Party”), as a condition of payment or performance by such Guarantor, to (1) proceed against the Company, any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the Obligations under the Guarantees or any other Person, (2) proceed against or exhaust any security held from the Company, any such other guarantor or any other Person, (3) proceed against or have resort to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of any Benefited Party in favor of the Company or any other Person, or (4) pursue any other remedy in the power of any Benefited Party whatsoever; (b) any defense arising by reason of the incapacity, lack of authority or any disability or other defense of the Company including any defense based on or arising out of the lack of validity or the unenforceability of the Obligations under the Guarantees or any agreement or instrument relating thereto or by reason of the cessation of the liability of the Company from any cause other than payment in full of the Obligations under the Guarantees; (c) any defense based upon any statute or rule of law which provides that the obligation of a surety must be neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the principal; (d) any defense based upon any Benefited Party’s errors or omissions in the administration of the Obligations under the Guarantees, except behavior which amounts to bad faith; (e)(1) any principles or provisions of law, statutory or otherwise, which are or might be in conflict with the terms of the Guarantees and any legal or equitable discharge of such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, (2) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting such Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the enforcement hereof, (3) any rights to set-offs, recoupments and counterclaims and (4) promptness, diligence and any requirement that any Benefited Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any security interest or lien or any property subject thereto; (f) notices, demands, presentations, protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor and notices of any action or inaction, including acceptance of the Guarantees, notices of Default under the Notes or any agreement or instrument related thereto, notices of any renewal, extension or modification of the Obligations under the Guarantees or any agreement related thereto, and notices of any extension of credit to the Company and any right to consent to any thereof; (g) to the extent permitted under applicable law, the benefits of any “One Action” rule and (h) any defenses or benefits that may be derived from or afforded by law which limit the liability of or exonerate guarantors or sureties, or which may conflict with the terms of the Guarantees. Except to the extent expressly provided herein, including Sections 8.02, 8.03 and 10.05, each Guarantor hereby covenants that its Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in its Guarantee and this Indenture.

 

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If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Section 6.02 hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Section 6.02 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee and a right to seek reimbursement from the Company.

SECTION 10.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

(a) Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that each Guarantor’s liability shall be that amount from time to time equal to the aggregate liability of such Guarantor under the guarantee, but shall be limited to the lesser of (a) the aggregate amount of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture or (b) the amount, if any, which would not have (1) rendered the Guarantor “insolvent” (as such term is defined in the Federal Bankruptcy Code and in the Debtor and Creditor Law of the State of New York) or (2) left it with unreasonably small capital at the time its Guarantee with respect to the Notes was entered into, after giving effect to the incurrence of existing Debt immediately before such time; provided, however, it shall be a presumption in any lawsuit or proceeding in which a Guarantor is a party that the amount guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee with respect to the Notes is the amount described in clause (a) above unless any creditor, or representative of creditors of the Guarantor, or debtor in possession or trustee in bankruptcy of the Guarantor, otherwise proves in a lawsuit that the aggregate liability of the Guarantor is limited to the amount described in clause (b).

(b) In making any determination as to the solvency or sufficiency of capital of a Guarantor in accordance with the proviso of Section 10.02(a), the right of each Guarantor to contribution from other Guarantors and reimbursement from the Company, and any other rights such Guarantor may have, contractual or otherwise, shall be taken into account.

SECTION 10.03. Execution and Delivery of Guarantee.

To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by its President, one of its Vice Presidents or its Treasurer.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of a notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

 

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The Company hereby agrees that it shall cause each Person that becomes obligated to provide a Guarantee pursuant to Section 4.15 to execute a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E, pursuant to which such Person provides the guarantee set forth in this Article 10 and otherwise assumes the obligations and accepts the rights of a Guarantor under this Indenture, in each case with the same effect and to the same extent as if such Person had been named herein as a Guarantor.

SECTION 10.04. Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., on Certain Terms.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.05, no Guarantor may consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor unless:

(a) subject to Section 10.05, the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than a Guarantor or the Company) unconditionally assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, under this Indenture, the Guarantee and any Registration Rights Agreements on the terms set forth herein or therein; and

(b) the Guarantor complies with the requirements of Article 5 hereof.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5, and notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or another Guarantor.

SECTION 10.05. Releases Following Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets, Etc.

In the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of any Guarantor, in each case to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transactions) a Subsidiary of the Company, then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor) shall be released and relieved of any obligations under its Guarantee; provided that the net proceeds of such sale or other disposition shall be applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.12. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.16, such Subsidiary shall be released and relieved of any obligations under its Guarantee. Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.12, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Guarantee.

Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 10.

 

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ARTICLE 11.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 11.01. Satisfaction and Discharge.

This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect, except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes, as to all Notes issued hereunder, when:

(a) either:

(i) all Notes that have been previously authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has previously been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and is thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from the trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(ii) (A) all Notes that have not been previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by their terms or have been called for redemption, and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as shall be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or redemption for principal, premium, if any, and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes to the date of deposit, in the case of Notes that have become due and payable, or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be; (B) the Company has paid all other sums payable by the Company with respect to the Notes under this Indenture; and (C) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at Stated Maturity or on the Redemption Date, as the case may be.

in the case of either clause (i) or (ii):

(x) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound; and

(y) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been satisfied.

SECTION 11.02. Deposited Cash and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to Section 11.03, all cash and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 11.02, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest but such cash and securities need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

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SECTION 11.03. Repayment to Company.

Any cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall, subject to applicable abandoned property law, be discharged from such trust; and any Holder shall thereafter, as an unsecured creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such cash and securities, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such cash and securities remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such cash and securities then remaining shall be repaid to the Company.

ARTICLE 12.

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 12.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the provision required by the TIA shall control.

SECTION 12.02. Notices.

Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, to the other’s address:

If to the Company:

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation

2122 York Road

Oak Brook, Illinois 60523

Attention: President and Chief Financial Officer

Telecopier No.: (610) 574-3007

With a copy to:

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP

Two North LaSalle Street, Suite 1700

Chicago, Illinois 60602

Attention: Ross Emmerman

Telecopier No: (312) 429-3574

If to the Trustee:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

230 West Monroe Street, Suite 2900

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Attention: Corporate Trust Services

Telecopier No.: (312) 726-2158

 

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With a copy to:

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

191 North Wacker Drive, Suite 3700

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Attention: Steven M. Wagner

Facsimile: (312) 569-3000

The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the other, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to the Trustee or Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five (5) Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if sent by facsimile transmission; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery. All notices and communications to the Trustee or Holders shall be deemed duly given and effective only upon receipt.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery to its address shown on the Security Register. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

SECTION 12.03. Communication by Holders of Notes With Other Holders of Notes.

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

SECTION 12.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with.

SECTION 12.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA §314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA §314(e) and shall include:

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

 

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

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

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

With respect to matters of fact, an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate, certificates of public officials or reports or opinions of experts.

SECTION 12.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents.

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

SECTION 12.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.

No past, present or future director, manager, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or member of the Company, any Guarantor, any parent entity of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver and release may not be effective to waive or release liabilities under the federal securities laws.

SECTION 12.08. Governing Law.

THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

SECTION 12.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

SECTION 12.10. Successors.

All covenants and agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All covenants and agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 12.11. Severability.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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SECTION 12.12. Counterpart Originals.

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

SECTION 12.13. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings in this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 12.14. Qualification of This Indenture.

The Company shall qualify this Indenture under the TIA in accordance with the terms and conditions of any Registration Rights Agreement and shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses for the Company, the Trustee and the Holders) incurred in connection therewith, including, but not limited to, costs and expenses of qualification of this Indenture and the Notes and printing this Indenture and the Notes. The Trustee shall be entitled to receive from the Company any such Officers’ Certificates, Opinions of Counsel or other documentation as it may reasonably request in connection with any such qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.

SECTION 12.15. Effect of Legal Holidays

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Stated Maturity of any Note, or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert a Note at a particular conversion price, or any date on which any defaulted interest is proposed to be paid, shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Notes) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) or, if applicable to a particular series of Notes, conversion, need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, at the Stated Maturity, or on the last day for such conversion, or on the date on which the defaulted interest is proposed to be paid, and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity or on the last day for such conversion, or date for the payment of defaulted interest, as the case may be.

SECTION 12.16. Waiver of Jury Trial

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE, AND BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, EACH HOLDER OF A NOTE, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES, THE GUARANTEES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

[Signatures on following page]

 

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SIGNATURES

Dated as of January 28, 2011

 

COMPANY:
GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK CORPORATION,
a Delaware corporation
By:   /s/ Bruce J. Biemeck
  Bruce J. Biemeck
  President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
GUARANTORS:
GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
By:   /s/ Bruce J. Biemeck
  Bruce J. Biemeck
  President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
DAWSON MARINE SERVICES COMPANY,
a Delaware corporation
By:   /s/ Bruce J. Biemeck
  Bruce J. Biemeck, Senior Vice President,
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
GREAT LAKES CARIBBEAN DREDGING, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By:   /s/ Bruce J. Biemeck
  Bruce J. Biemeck, Senior Vice President,
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
NASDI HOLDINGS CORPORATION,
a Delaware corporation
By:   /s/ Bruce J. Biemeck
  Bruce J. Biemeck, Vice President,
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
FIFTY-THREE DREDGING CORPORATION,
a New Jersey corporation
By:   /s/ Bruce J. Biemeck
  Bruce J. Biemeck, Treasurer
 

 

S-1


TRUSTEE:

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:   /s/ Gregory S. Clarke
  Name: Gregory S. Clarke
  Title: Vice President

 

S-2


EXHIBIT A

(face of Note)

7.375% Senior Notes due 2019

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the terms of the Indenture]

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the terms of the Indenture]

[Insert the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the terms of the Indenture]

 

CUSIP No.   $            

GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK CORPORATION

promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum                     of Dollars ($             ) on February 1, 2019.

Interest Payment Dates: February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2011.

Record Dates: January 15 and July 15.

Dated:            , 20        .

 

A-1


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

 

GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK CORPORATION
By:    
  Name: Bruce J. Biemeck
  Title:   President, Chief Financial Officer and             Treasurer

This is one of the Global

Notes referred to in the

within-mentioned Indenture:

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:    
  Authorized Signatory

Dated             , 20        

 

A-2


(Back of Note)

7.375% Senior Notes due 2019

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. Interest. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“the Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 7.375% per annum until maturity and shall pay Additional Interest, if any, as provided in Section 4 of the Registration Rights Agreement. The Company shall pay interest semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from January 28, 2011; provided, however, that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be August 1, 2011. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the interest rate then in effect under the Indenture and this Note; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest, if any (without regard to any applicable grace periods), from time to time at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

2. Method of Payment. The Company shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the January 15 or July 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes shall be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Interest, if any, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the Security Register; provided, however, that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal of and interest and Additional Interest, if any, and premium, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

4. Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of January 28, 2011 (“Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are obligations of the Company unlimited in aggregate principal amount.

 

A-3


5. Optional Redemption.

(a) Except as set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of this Paragraph 5, the Notes will not be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to February 1, 2015. Starting on that date, the Company may redeem all or any portion of the Notes, at once or over time, after giving the required notice under the Indenture. The Notes may be redeemed at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, in cash, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the applicable Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on February 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2015

     103.688

2016

     101.844

2017 and thereafter

     100.000

(b) At any time prior to February 1, 2014, the Company may (but will not have the obligation to) on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the original principal amount of the Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) equal to 107.375% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings, provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes initially issued under the Indenture remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of the redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); provided, further, that the redemption shall occur within 180 days of the date of the closing of the Equity Offering.

(c) At any time prior to February 1, 2015, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part after giving the required notice under the Indenture, in cash, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

(c) Any prepayment pursuant to this paragraph shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture.

6. Mandatory Redemption. Except as set forth in Sections 4.12 and 4.17 of the Indenture, the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

7. Repurchase at Option of Holder.

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such Holder’s Notes (a “Change of Control Offer”) at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased, to the Purchase Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

(b) When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds from Asset Sales exceeds $20.0 million, the Company will be required to make an offer to all Holders of Notes (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and, if the Company is required to do so under the terms of any other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes, such other Indebtedness on a pro rata basis with the Notes, that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon, if any, to the date of repurchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (including Additional Notes) and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company (or any Restricted Subsidiary) may use such deficiency for any purpose not prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall, subject to Applicable Procedures, select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes.

 

A-4


8. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in the amount of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the Redemption Date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. This Note shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed hereon and the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented hereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a Regular Record Date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

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

11. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, including Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 of the Indenture, any existing Default or Event of Default (except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes) or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes (except for certain covenants and provisions of the Indenture which cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder) may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, including Additional Notes, if any, then outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes). Without the consent of any Holder, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Indenture on the date of the Indenture, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any Holder, to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, to allow any Guarantor to guarantee the Notes, or to conform any provision of the Indenture to the “Description of Notes” contained in the Offering Memorandum.

12. Defaults and Remedies. Each of the following is an Event of Default under the Indenture: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Additional Interest with respect to, the Notes; (ii) default in payment when due of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes; (iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with Section 4.17 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice by the Trustee or by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of Notes then outstanding to comply with any of its other agreements in the Indenture or the Notes; (v) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether the Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, which default: (A) is caused by a failure to pay principal on such Indebtedness at final stated maturity prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in the Indebtedness on the date of the default (a “Payment Default”) or (B) results in the acceleration of the Indebtedness prior to its stated maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any Indebtedness, together with the principal

 

A-5


amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated (after giving effect to any applicable grace period), aggregates $20.0 million or more; (vi) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $20.0 million (net of any amount with respect to which a reputable insurance company with assets over $100.0 million has acknowledged liability in writing), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days after their entry; (vii) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries; and (viii) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary (or group of Guarantors that, collectively, would be a Significant Subsidiary) shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary (or group of Guarantors that, collectively, would be a Significant Subsidiary), or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary (or group of Guarantors that, collectively, would be a Significant Subsidiary), shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Guarantee.

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon a declaration of acceleration, principal premium, if any, Additional Interest, if any, and interest on the Notes will become due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency described in the Indenture, all outstanding Notes shall become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power vested in it by the Indenture. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest or Additional Interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in (i) the payment of interest or Additional Interest on, or the principal of, the Notes and (ii) in respect of a covenant or provision which under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Note affected by such modification or amendment. Upon any waiver of a Default or Event of Default, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed cured for every purpose of the Indenture but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

13. Trustee Dealings with Company. Subject to certain limitations, the Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

14. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or of any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.

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

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

 

A-6


17. Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes that are Initial Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and the initial purchasers named therein or, in the case of Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes shall have the rights set forth in one or more Registration Rights Agreements, if any, among the Company and the other parties thereto, relating to rights given by the Company to the purchasers of any Additional Notes.

18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

19. Governing Law. The internal law of the State of New York shall govern and be used to construe this Note without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of law to the extent that the application of the laws of another jurisdiction would be required thereby.

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

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation

2122 York Road

Oak Brook, Illinois 60523

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

A-7


Option of Holder to Elect Purchase

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.12 or 4.17 of the Indenture, check the box below:

 

¨ Section 4.12

 

¨ Section 4.17

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.12 or Section 4.17 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased: $        

 

Date:       Your Signature:    
        (Sign exactly as your name appears on the Note)
      Tax Identification No.:

 

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

 

A-8


Assignment Form

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to

 

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or other tax I.D. no.)

 

 

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

and irrevocably appoint

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

Date:             

 

Your Signature:    
  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the Note)

 

Signature Guarantee:    
 

 

A-9


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

  Amount of
decrease in
Principal Amount
of this Global Note
  Amount of increase
in Principal Amount
of this Global Note
  Principal Amount
of this Global Note
following such
decrease
(or increase)
  Signature of
authorized signatory
of Trustee or
Note Custodian

 

A-10


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation

2122 York Road

Oak Brook, IL 60523

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Telecopier No.: (610) 574-3007

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

608 Second Avenue South, N9303-121

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479

Attention: Corporate Trust Operations

Email: DAPSReorg@wellsfargo.com

Re: 7.375% Senior Notes due 2019

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of January 28, 2011 (the “Indenture”), among Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, as issuer (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                                         (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $             in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to                                          (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

CHECK ALL THAT APPLY

1. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Definitive Note Pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

2. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(a) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the

 

B-1


Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note, the Temporary Regulation S Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3. ¨ Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note or a Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

or

(b) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a subsidiary thereof;

or

(c) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;

or

(d) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) if such Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes at the time of transfer of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

4. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.

(a) ¨ Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

B-2


(b) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

 
Insert Name of Transferor
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
Dated:    

 

B-3


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

  1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)

 

  (a) ¨     a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) ¨     144A Global Note (CUSIP ), or

 

  (ii) ¨     Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP ), or

 

  (iii) ¨     IAI Global Note (CUSIP ); or

 

  (b) ¨     a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

  2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

CHECK ONE OF (a), (b) OR (c)

 

  (a) ¨     a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) ¨     144A Global Note (CUSIP ), or

 

  (ii) ¨     Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP ), or

 

  (iii) ¨     IAI Global Note (CUSIP ); or

 

  (iv) ¨     Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP ); or

 

  (b) ¨     a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

  (c) ¨     an Unrestricted Definitive Note,

in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-4


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation

2122 York Road

Oak Brook, IL 60523

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Telecopier No.: (610) 574-3007

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

608 Second Avenue South, N9303-121

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479

Attention: Corporate Trust Operations

Email: DAPSReorg@wellsfargo.com

Re: 7.375% Senior Notes due 2019

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of January 28, 2011 (the “Indenture”), among Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, as issuer (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                     (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $             in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note

(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Note and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Note and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(c) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

C-1


(d) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes

(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CIRCLE ONE] 144A Global Note, Regulation S Global Note, IAI Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Definitive Note and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

C-2


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

Insert Name of Transferor
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
Dated:                             

 

C-3


EXHIBIT D

FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM

ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation

2122 York Road

Oak Brook, IL 60523

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Telecopier No.: (610) 574-3007

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

608 Second Avenue South, N9303-121

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479

Attention: Corporate Trust Operations

Email: DAPSReorg@wellsfargo.com

Re: 7.375% Senior Notes due 2019

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of January 28, 2011 (the “Indenture”), among Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, as issuer (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

In connection with our proposed purchase of $             aggregate principal amount of:

(a) ¨ a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or

(b) ¨ a Definitive Note,

we confirm that:

1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein, we will do so only (A) to the Company or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to each of you a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and, if such transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes, at the time of transfer of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or (F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any Person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.

3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to each of you such certifications, legal opinions and other information as each of you may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

 

D-1


4. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment. We have had access to such financial and other information and have been afforded the opportunity to ask such questions of representatives of the Company and receive answers thereto, as we deem necessary in connection with our decision to purchase the Notes.

5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion and are not acquiring the Notes with a view to any distribution thereof in a transaction that would violate the Securities Act of the securities laws of any state of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction.

Each of you is entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. This letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

 
Insert Name of Transferor
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
Dated:                             

 

D-2


EXHIBIT E

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of                     , 201    , among                              (the “New Guarantor”), a subsidiary of Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, as issuer (the “Company”), the Company, the existing Guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Company and the existing Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”), dated as of January 28, 2011 providing for the issuance of 7.375% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, Section 4.15 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the New Guarantor shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Guarantors and the Company are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of each other and the Holders of the Notes as follows:

1. Defined Terms. Defined terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

2. Agreement to Guarantee. The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article X of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

3. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, manager, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or member of the Company, any Guarantor, any parent entity of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver and release may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

4. Notices. All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 12.02 of the Indenture.

5. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

6. GOVERNING LAW. THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

E-1


7. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

8. Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

9. Trustee Makes No Representation. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

E-2


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

Dated:                     , 20        

 

NEW GUARANTOR
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

COMPANY:
GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
By:    
  Bruce J. Biemeck
  President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
GUARANTORS:
GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
By:    
  Bruce J. Biemeck
  President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
DAWSON MARINE SERVICES COMPANY,
a Delaware corporation
By:    
  Bruce J. Biemeck, Senior Vice President,
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
GREAT LAKES CARIBBEAN DREDGING, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By:    
  Bruce J. Biemeck, Senior Vice President,
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
NASDI HOLDINGS CORPORATION,
a Delaware corporation
By:    
  Bruce J. Biemeck, Vice President,
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

E-3


FIFTY-THREE DREDGING CORPORATION,
a New Jersey corporation
By:    
  Bruce J. Biemeck, Treasurer

 

E-4


TRUSTEE:

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

E-5

Registration Rights Agreement

Exhibit 4.2

 

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

Dated as of January 28, 2011

Among

GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK CORPORATION

THE GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN

and

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED

7.375% Senior Notes due 2019

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

1.

   Definitions      3   

2.

   Exchange Offer      6   

3.

   Shelf Registration      9   

4.

   Additional Interest      10   

5.

   Registration Procedures      11   

6.

   Registration Expenses      18   

7.

   Indemnification and Contribution      19   

8.

   Rule 144A      23   

9.

   Underwritten Registrations      23   

10.

   Miscellaneous      23   

 

-i-


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of January 28, 2011, among GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK CORPORATION, a Delaware Corporation (the “Company”), the guarantors listed on the signature pages hereto, (the “Guarantors”) and DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. and MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED, as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several initial purchasers (the “Initial Purchasers”) named in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below). The Company and the Guarantors are collectively referred to as the “Issuers.”

This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2011, between the Issuers and the Representatives on behalf of the Initial Purchasers (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for, among other things, the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 7.375% Senior Notes Due 2019 (the “Notes”). The Notes are issued under an indenture, dated as of January 28, 2011 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), among the Issuers and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, the Guarantors are required to unconditionally guarantee (collectively, the “Guarantees”) on a senior basis the Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture. The Notes and the Guarantees are collectively referred to as the “Securities.” In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Issuers have agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and, except as otherwise set forth herein, any subsequent holder or holders of the Notes. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the Initial Purchasers’ obligation to purchase the Notes under the Purchase Agreement.

The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

  1. Definitions

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

Additional Interest: See Section 4(a) hereof.

Advice: See the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof.

Agreement: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Applicable Period: See Section 2(b) hereof.

Business Day: Shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 14d-1 under the Exchange Act.

Company: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Effectiveness Date: With respect to (i) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the 365th day after the Issue Date and (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement, the 90th day after the Filing Date with respect thereto; provided, however, that if the Effectiveness Date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, then the Effectiveness Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.

Effectiveness Period: See Section 3(a) hereof.


Event Date: See Section 4(b) hereof.

Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Notes: See Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Offer: See Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement: See Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Securities: See Section 2(a) hereof.

Filing Date: The 30th day after the delivery of a Shelf Notice as required pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof; provided, however, that if the Filing Date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, then the Filing Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.

FINRA: See Section 5(r) hereof.

Guarantees: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Guarantors: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Holder: Any holder of a Registrable Security or Registrable Securities.

Indenture: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Information: See Section 5(n) hereof.

Initial Purchasers: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Initial Shelf Registration: See Section 3(a) hereof.

Inspectors: See Section 5(n) hereof.

Issue Date: January 28, 2011, the date of original issuance of the Notes.

Issuer: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

New Guarantees: See Section 2(a) hereof.

Notes: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

Participant: See Section 7(a) hereof.

Participating Broker-Dealer: See Section 2(b) hereof.

Person: An individual, trustee, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, union, business association, firm or other legal entity.

Private Exchange: See Section 2(b) hereof.

 

-4-


Private Exchange Notes: See Section 2(b) hereof.

Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rules 430A or 430C under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

Purchase Agreement: See the introductory paragraphs hereof.

Records: See Section 5(n) hereof.

Registrable Securities: Each Security upon its original issuance and at all times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Security as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable upon original issuance and at all times subsequent thereto and each Private Exchange Note upon original issuance thereof and at all times subsequent thereto, and, in each case, the related Guarantees, until, in each case, the earliest to occur of (i) a Registration Statement (other than, with respect to any Exchange Securities as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) covering such Security, Exchange Security or Private Exchange Note (and the related Guarantees) has been declared effective by the SEC and such Security, Exchange Security or such Private Exchange Note (and the related Guarantees), as the case may be, has been disposed of in accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Security has been exchanged by a Person, other than a broker-dealer, pursuant to the Exchange Offer for an Exchange Security or Exchange Securities that may be resold without restriction under state and federal securities laws, (iii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer, the date on which such Security is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iv) such Security, Exchange Security or Private Exchange Note (and the related Guarantees), as the case may be, ceases to be outstanding for purposes of the Indenture or (v) the date upon which such Note, Exchange Note (and the related Guarantees) or Private Exchange Note has been distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144.

Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company that covers, any of the Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Notes (and the related Guarantees) filed with the SEC under the Securities Act, including, in each case, the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

Rule 144: Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

Rule 144A: Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

Rule 405: Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

Rule 415: Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

Rule 424: Rule 424 under the Securities Act.

SEC: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.

 

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Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Shelf Notice: See Section 2(c) hereof.

Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b) hereof.

Shelf Registration Statement: Any Registration Statement relating to a Shelf Registration.

Shelf Suspension Period: See Section 3(a) hereof.

Subsequent Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b) hereof.

TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

Trustee: The trustee under the Indenture and the trustee under any indenture (if different) governing the Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Notes (and the related Guarantees).

Underwritten registration or underwritten offering: A registration in which securities of the Issuers are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

Except as otherwise specifically provided, all references in this Agreement to acts, laws, statutes, rules, regulations, releases, forms, no-action letters and other regulatory requirements (collectively, “Regulatory Requirements”) shall be deemed to refer also to any amendments thereto and all subsequent Regulatory Requirements adopted as a replacement thereto having substantially the same effect therewith; provided that Rule 144 shall not be deemed to amend or replace Rule 144A.

 

  2. Exchange Offer

(a) Unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a Registration Statement (the “Exchange Offer Registration Statement”) on an appropriate registration form with respect to a registered offer (the “Exchange Offer”) to exchange any and all of the Registrable Securities for a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Company (the “Exchange Notes”), guaranteed, to the extent applicable, on an unsecured senior basis by the Guarantors (the “New Guarantees” and, together with the Exchange Notes, the “Exchange Securities”), that are identical in all material respects to the Notes, as applicable, except that (i) the Exchange Notes shall contain no restrictive legend thereon, (ii) interest thereon shall accrue from the last date on which interest was paid on such Notes or, if no such interest has been paid, from the Issue Date and (iii) which are entitled to the benefits of the Indenture or a trust indenture which is identical in all material respects to the Indenture (other than such changes to the Indenture or any such identical trust indenture as are necessary to comply with the TIA) and which, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA. The Exchange Offer shall comply with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and other applicable laws. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (x) prepare and file with the SEC the Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Exchange Offer; (y) keep the Exchange Offer open for at least 30 Business Days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the date that notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to Holders; and (z) consummate the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 5th Business Day following the expiration of the Exchange Offer.

 

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Each Holder (including, without limitation, each Participating Broker-Dealer) that participates in the Exchange Offer, as a condition to participation in the Exchange Offer, will be required to represent to the Company in writing (which may be contained in the applicable letter of transmittal) that: (i) any Exchange Securities acquired in exchange for Registrable Securities tendered are being acquired in the ordinary course of business of the Person receiving such Exchange Securities, whether or not such recipient is such Holder itself; (ii) at the time of the commencement or consummation of the Exchange Offer neither such Holder nor, to the actual knowledge of such Holder, any other Person receiving Exchange Securities from such Holder has an arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act; (iii) neither the Holder nor, to the actual knowledge of such Holder, any other Person receiving Exchange Securities from such Holder is an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 405) of the Company or, if it is an affiliate of the Company, it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable and will provide information to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with Section 5 hereof in order to have their Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement and benefit from the provisions regarding Additional Interest in Section 4 hereof; (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, neither such Holder nor, to the actual knowledge of such Holder, any other Person receiving Exchange Securities from such Holder is engaging in or intends to engage in a distribution of the Exchange Securities; and (v) if such Holder is a Participating Broker-Dealer, such Holder has acquired the Registrable Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act (including, but not limited to, the prospectus delivery requirements thereunder).

Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this Section 2, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis mutandis, solely with respect to Registrable Securities that are Private Exchange Notes (and the related Guarantees), Exchange Securities as to which Section 2(c)(iv) is applicable and Exchange Securities held by Participating Broker-Dealers, and the Company shall have no further obligation to register Registrable Securities (other than Private Exchange Notes (and the related Guarantees) and Exchange Securities as to which clause 2(c)(iv) hereof applies) pursuant to Section 3 hereof.

No securities other than the Exchange Securities and the Notes (and the related guarantees) shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

(b) The Company shall include within the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution,” which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the SEC with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that is the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”), whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the SEC or such positions or policies represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC. Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also expressly permit, to the extent permitted by applicable policies and regulations of the SEC, the use of the Prospectus by all Participating Broker-Dealers, and include a statement describing the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities in compliance with the Securities Act.

The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus contained therein in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as is necessary to comply with applicable law in connection with any resale of the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that such period shall not be required to exceed 90 days, or such longer period if extended pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof (the “Applicable Period”).

 

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If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial Purchasers hold any Notes acquired by them that have the status of an unsold allotment in the initial distribution, the Company, upon the request of the Initial Purchasers, shall simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes issue and deliver to the Initial Purchasers, in exchange (the “Private Exchange”) for such Notes held by any such Holder, a like principal amount of notes (the “Private Exchange Notes”) of the Company, guaranteed by the Guarantors, that are identical in all material respects to the Exchange Notes except for the placement of a restrictive legend on such Private Exchange Notes. The Private Exchange Notes shall be issued pursuant to the same indenture as the Exchange Notes and bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes if permitted by the CUSIP Service Bureau.

In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

(1) mail, or cause to be mailed, to each Holder of record entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

(2) use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 Business Days from the date that notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to Holders (or longer if required by applicable law);

(3) utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or in Wilmington, Delaware;

(4) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day on which the Exchange Offer remains open; and

(5) otherwise comply in all material respects with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Exchange Offer.

As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and any Private Exchange, the Company shall:

(1) accept for exchange all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any Private Exchange;

(2) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange; and

(3) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each Holder of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Notes of such Holder so accepted for exchange; provided that, in the case of any Notes held in global form by a depositary, authentication and delivery to such depositary of one or more replacement Notes in global form in an equivalent principal amount thereto for the account of such Holders in accordance with the Indenture shall satisfy such authentication and delivery requirement.

 

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The Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that (i) the Exchange Offer or Private Exchange, as the case may be, does not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC; (ii) no action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by any governmental agency which might materially impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, and no material adverse development shall have occurred in any existing action or proceeding with respect to the Company; and (iii) all governmental approvals shall have been obtained, which approvals the Company deem necessary for the consummation of the Exchange Offer or Private Exchange.

The Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Notes (and related guarantees) shall be issued under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects to the Indenture and which, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA or is exempt from such qualification and shall provide that the Exchange Securities shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture. The Indenture or such indenture shall provide that the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes or the Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.

(c) If, (i) because of any change in law or in currently prevailing interpretations of the staff of the SEC, the Company is not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 5 Business Days of the expiration of the Exchange Offer, or (iii) in the case of any holder of Private Exchange Notes or any Holder that participates in the Exchange Offer, such Holder notifies the Company within 20 Business Days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer that such Holder (A) is prohibited by law or currently prevailing interpretations of the staff of the SEC from participating in the Exchange Offer, (B) may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not available for such resales, or (C) is a broker-dealer and owns outstanding Notes acquired directly from the Company or an affiliate of the Company, in the case of each of clauses (i) to and including (iii) of this sentence, then the Company shall promptly deliver to the Trustee (to deliver to the Holders) written notice thereof (the “Shelf Notice”) and shall file a Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof.

 

  3. Shelf Registration

If at any time a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section 2(c) hereof, then:

(a) Shelf Registration. The Company shall promptly file with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Securities (the “Initial Shelf Registration”). The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration on or prior to the Filing Date. The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-1 or another appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (including, without limitation, one or more underwritten offerings). The Company shall not permit any securities other than the Registrable Securities and the Guarantees and the Notes and the related guarantees to be included in the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration (as defined below).

The Company shall use its respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the Effectiveness Date and to keep the Initial Shelf Registration continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earliest of (i) the date that is two years from the Issue Date, (ii) such shorter period ending

 

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when all Registrable Securities covered by the Initial Shelf Registration have been sold in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Initial Shelf Registration or, if applicable, a Subsequent Shelf Registration or (iii) the date upon which all Registrable Securities have been sold in compliance with Rule 144A (the “Effectiveness Period”); provided, however, that the Effectiveness Period in respect of the Initial Shelf Registration shall be extended to the extent required to permit dealers to comply with the applicable prospectus delivery requirements of Rule 174 under the Securities Act and as otherwise provided herein.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, at any time, the Company may delay the filing of any Initial Shelf Registration Statement or delay or suspend the effectiveness thereof, for a reasonable period of time, but not in excess of 60 consecutive days or more than three (3) times during any calendar year (each, a “Shelf Suspension Period”), if the Board of Directors of the Company determines reasonably and in good faith that the filing of any such Initial Shelf Registration Statement or the continuing effectiveness thereof would require the disclosure of non-public material information that, in the reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, would be detrimental to the Company if so disclosed or would otherwise materially adversely affect a financing, acquisition, disposition, merger or other material transaction or such action is required by applicable law.

(b) Withdrawal of Stop Orders; Subsequent Shelf Registrations. If the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be effective for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because of the sale of all of the Securities registered thereunder), the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall file an additional Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Securities covered by and not sold under the Initial Shelf Registration or an earlier Subsequent Shelf Registration (each, a “Subsequent Shelf Registration”). If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after such filing and to keep such subsequent Shelf Registration continuously effective for a period equal to the number of days in the Effectiveness Period less the aggregate number of days during which the Initial Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration was previously continuously effective. As used herein the term “Shelf Registration” means the Initial Shelf Registration and any Subsequent Shelf Registration.

(c) Supplements and Amendments. The Company shall promptly supplement and amend the Shelf Registration if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such Shelf Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or if reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities (or their counsel) covered by such Registration Statement with respect to the information included therein with respect to one or more of such Holders, or, if reasonably requested by any underwriter of such Registrable Securities, with respect to the information included therein with respect to such underwriter.

 

  4. Additional Interest

(a) The Company and the Initial Purchasers agree that the Holders will suffer damages if the Company fails to fulfill its obligations under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly, the Company agrees to pay, jointly and severally, as liquidated damages, additional interest on the Notes (“Additional Interest”)

 

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if (A) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has not been declared effective on or prior to the 365th day after the Issue Date, (B) the Company has not exchanged Exchange Securities for all Securities validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer on or prior to 30 Business Days after the Effectiveness Date for the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (C) the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the 90th day after the date such Shelf Registration Statement filing was requested or required or (D) if applicable, a Shelf Registration has been declared effective and such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because of the sale of all of the Securities registered thereunder). Any Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Notes at a rate of 0.25% per annum (which rate will be increased by an additional 0.25% per annum for each subsequent 90 day period that such Additional Interest continues to accrue, provided that the rate at which such Additional Interest accrues may in no event exceed 1.00% per annum) (such Additional Interest to be calculated by the Company) commencing on the (w) 366th day after the Issue Date, in the case of (A) above, (x) 31st Business Day after the Effectiveness Date for the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in the case of (B) above, (y) the 366th day after the date such Shelf Registration Statement filing was requested or required in the case of (C) above or (z) the day such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective in the case of (D) above; provided, however, that upon the effectiveness of the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in the case of (A) of this Section 4), upon the exchange of the Exchange Securities for all Securities tendered (in the case of clause (B) of this Section 4), upon the effectiveness of the applicable Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of (C) of this Section 4), or upon the effectiveness of the applicable Shelf Registration Statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of (D) of this Section 4), Additional Interest on the Notes in respect of which such events relate as a result of such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to accrue. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 4, (i) the Company shall not be obligated to pay Additional Interest in respect of an event described in Section 4(a)(C) during a Shelf Suspension Period permitted by Section 3(a) hereof, and (ii) no Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes following the second anniversary of the Issue Date.

(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within one Business Day after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional Interest is required to be paid (an “Event Date”). Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to (a) of this Section 4 will be payable in cash semiannually on each February 1 and August 1 (to the holders of record on the January 15 and July 15 immediately preceding such dates), commencing with the first such date occurring after any such Additional Interest commences to accrue. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by the Company by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest rate by the principal amount of the Registrable Securities, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 365 day year comprised of twelve 30 day months and, in the case of a partial month, the actual number of days elapsed), and the denominator of which is 365.

(c) The liquidated damages set forth in this Section 4 shall be the exclusive remedy for the Holders if the Company fails to fulfill its obligations under Section 2 or Section 3 thereof.

 

  5. Registration Procedures

In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2 or 3 hereof, the Company shall effect such registrations to permit the sale of the securities covered thereby in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in connection with any Registration Statement filed by the Company hereunder the Company shall:

 

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(a) Prepare and file with the SEC (prior to the applicable Filing Date in the case of a Shelf Registration), a Registration Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed by Section 2 or 3 hereof, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided, however, that if (1) such filing is pursuant to Section 3 hereof or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period relating thereto from whom the Company has received prior written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to and afford counsel for the Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof) or counsel for such Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), as the case may be, and counsel to the managing underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such documents (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed (in each case at least three business days prior to such filing). The Company shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto if the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel, or the managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object.

(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Shelf Registration Statement or Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as the case may be, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period, the Applicable Period or until consummation of the Exchange Offer, as the case may be; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus supplement required by applicable law, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented and with respect to the subsequent resale of any securities being sold by an Participating Broker-Dealer covered by any such Prospectus in all material respects. The Company shall be deemed not to have used its commercially reasonable efforts to keep a Registration Statement effective if it voluntarily takes any action that is reasonably expected to result in selling Holders of the Registrable Securities covered thereby or Participating Broker-Dealers seeking to sell Exchange Securities not being able to sell such Registrable Securities or such Exchange Securities during that period unless such action is required by applicable law or permitted by this Agreement.

(c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period relating thereto from whom the Company has received written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, notify the selling Holders of Registrable Securities (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof), or each such Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), as the case may be, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly (but in any event within three Business Days), and confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective under the Securities Act (including in such notice a written statement that

 

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any Holder may, upon request, obtain, at the sole expense of the Company, one conformed copy of such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment including financial statements and schedules, documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Registrable Securities or resales of Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 5(m) hereof cease to be true and correct, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of a Registration Statement or any of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer for offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event, the existence of any condition or any information becoming known that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in or amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (vi) of the Company’s determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.

(d) Use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus or suspending the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer, for sale in any jurisdiction.

(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 and if requested during the Effectiveness Period by the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any) or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection with an underwritten offering, (i) as promptly as practicable incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), such Holders or counsel for either of them reasonably request to be included therein, (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, and (iii) supplement or make amendments to such Registration Statement.

(f) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period, furnish to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof) and to each such Participating Broker-Dealer who so requests (with respect to any such Registration Statement) and to their respective counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, at the sole

 

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expense of the Company, one conformed copy of the Registration Statement or Registration Statements and each post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if requested, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits.

(g) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period, deliver to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof), or each such Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), as the case may be, their respective counsel, and the underwriters, if any, at the sole expense of the Company, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of preliminary prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto and any documents incorporated by reference therein as such Persons may reasonably request; and, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5, the Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and the underwriters or agents, if any, and dealers, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by, or the sale by Participating Broker-Dealers of the Exchange Securities pursuant to, such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities or any delivery of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify, and to cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any selling Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, or the managing underwriter or underwriters reasonably request in writing; provided, however, that where Exchange Securities held by Participating Broker-Dealers or Registrable Securities are offered other than through an underwritten offering, the Company agrees to cause its counsel to perform Blue Sky investigations and file registrations and qualifications required to be filed pursuant to this Section 5(h), keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Exchange Securities held by Participating Broker-Dealers or the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, (B) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or (C) subject itself to taxation in excess of a nominal dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

(i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold, which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company; and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations (subject to applicable requirements contained in the Indenture) and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or Holders may request.

 

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(j) Use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other U.S. governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter or underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, except as may be required solely as a consequence of the nature of such selling Holder’s business, in which case the Company will cooperate in all respects with the filing of such Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals.

(k) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 5(c)(v) or 5(c)(vi) hereof, as promptly as practicable prepare and (subject to Section 5(a) hereof) file with the SEC, at the sole expense of the Company, a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold thereunder (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof) or to the purchasers of the Exchange Securities to whom such Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), any such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(l) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities, (i) provide the Trustee with certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and (ii) provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities.

(m) In connection with any underwritten offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting agreement as is customary in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Securities (including, without limitation, a customary condition to the obligations of the underwriters that the underwriters shall have received “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of the Company, or of any business acquired by the Company, for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Securities), and take all such other actions as are reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters in order to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of such Registrable Securities and, in such connection, (i) make such representations and warranties to, and covenants with, the underwriters with respect to the business of the Company (including any acquired business, properties or entity, if applicable), and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as are customarily made by Issuer to underwriters in

 

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underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the Securities, and confirm the same in writing if and when requested; (ii) obtain the written opinions of counsel to the Company, and written updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters, addressed to the underwriters covering the matters customarily covered in opinions reasonably requested in underwritten offerings; and (iii) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable to the sellers and underwriters, if any, than those set forth in Section 7 hereof (or such other provisions and procedures reasonably acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and the managing underwriter or underwriters or agents, if any). The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder.

(n) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period, make available for inspection by any Initial Purchaser, any selling Holder of such Registrable Securities being sold (with respect to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof), or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of Registrable Securities, if any, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such selling Holder or each such Participating Broker-Dealer (with respect to any such Registration Statement), as the case may be, or underwriter (any such Initial Purchasers, Holders, Participating Broker-Dealers, underwriters, attorneys, accountants or agents, collectively, the “Inspectors”), upon written request, at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and instruments of the Company and subsidiaries of the Company (collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and any of its subsidiaries to supply all information (“Information”) reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such due diligence responsibilities. Each Inspector shall agree in writing that it will keep the Records and Information confidential, to use the Information only for due diligence purposes, to abstain from using the Information as the basis for any market transactions in Securities of the Company and that it will not disclose any of the Records or Information that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and notifies the Inspectors in writing are confidential unless (i) the disclosure of such Records or Information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in such Registration Statement or Prospectus, (ii) the release of such Records or Information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, (iii) disclosure of such Records or Information is necessary or advisable, in the opinion of counsel for any Inspector, in connection with any action, claim, suit or proceeding, directly or indirectly, involving or potentially involving such Inspector and arising out of, based upon, relating to, or involving this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement, or any transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or arising hereunder or thereunder, or (iv) the information in such Records or Information has been made generally available to the public other than by an Inspector or an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 405) thereof; provided, however, that prior notice shall be provided as soon as practicable to the Company of the potential disclosure of any information by such Inspector pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) of this sentence to permit the Company to obtain a protective order (or waive the provisions of this paragraph (o)) and that such Inspector shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information (if practicable) to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of the Holder or any Inspector.

 

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(o) Provide an indenture trustee for the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture or the trust indenture provided for in Section 2(a) hereof, as the case may be, to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities; and in connection therewith, cooperate with the trustee under any such indenture and the Holders of the Registrable Securities, to effect such changes (if any) to such indenture as may be required for such indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable such indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.

(p) Comply in all material respects with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make generally available to its securityholders with regard to any applicable Registration Statement, a consolidated earning statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any fiscal quarter (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company, after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month periods; provided that this requirement shall be deemed satisfied by the Company complying with Section 4.03 of the Indenture.

(q) Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company, in a form customary for underwritten transactions, addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, that the Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Notes (and the related Guarantees), as the case may be, the related guarantee and the related indenture constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective terms, subject to customary exceptions and qualifications. If the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Registrable Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company), in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Notes (and the related Guarantees), as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or cause to be marked, on such Registrable Securities that such Registrable Securities are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Notes (and the related Guarantees), as the case may be; in no event shall such Registrable Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

(r) Use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities covered by any Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (the “FINRA”).

(s) Use its respective commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps reasonably necessary to effect the registration of the Exchange Securities and/or Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

 

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The Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such information regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any seller so long as such seller fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request. Each seller as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such seller not materially misleading.

If any such Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall have the right to require (i) the insertion therein of language, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Holder, to the effect that the holding by such Holder of such securities is not to be construed as a recommendation by such Holder of the investment quality of the securities covered thereby and that such holding does not imply that such Holder will assist in meeting any future financial requirements of the Company, or (ii) in the event that such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise is not required by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute then in force, the deletion of the reference to such Holder in any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the time that such reference ceases to be required.

Each Holder of Registrable Securities and each Participating Broker-Dealer agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon actual receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), or 5(c)(vi) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus or Exchange Securities to be sold by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, until such Holder’s or Participating Broker-Dealer’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments or supplements thereto. In the event that the Company shall give any such notice, each of the Applicable Period and the Effectiveness Period shall be extended by the number of days during such periods from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Exchange Securities to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, shall have received (x) the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof or (y) the Advice.

 

  6. Registration Expenses

All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company of its obligations under Sections 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 shall be borne by the Company, whether or not the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any Shelf Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective or the Exchange Offer is consummated, including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be made with FINRA in connection with an underwritten offering and (B) fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions in the United States (x) where the holders of Registrable Securities are located, in the case of the Exchange Securities, or (y) as provided in Section 5(h) hereof, in the case of Registrable Securities or

 

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Exchange Securities to be sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period)), (ii) printing expenses, including, without limitation, printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement or in respect of Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period, as the case may be, (iii) fees and expenses of the Trustee, any exchange agent and their counsel, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, reasonable fees and disbursements of one special counsel for all of the sellers of Registrable Securities selected by the Holder of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company) exclusive of any counsel retained pursuant to Section 7 hereof), (v) fees and disbursements of all independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 5(m) hereof (including, without limitation, the expenses of any “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance), (vi) rating agency fees, if any, and any fees associated with making the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities eligible for trading through The Depository Trust Company, (vii) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company desires such insurance, (viii) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company, (ix) internal expenses of the Company (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers and employees of the Company performing legal or accounting duties), (x) the expense of any annual audit, (xi) any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange, and the obtaining of a rating of the securities, in each case, if applicable and (xii) the expenses relating to printing, word processing and distributing all Registration Statements, underwriting agreements, indentures and any other documents necessary in order to comply with this Agreement.

 

  7. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally agree, to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Registrable Securities, and each Participating Broker-Dealer selling Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period, and each Person, if any, who controls such Person or its affiliates within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a “Participant”) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which any Participant may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon:

(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus; or

(ii) the omission or alleged omission to state, in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus or any other document or any amendment or supplement thereto, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,

except, in each case, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Initial Purchaser or any Holder furnished to the Company in writing through the Initial Purchasers or any selling Holder expressly for use therein;

 

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and agree (subject to the limitations set forth in the proviso to this sentence) to reimburse, as incurred, the Participant for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by the Participant in connection with investigating, defending against or appearing as a third-party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, neither the Company nor the Guarantors will be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to any Participant furnished to the Company by such Participant specifically for use therein. The indemnity provided for in this Section 7 will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have to the indemnified parties. The Company and the Guarantors shall not be liable under this Section 7 to any indemnified party regarding any settlement or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent is consented to by the Company and the Guarantors, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(b) Each Participant, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors, their respective directors (or equivalent), their respective officers who sign any Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company, the Guarantors or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus, or (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Participant, furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Participant, specifically for use therein; and subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, will reimburse, as incurred, any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by the Company, the Guarantors or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. The indemnity provided for in this Section 7 will be in addition to any liability that the Participants may otherwise have to the indemnified parties. The Participants shall not be liable under this Section 7 to any indemnified party regarding any settlement or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent is consented to by the Participants, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company and the Guarantors shall not, without the prior written consent of such Participant, effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which such Participant is or could have been a party, or indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Participant, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional written release of such Participant, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Participant, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of such Participant.

 

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(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof in writing; but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from any liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel (including local counsel) of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel, other than local counsel if not appointed by the indemnifying party, retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel (including local counsel) to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest (based on the advice of counsel to the indemnified person); (ii) such action includes both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded (based on the advice of counsel to the indemnified person) that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. It is understood and agreed that the indemnifying person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or separate but related or substantially similar proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) representing the indemnified parties under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this Section 7, as the case may be, who are parties to such action or actions. Any such separate firm for any Participants shall be designated in writing by Participants who sold a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities and Exchange Securities sold by all such Participants in the case of paragraph (a) of this Section 7 or the Company in the case of paragraph (b) of this Section 7. In the event that any Participants are indemnified persons collectively entitled, in connection with a proceeding or separate but related or substantially similar proceedings in a single jurisdiction, to the payment of fees and expenses of a single separate firm under this Section 7(c), and any such Participants cannot agree to a mutually acceptable separate firm to act as counsel thereto, then such separate firm for all such Indemnified Persons shall be designated in writing by Participants who sold a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities and Exchange Securities sold by all such Participants. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include any statement as to, or any admission of, fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. All fees and expenses reimbursed pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.

 

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(d) After notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and approval by such indemnified party of counsel appointed to defend such action, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof, unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the third sentence of paragraph (c) of this Section 7 or (ii) the indemnifying party has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party. After such notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party, the indemnifying party will not be liable for the costs and expenses of any settlement of such action effected by such indemnified party without the prior written consent of the indemnifying party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), unless such indemnified party waived in writing its rights under this Section 7, in which case the indemnified party may effect such a settlement without such consent.

(e) In circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7 is unavailable to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) (other than by virtue of the failure of an indemnified party to notify the indemnifying party of its right to indemnification pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7, where such failure materially prejudices the indemnifying party (through the forfeiture of substantial rights or defenses)), each indemnifying party, in order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions or alleged statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof). The relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and such Participant on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion that the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) of the Securities received by the Company bear to the total discounts and commissions received by such Participant in connection with the sale of the Securities (or if such Participant did not receive discounts or commissions, the value or receiving the Securities). The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand, or the Participants on the other, the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or alleged statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances. The parties agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph (e). Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (e), no Participant shall be obligated to make contributions hereunder that in the aggregate exceed the total discounts, commissions and other compensation or net proceeds on the sale of Securities received by such Participant in connection with the sale of the Securities, less the aggregate amount of any damages that such Participant has otherwise been required to pay by reason of the untrue or alleged untrue statements or the omissions or alleged omissions to state a material fact, and no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls a Participant within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Participants, and each director of the Company

 

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and the Guarantors, each officer of the Company and the Guarantors and each person, if any, who controls the Company and the Guarantors within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

 

  8. Rule 144A

The Company covenants and agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder in a timely manner in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, the Company will, upon the request of any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Securities, make available such information necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A. The Company further covenants and agrees, for so long as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding that they will take such further action as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144A unless the Company is then subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and reports filed thereunder satisfy the information requirements of Rule 144A then in effect.

 

  9. Underwritten Registrations

The Company shall not be required to assist in an underwritten offering unless requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities. If any of the Registrable Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Registrable Securities included in such offering and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

No Holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

  10. Miscellaneous

(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not as of the date hereof, and the Company shall not, after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to any of its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements. The Company will not enter into any agreement (other than the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the date hereof in respect of the Notes) with respect to any of its securities which will grant to any Person piggy-back registration rights with respect to any Registration Statement.

(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities. The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the Registrable Securities as a class that would adversely affect the ability of the Holders of Registrable Securities to include such Registrable Securities in a registration undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the prior written consent of (I) the Company, and (II) (A) the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Registrable Securities and (B) in circumstances that would adversely affect the Participating Broker-Dealers, the Participating Broker-Dealers holding not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Exchange Notes held by all Participating Broker-Dealers; provided, however, that Section 7 and this Section 10(c) may not be amended, modified or supplemented without the prior written consent of each Holder and each Participating Broker-Dealer (including any person who was a Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer of Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities, as the case may be, disposed of pursuant to any Registration Statement) affected by any such amendment, modification or supplement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Securities whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of Registrable Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold pursuant to such Registration Statement.

(d) Notices. All notices and other communications (including, without limitation, any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, next-day air courier or facsimile:

(i) if to a Holder of the Registrable Securities, or any Participating Broker-Dealer, at the most current address of such Holder, or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, set forth on the records of the registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to the Initial Purchasers as follows:

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005

Facsimile No.: (646) 324-7554

Attention: Corporate Finance Department

with a copy to:

Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP

80 Pine Street

New York, New York 10005

Facsimile No.: (212) 269-5420

Attention: John A. Tripodoro, Esq.

(ii) if to the Initial Purchasers, at the address specified in Section 10(d)(i);

(iii) if to the Company, at the address as follows:

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company

2122 York Road

Oak Brook, IL 60523

Facsimile No.: (630) 574-3007

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

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with a copy to:

Neal Gerber & Eisenberg LLP

2 North La Salle Street

Chicago, IL 60602

Facsimile No.: (312) 429-3574

Attention: Ross Emmerman

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one Business Day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier; and upon written confirmation, if sent by facsimile.

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address and in the manner specified in such Indenture.

(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto, the Holders and the Participating Broker-Dealers; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture.

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

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

(h) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

(i) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

(j) Notes Held by the Company or Its Affiliates. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

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(k) Third-Party Beneficiaries. Holders of Registrable Securities and Participating Broker-Dealers are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement, and this Agreement may be enforced by such Persons.

(l) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein and any and all prior oral or written agreements, representations, or warranties, contracts, understandings, correspondence, conversations and memoranda between the Holders on the one hand and the Company on the other, or between or among any agents, representatives, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in interest or successors in interest with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof are merged herein and replaced hereby.

[Signatures on following page]

 

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

 

GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Bruce J. Biemeck
  Name: Bruce J. Biemeck
  Title: President and Chief Financial Officer

[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE]

Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page


GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
By:   /s/ Bruce J. Biemeck
  Bruce J. Biemeck, President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
DAWSON MARINE SERVICES COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
By:   /s/ Bruce J. Biemeck
  Bruce J. Biemeck, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
GREAT LAKES CARIBBEAN DREDGING, INC., a Delaware corporation
By:   /s/ Bruce J. Biemeck
  Bruce J. Biemeck, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
NASDI HOLDINGS CORPORATION, a Delaware Corporation
By:   /s/ Bruce J. Biemeck
  Bruce J. Biemeck, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
FIFTY-THREE DREDGING CORPORATION, a New Jersey corporation
By:   /s/ Bruce J. Biemeck
  Bruce J. Biemeck, Treasurer

Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page


The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed

and accepted as of the date first above written.

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER

& SMITH INCORPORATED

 

By:   Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
By:   /s/ Chris Blum
  Name: Chris Blum
  Title: Director
By:   /s/ Stephanie Perry
  Name: Stephanie Perry
  Title: Managing Director
 
By:  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner

& Smith Incorporated

By:   /s/ William H. Pegler
  Name: William H. Pegler
  Title: Director

For itself and the other several Initial Purchasers.

Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page

Purchase Agreement

Exhibit 10.1

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation

$250,000,000

7.375% Senior Notes due 2019

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

January 25, 2011

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED

as Representatives of the several

Initial Purchasers named in Schedule 1 hereto.

c/o Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and the Company’s subsidiaries listed on Schedule 2 hereto (the “Guarantors”) hereby confirm their agreement with the several initial purchasers named in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Initial Purchasers”) for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), as set forth below.

Section 1. The Securities. Subject to the terms and conditions herein contained, the Company proposes to issue and sell to the Initial Purchasers $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 7.375% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “Notes”). The Notes are to be issued under an indenture (the “Indenture”) to be dated as of January 28, 2011 by and among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”).

The payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees” and, together with the Notes, the “Securities”) on a senior unsecured basis, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors.

The Securities will be offered and sold to the Initial Purchasers without being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), in reliance on exemptions therefrom.

In connection with the sale of the Securities, the Company and the Guarantors have prepared a preliminary offering memorandum dated January 18, 2011 (the “Preliminary Memorandum”) setting forth or including a description of the terms of the Securities and the


terms of the offering of the Securities, a description of the Company and any material developments relating to the Company occurring after the date of the most recent historical financial statements included therein. As used herein, “Pricing Disclosure Package” shall mean the Preliminary Memorandum, as supplemented or amended by the written communications listed on Annex A hereto in the most recent form that has been prepared and delivered by the Company and the Guarantors to the Initial Purchasers in connection with their solicitation of offers to purchase Securities at or prior to the time when sales of the Securities were first made (the “Time of Execution”). Promptly after the Time of Execution and in any event no later than the second Business Day following the Time of Execution, the Company and the Guarantors will prepare and deliver to each Initial Purchaser a final offering memorandum dated the date hereof (the “Final Memorandum”), which will consist of the Preliminary Memorandum with such changes therein as are required to reflect the information contained in the amendments or supplements listed on Annex A hereto. The Company and the Guarantors hereby confirm that they have authorized the use of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Memorandum and the Recorded Road Show (defined below) in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers.

The Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees of the Securities will be entitled to the benefits of the Registration Rights Agreement, to be dated as of January 28, 2011, pursuant to which the Company and the Guarantors have agreed, among other things, to file a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) registering the Securities or the Exchange Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) under the Act.

Section 2. Representations and Warranties. As of the Time of Execution and at the Closing Date, the Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to and agree with each of the Initial Purchasers as follows (references in this Section 2 to the “Offering Memorandum” are to (i) the Pricing Disclosure Package in the case of representations and warranties made as of the Time of Execution and (ii) both the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum in the case of representations and warranties made at the Closing Date):

(a) The Preliminary Memorandum, on the date thereof, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. At the Time of Execution, the Pricing Disclosure Package does not, and on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 below), will not, and the Final Memorandum as of its date and on the Closing Date will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that none of the Company or Guarantors makes any representation or warranty as to the information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package and Final Memorandum, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of

 

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the Initial Purchasers through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein. Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors has distributed or referred to nor will the Company or the Guarantors distribute or refer to any written communications (as defined in Rule 405 of the Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (each such communication by the Company, the Guarantors or their agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iv) below) an “Issuer Written Communication”) other than (i) the Pricing Disclosure Package, (ii) the Final Memorandum, (iii) the recorded electronic road show made available to investors (the “Recorded Road Show”), and (iv) any other written communication approved in writing in advance by the Representative. Any information in an Issuer Written Communication that is not otherwise included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum does not conflict with the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Memorandum and, each Issuer Written Communication, when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package does not at the Time of Execution and when taken together with the Final Memorandum at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading provided, however, that none of the Company of the Guarantors makes any representation of warranty as to the information contained in or omitted from the Issuer Written Communication, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers through Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. specifically for inclusion therein.

(b) The Company had the authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization set forth in the Offering Memorandum under the heading “Capitalization” in the “Historical” column; all of the subsidiaries of the Company are listed in Schedule 2 attached hereto (each, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”); all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and the Subsidiaries have been, and as of the Closing Date will be, duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights; all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and of each of the Subsidiaries will be free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities and claims (except for such liens, encumbrances, equities and claims as set forth in the Offering Memorandum) or restrictions on transferability (other than those imposed by the Act and the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of certain jurisdictions) or voting. Except as set forth in the Offering Memorandum, there are no (i) options, warrants or other rights to purchase, (ii) agreements or other obligations to issue or (iii) other rights to convert any obligation into, or exchange any securities for, shares of capital stock of or ownership interests in the Company or any of the Subsidiaries outstanding. Except for the Subsidiaries, and except for the entities set forth on Schedule 2(b), or as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock or any other equity or long-term debt securities or have any equity interest in any firm, partnership, joint venture or other entity.

 

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(c) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as now conducted and as described in the Offering Memorandum; each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the management, business, condition (financial or otherwise), business prospects or results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (any such event, a “Material Adverse Effect”).

(d) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform each of its obligations under the Notes, the Exchange Notes (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) and the Private Exchange Notes (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement). The Notes, when issued, will be in the form contemplated by the Indenture. The Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes have each been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and, in the case of the Notes, when delivered to and paid for by the Initial Purchasers in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).

(e) Each Guarantor has all requisite corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and perform each of its obligations under the Guarantees. The Guarantees will be in the form contemplated by the Indenture. The Guarantees have been duly and validly authorized by each Guarantor and, when the Guarantees are executed by each Guarantor and the Notes are duly executed and authenticated by the Trustee, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and paid for as provided herein and when the Indenture has been duly executed and delivered will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of each Guarantor, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against each Guarantor in accordance with their terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

(f) The Company and each Guarantor has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Indenture. As of the Closing Date, the Indenture meets the requirements for qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”). The Indenture has been duly and validly authorized by the

 

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Company and each Guarantor and, when executed and delivered by the Company and each Guarantor (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee), will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and each Guarantor, enforceable against the Company and each Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

(g) The Company and each Guarantor has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement. The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by the Company and each Guarantor and, when executed and delivered by the Company and each Guarantor (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Initial Purchasers), will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and each Guarantor enforceable against the Company and each Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except that (A) the enforcement thereof may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions and (B) any rights to indemnity or contribution thereunder may be limited by federal and state securities laws and public policy considerations.

(h) The Company and each Guarantor has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement and the consummation by the Company and the Guarantors of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and each Guarantor. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and each Guarantor.

(i) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body, or third party is required for the issuance and sale by the Company and the Guarantors of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers or the consummation by the Company and the Guarantors of the other transactions contemplated hereby, except such as have been obtained and such as may be required under state securities or “Blue Sky” laws in connection with the purchase and resale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers. None of the Company or the Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or similar organizational document), (ii) in breach or violation of any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to any of them or any of their respective properties or assets, except for any such breach or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) in breach of or default under (nor has any event occurred that, with notice or passage of time or both, would constitute a default under) or in violation of any of the terms or provisions of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease, license agreement, contract or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or to which any of them or their respective properties or assets is subject (collectively, “Contracts”), except for any such breach, default, violation or event that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(j) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each Guarantor of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation by the Company and the Guarantors of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance and sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers) will not conflict with or constitute or result in a breach of or a default under (or an event that with notice or passage of time or both would constitute a default under) or violation of any of (i) the terms or provisions of any Contract, except for any such conflict, breach, violation, default or event that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or similar organizational document) of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or (iii) (assuming compliance with all applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws and assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchasers in Section 8 hereof) any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, except for any such conflict, breach or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(k) (i) The audited consolidated financial statements (including the notes thereto) of the Company and the Subsidiaries included in the Offering Memorandum present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity of the Company and the Subsidiaries at the dates and for the periods to which they relate and; since the date of the latest of such financial statements, there has been no change nor any development or event which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise stated therein. The summary and selected financial and statistical data in the Offering Memorandum present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and have been prepared and compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited consolidated financial statements included therein, except as otherwise stated therein. Deloitte & Touche, LLP (the “Independent Accountants”) is an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(l) There is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Guarantor, threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party, or to which the property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries are subject, before or brought by any court, arbitrator or governmental agency or body that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, would, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or that seeks to restrain, enjoin, prevent the consummation of or otherwise challenge the issuance or sale of the Securities to be sold hereunder or the consummation of the other transactions described in the Offering Memorandum.

 

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(m) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries possesses all licenses, permits, certificates, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all of the appropriate federal, state, local and other governmental authorities, all of the appropriate self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other tribunals, presently required or necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its respective properties and to carry on its respective businesses as currently conducted as set forth in the Offering Memorandum (“Permits”), except where the failure to obtain such Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed all of its obligations with respect to such Permits and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit; and none of the Company or the Subsidiaries has received any notice of any proceeding relating to the revocation or modification of any such Permit, except as described in the Offering Memorandum and except where such revocation or modification would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(n) Since the date of the most recent financial statements appearing in the Offering Memorandum, except as described therein, (i) none of the Company or the Subsidiaries has incurred any liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into or agreed to enter into any transactions or contracts (written or oral) not in the ordinary course of business, which liabilities, obligations, transactions or contracts would, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the management, business, condition (financial or otherwise), business prospects or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) none of the Company or the Subsidiaries has purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock (other than with respect to any of such Subsidiaries, the purchase of, or dividend or distribution on, capital stock owned by the Company) and (iii) there shall not have been any material change in the capital stock or long-term indebtedness of the Company or the Subsidiaries.

(o) The Company and each of the Subsidiaries has timely filed all necessary federal, state, local and foreign tax returns (or has duly requested and received extensions thereof) and timely paid all of its taxes (including in its capacity as a withholding agent), shown as due on such tax returns, except where the failure to so file such returns or pay such taxes would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and other than matters that the Company or any Subsidiary is contesting in good faith and for which the Company or such Subsidiary has provided adequate reserves, there is no tax audit, deficiency, assessment or other claim or proceeding with respect to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries that would be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(p) The statistical and market-related data included in the Offering Memorandum are based on or derived from sources that the Company and the Subsidiaries believe to be reliable and accurate.

(q) None of the Company, the Subsidiaries or any agent acting on their behalf has taken or will take any action that might cause this Agreement or the sale of the Securities to violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in each case as in effect, or as the same may hereafter be in effect, on the Closing Date.

(r) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all real property and good title to all personal property described in the Offering Memorandum as being owned by it and good and marketable title to a leasehold estate in the real and personal property described in the Offering Memorandum as being leased by it free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, except as described in the Offering Memorandum or to the extent the failure to have such title or the existence of such liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All leases, contracts and agreements to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound are valid and enforceable against the Company or such Subsidiary, and are valid and enforceable against the other party or parties thereto and are in full force and effect with only such exceptions as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(s) The Company and the Subsidiaries own or possess adequate licenses or other rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and know-how necessary to conduct the businesses currently operated by them as described in the Offering Memorandum, and none of the Company or the Subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with (or knows of any such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights or know-how that, if such assertion of infringement or conflict were sustained, would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) There are no legal or governmental proceedings involving or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or assets that would be required to be described in a prospectus pursuant to the Act that are not described in the Offering Memorandum, nor are there any material contracts or other documents that would be required to be described in a prospectus pursuant to the Act that are not described in the Offering Memorandum.

(u) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (A) each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with and has not received any notice of any liability under applicable Environmental Laws (as defined below), (B) each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has made all

 

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filings and provided all notices required under any applicable Environmental Law, and has and is in compliance with all Permits required under any applicable Environmental Laws and each of them is in full force and effect, (C) there is no civil, criminal or administrative action, suit, demand, claim, hearing, notice of violation, investigation, proceeding, notice or demand letter or request for information pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, threatened against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries under any Environmental Law, (D) no lien, charge, encumbrance or restriction has been recorded under any Environmental Law with respect to any assets, facility or property owned, operated, leased or controlled by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, (E) none of the Company or the Subsidiaries has received notice that it has been identified as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”), or any comparable state law and (F) no property or facility of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is (i) listed or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or proposed for listing on the National Priorities List under CERCLA or is (ii) listed in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, Liability Information System List promulgated pursuant to CERCLA, or on any comparable list maintained by any state or local governmental authority.

For purposes of this Agreement, “Environmental Laws” means the common law and all applicable federal, state and local laws or regulations, codes, orders, decrees, judgments or injunctions issued, promulgated, approved or entered thereunder, in each case, relating to pollution or protection of public or employee health and safety or the environment, including, without limitation, laws relating to (i) emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of hazardous materials into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata), (ii) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, generation, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of hazardous materials, and (iii) underground and above ground storage tanks and related piping, and emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases therefrom.

(v) There is no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or work stoppage with the employees of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries that is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, threatened.

(w) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries carries insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties.

(x) None of the Company or the Subsidiaries has any material liability for any prohibited transaction or funding deficiency or any complete or partial withdrawal liability with respect to any pension, profit sharing or other plan that is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries makes or ever has made a contribution and in which any employee of

 

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the Company or of any Subsidiary is or has ever been a participant. With respect to such plans, the Company and each Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of ERISA.

(y) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries (i) makes and keeps accurate books and records and (ii) maintains internal accounting controls that provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of its financial statements and to maintain accountability for its assets, (C) access to its assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization and (D) the reported accountability for its assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals. The Company and the Subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, management to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

(z) The Company and the Subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including their respective principal executive officers and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and the Subsidiaries have carried out evaluations, with the participation of management, of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(aa) None of the Company or the Subsidiaries will be, after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Offering Memorandum, an “investment company” or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(bb) The Securities, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum.

(cc) No holder of securities of the Company or any Subsidiary will be entitled to have such securities registered under the registration statements required to be filed by the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement other than as expressly permitted thereby.

(dd) Immediately after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the fair value and present fair saleable value of the assets of each of the

 

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Company and the Subsidiaries (each on a consolidated basis) will exceed the sum of its stated liabilities and identified contingent liabilities; none of the Company or the Subsidiaries (each on a consolidated basis) is, nor will any of the Company or the Subsidiaries (each on a consolidated basis) be, after giving effect to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, (a) left with unreasonably small capital with which to carry on its business as it is proposed to be conducted, (b) unable to pay its debts (contingent or otherwise) as they mature or (c) otherwise insolvent.

(ee) None of the Company, the Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Act) has directly, or through any agent, (i) sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any “security” (as defined in the Act) that is or could be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the Act of the Securities or (ii) engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Act) in connection with the offering of the Securities or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Act. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchasers in Section 8 hereof, it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers or in connection with the initial resale thereof, in each case, in the manner contemplated by this Agreement to register any of the Securities under the Act or to qualify the Indenture under the TIA.

(ff) No securities of the Company or any Subsidiary are of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act) as the Securities and listed on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act, or quoted in a U.S. automated inter-dealer quotation system.

(gg) None of the Company or the Subsidiaries has taken, nor will any of them take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might be reasonably expected to, cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Notes.

(hh) None of the Company, the Subsidiaries, any of their respective Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers) has engaged in any directed selling efforts (as that term is defined in Regulation S under the Act (“Regulation S”)) with respect to the Securities; the Company, the Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers) have complied with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S.

(ii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company and each of the Guarantors, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any

 

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foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

(jj) The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(kk) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or controlled affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering contemplated hereby, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any Subsidiary and delivered to any Initial Purchaser or to counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed a joint and several representation and warranty by the Company and each of the Guarantors to each Initial Purchaser as to the matters covered thereby.

Section 3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Notes. On the basis of the representations, warranties, agreements and covenants herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Initial Purchasers, and the Initial Purchasers, acting severally and not jointly, agree to purchase the Securities in the respective amounts set forth on Schedule 1 hereto from the Company at 98.000% of their principal amount. One or more certificates in definitive form for the Securities that the Initial Purchasers have agreed to purchase hereunder, and in such denomination or denominations and registered in such name or names as the Representatives request upon notice to the Company at least 36 hours prior to the Closing Date, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company and the Guarantors to the Representatives, against payment by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer (same day funds), to such account or accounts as the Company shall specify prior to the Closing Date, or by such means as the parties hereto shall agree prior to the Closing Date. Such delivery of and payment for the Securities shall be made at the offices of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, 80 Pine Street, New York, New York at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on January 28, 2011, or

 

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at such other place, time or date as the Representatives, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, may agree upon, such time and date of delivery against payment being herein referred to as the “Closing Date.” The Company and the Guarantors will make such certificate or certificates for the Securities available for checking and packaging by the Representatives at the offices of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. in New York, New York, or at such other place as Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. may designate, at least 24 hours prior to the Closing Date.

Section 4. Offering by the Initial Purchasers.

(a) The Initial Purchasers propose to make an offering of the Securities at the price and upon the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum as soon as practicable after this Agreement is entered into and as in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers is advisable.

(b) Each Initial Purchaser hereby represents and agrees that it has not used and will not use, authorize the use of, refer to, or participate in the planning of the use of, any written communication (as such term is defined Rule 405) that constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities other than (i) the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum, (ii) any written communication listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 5(c) below (including any electronic road show), (iii) any written communication prepared by such Initial Purchaser and approved in advance by the Company or (iv) any written communication that (A) contains only (x) information describing the preliminary terms of the Securities or their offering or (y) information that describes the final terms of the Securities or their offering and that is included in or is subsequently included in the Final Memorandum, including by means of a pricing term sheet in the form of Annex A hereto, or (B) does not contain any material information about the Company or any Guarantor or their securities that was provided by or on behalf of the Company or any Guarantor that was not included in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Memorandum.

Section 5. Covenants of the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, covenant and agree with each of the Initial Purchasers as follows:

(a) Until the later of (i) the completion of the distribution of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers and (ii) the Closing Date, the Company will not amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum or otherwise distribute or refer to any written communication (as defined under Rule 405 of the Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (other than the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Recorded Road Show and the Final Memorandum) or file any report with the Commission under the Exchange Act unless the Initial Purchasers shall previously have been advised and furnished a copy for a reasonable period of time prior to the proposed amendment, supplement or report and as to which the Initial Purchasers shall have given their consent

 

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(such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The Company will promptly, upon the reasonable request of the Initial Purchasers or counsel for the Initial Purchasers, make any amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum that may be necessary or advisable in connection with the resale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers.

(b) The Company and the Guarantors will cooperate with the Initial Purchasers in arranging for the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of which jurisdictions as the Initial Purchasers may designate and will continue such qualifications in effect for as long as may be necessary to complete the resale of the Securities and the Guarantees; provided, however, that in connection therewith, none of the Company and the Guarantors shall be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or subject itself to taxation in excess of a nominal dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

(c) (1) If, at any time prior to the completion of the sale by the Initial Purchasers of the Securities or the Private Exchange Notes, any event occurs or information becomes known as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if for any other reason it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum to comply with applicable law, the Company will promptly notify the Initial Purchasers thereof and will prepare, at the expense of the Company, an amendment or supplement to the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum that corrects such statement or omission or effects such compliance and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which any of the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or any Issuer Written Communication would conflict with the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented, or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement any of the Pricing Disclosure Package so that any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Written Communication will comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Initial Purchasers thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (a) above, furnish to the Initial Purchasers such amendments or supplements to any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Written Communication (it being understood that any such amendments or supplements may take the form of an amended or supplemented Final Memorandum) as may be necessary so that the statements in any of the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, be misleading or so that any Issuer Written Communication will not conflict with the Pricing Disclosure Package or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Written Communication as so amended or supplemented will comply with law.

 

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(d) The Company will, without charge, provide to the Initial Purchasers and to counsel for the Initial Purchasers as many copies of the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Written Communication and the Final Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto as the Representative may reasonably request.

(e) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes as set forth under “Use of Proceeds” in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum.

(f) For so long as any of the Securities remain outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Initial Purchasers copies of all reports and other communications (financial or otherwise) furnished by the Company to the Trustee or to the holders of the Securities and, upon request, copies of any reports or financial statements furnished to or filed by the Company with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company may be listed.

(g) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will furnish to the Initial Purchasers, as soon as they have been prepared, a copy of any unaudited interim financial statements of the Company for any period subsequent to the period covered by the most recent financial statements appearing in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum.

(h) None of the Company or any of its Affiliates will sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any “security” (as defined in the Act) that could be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner which would require the registration under the Act of the Securities.

(i) The Company and the Guarantors will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates or persons acting on their behalf to, engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Act) in connection with the offering of the Securities or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Act.

(j) For so long as any of the Securities remain outstanding, the Company will make available at its expense, upon request, to any holder of such Securities and any prospective purchasers thereof the information specified in Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act, unless the Company is then subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(k) The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to permit the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through The Depository Trust Company.

 

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(l) During the period beginning on the date hereof and continuing to the date that is 180 days after the Closing Date, without the prior written consent of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. the Company and the Guarantors will not offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, except as provided hereunder, any securities of any of the Company and the Guarantors (or guaranteed by any of the Company and the Guarantors) that are substantially similar to the Securities.

(m) In connection with Securities offered and sold in an off shore transaction (as defined in Regulation S) the Company and the Guarantors will not register any transfer of such Securities not made in accordance with the provisions of Regulation S and will not, except in accordance with the provisions of Regulation S, if applicable, issue any such Securities (including any related Guarantees) in the form of definitive securities.

(n) None of the Company and the Guarantors or any of their Affiliates will engage in any directed selling efforts (as that term is defined in Regulation S) with respect to the Securities.

(o) For a period of one year (calculated in accordance with paragraph (d) of Rule 144 under the Act) following the date any Securities are acquired by the Company and the Guarantors or any of their Affiliates, none of the Company and the Guarantors or any of their Affiliates will sell any such Securities.

(p) The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

Section 6. Expenses. The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree to pay all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated herein are consummated or this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11 hereof, including all costs and expenses incident to (i) the printing, word processing or other production of documents with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, including any costs of printing the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum and any amendment or supplement thereto, and any “Blue Sky” memoranda, (ii) all reasonable arrangements relating to the delivery to the Initial Purchasers of copies of the foregoing documents, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, the accountants and any other experts or advisors retained by the Company and the Guarantors, (iv) preparation (including printing), issuance and delivery to the Initial Purchasers of the Securities, (v) the qualification of the Securities under state securities and “Blue Sky” laws, including filing fees and reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Initial Purchasers relating thereto, (vi) expenses incurred by the Company and the Guarantors in connection with the “roadshow” and any other meetings with prospective investors in the Securities, (vii) fees and expenses of the Trustee including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel, (viii) any fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Securities,

 

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(ix) the cost of any advertising approved by the Initial Purchasers and the Company in connection with the Securities, and (x) the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their respective obligations hereunder. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 7 hereof is not satisfied, because this Agreement is terminated or because of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company or the Guarantors to perform all obligations and satisfy all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder (other than solely by reason of a default by the Initial Purchasers of their obligations hereunder after all conditions hereunder have been satisfied in accordance herewith), the Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to promptly reimburse the Initial Purchasers upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, disbursements and charges of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers) that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

Section 7. Conditions of the Initial Purchasers’ Obligations. The obligation of the Initial Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Securities shall, in their sole discretion, be subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions on or prior to the Closing Date:

(a) On the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received the opinion and negative assurance letter, dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to the Initial Purchasers, of (i) Neal Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, and substantially as set forth in Annex B and (ii) Winston & Strawn LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, and substantially as set forth in Annex C.

(b) On the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received the opinion, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to the Initial Purchasers, of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, with respect to certain legal matters relating to this Agreement and such other related matters as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably require. In rendering such opinion, Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP shall have received and may rely upon such certificates and other documents and information as it may reasonably request to pass upon such matters.

(c) On the date hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from the Independent Accountants a comfort letter dated the date hereof, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers with respect to the audited and any unaudited financial information in the Pricing Disclosure Package. On the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from the Independent Accountants a comfort letter dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, which shall refer to the comfort letter dated the date hereof and reaffirm or update as of a more recent date, the information stated in the comfort letter dated the date hereof and similarly address the audited and any unaudited financial information in the Final Memorandum.

 

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(d) The representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct, in all material respects, on and as of the Time of Execution and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing Date; provided, that each such representation or warranty that contains a materiality qualification in the text of such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects; the statements of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ officers made pursuant to any certificate delivered in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be true and correct, in all material respects, on and as of the date made and on and as of the Closing Date; the Company and the Guarantors shall have performed all covenants and agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date; and, except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto after the date hereof), subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in such Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum, there shall have been no event or development, and no information shall have become known, that, individually or in the aggregate, has or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) The sale of the Securities hereunder shall not be enjoined (temporarily or permanently) on the Closing Date.

(f) Subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto after the date hereof), none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries shall have sustained any loss or interference with respect to its business or properties from fire, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any strike, labor dispute, slow down or work stoppage or from any legal or governmental proceeding, order or decree, which loss or interference, individually or in the aggregate, has or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) The Representative shall have received a certificate from the Company and each Guarantor, dated the Closing Date, signed on behalf of the Company or such Guarantor by its (i) Chief Executive Officer, President or any Senior Vice President or executive officer performing similar functions with respect to such Guarantor and (ii) the Chief Financial Officer or executive officer performing similar functions with respect to such Guarantor, to the effect that:

(i) the representations and warranties of the Company or such Guarantor contained in this Agreement are true and correct, in all material respects, on and as of the Time of Execution and on and as of the Closing Date; provided, that each such representation or warranty that contains a materiality qualification

 

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in the text of such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all respects, and the Company or such Guarantor have performed all covenants and agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date;

(ii) at the Closing Date, since the date hereof or since the date of the most recent financial statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto after the date hereof), no event or development has occurred, and no information has become known to the Company or such Guarantor, that, individually or in the aggregate, has or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(iii) the sale of the Securities hereunder has not been enjoined (temporarily or permanently).

(h) On the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received the Registration Rights Agreement and the Indenture executed by the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee and such agreement shall be in full force and effect at all times from and after the Closing Date.

(i) The Notes shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through The Depository Trust Company.

On or before the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall have received such further documents, opinions, certificates, letters and schedules or instruments relating to the business, corporate, legal and financial affairs of the Company and the Subsidiaries as they shall have heretofore reasonably requested from the Company.

All such documents, opinions, certificates, letters, schedules or instruments delivered pursuant to this Agreement will comply with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to the Representative and counsel for the Initial Purchasers. The Company and the Guarantors shall furnish to the Representative such conformed copies of such documents, opinions, certificates, letters, schedules and instruments in such quantities as the Representative shall reasonably request.

Section 8. Offering of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer. (a) Each of the Initial Purchasers agrees with the Company and the Guarantors (as to itself only) that (i) it has not and will not solicit offers for, or offer or sell, the Securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Act) or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Act; and (ii) it has and will solicit offers for the Securities only from, and will offer the Securities only to (A) in the case of offers inside the United States, persons whom the Initial Purchasers reasonably

 

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believe to be QIBs or, if any such person is buying for one or more institutional accounts for which such person is acting as fiduciary or agent, only when such person has represented to the Initial Purchasers that each such account is a QIB, to whom notice has been given that such sale or delivery is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, and, in each case, in transactions under Rule 144A and (B) in the case of offers outside the United States, to persons other than U.S. persons (“non-U.S. purchasers,” which term shall include dealers or other professional fiduciaries in the United States acting on a discretionary basis for non-U.S. beneficial owners (other than an estate or trust)); provided, however, that, in the case of this clause (B), in purchasing such Securities such persons are deemed to have represented and agreed as provided under the caption “Transfer Restrictions” contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum.

(a) Each of the Initial Purchasers represents and warrants (as to itself only) with respect to offers and sales outside the United States that (i) it has and will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in each jurisdiction in which it acquires, offers, sells or delivers Securities or has in its possession or distributes any Pricing Disclosure Package or Final Memorandum or any such other material, in all cases at its own expense; (ii) the Securities have not been and will not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in accordance with Regulation S under the Act or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Act; and (iii) it has offered the Securities and will offer and sell the Securities (A) as part of its distribution at any time and (B) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering and the Closing Date, only in accordance with Rule 903 of Regulation S and, accordingly, neither it nor any persons acting on its behalf have engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts (within the meaning of Regulation S) with respect to the Securities, and any such persons have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S.

(b) Each Initial Purchaser, severally and not jointly represents and warrants and agrees with the Company and the Guarantors that:

(i) in relation to each Member State (each, a “Relevant Member State”) of the European Economic Area which has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the Directive 2010/73/EU, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State (the “2010 PD Amending Directive”)) including any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State (the “Prospectus Directive”), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”), it has not made and will not make an offer of Securities to the public which are the subject of the offering contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum to the public in that Relevant Member State other than: (a) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive; (b) to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified

 

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investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant dealer or dealers nominated by the Company for any such offer; or (c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of Securities shall require the Company or any Initial Purchaser to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive. For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of Securities to the public” in relation to any Securities in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Securities, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State,

(ii) it is a person whose ordinary activities involve it in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of its business and (ii) it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell the Securities other than to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or as agent) for the purposes of their businesses or who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses where the issue of the Securities would otherwise constitute a contravention of Section 19 of the FSMA (as defined below) by the Company;

(iii) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act of 2000 (the “FSMA”) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the Securities in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company or the Guarantors;

(iv) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and

(v) it has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold and will not, directly or indirectly, offer or sell in the Netherlands any Securities with a denomination of less than €50,000 (or its other currency equivalent) other than to persons who trade or invest in securities in the conduct of a profession or business (which includes banks, stockbrokers, insurance companies, pension funds, other institutional investors and finance companies and treasury departments of large enterprises) unless one of the other exemptions from or exceptions to the prohibition contained in article 3 of the Dutch Securities Transactions Supervision Act 1995 (Wet toezicht effectenverkeer 1995) is applicable and the conditions attached to such exemption or exception are complied with.

 

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Terms used in this Section 8 and not defined in this Agreement have the meanings given to them in Regulation S.

Section 9. Indemnification and Contribution. (b) The Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which any Initial Purchaser, affiliate, director, officer and employee, or such controlling person may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon the following:

(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in Section 2 hereof;

(ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Written Communication or Final Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto; or

(iii) the omission or alleged omission to state, in the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Written Communication or the Final Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

and will reimburse, as incurred, the Initial Purchasers and each such affiliate, director, officer or employee and each such controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchasers and each such affiliate, director, officer or employee or such controlling person in connection with investigating, defending against or appearing as a third-party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantors will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Written Communication or Final Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning the Initial Purchasers furnished to the Company and the Guarantors by the Initial Purchasers through the Representative specifically for use therein. The indemnity provided for in this Section 9 will be in addition to any liability that the Company and the Guarantors may otherwise have to the indemnified parties. The Company shall not be liable under this Section 9 for any settlement of any claim or action effected without its prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

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(b) Each Initial Purchaser, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors, their respective directors, officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or any Guarantor or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Written Communication or Final Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated in the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Written Communication or Final Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Initial Purchaser, furnished to the Company by the Initial Purchasers through the Representative specifically for use therein; and subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, will reimburse, as incurred, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any Guarantor or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. The indemnity provided for in this Section 9 will be in addition to any liability that the Initial Purchasers may otherwise have to the indemnified parties. The Initial Purchasers shall not be liable under this Section 9 for any settlement of any claim or action effected without their consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any action for which such indemnified party is entitled to indemnification under this Section 9, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 9, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof in writing; but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from any liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, that if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have been advised by counsel that

 

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there may be one or more legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after receipt by the indemnifying party of notice of the institution of such action, then, in each such case, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties and such indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to defend such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. After notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and approval by such indemnified party of counsel appointed to defend such action, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 9 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof, unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that in connection with such action the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to local counsel) in any one action or separate but substantially similar actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, designated by the Initial Purchasers in the case of paragraph (a) of this Section 9 or the Company and the Guarantors in the case of paragraph (b) of this Section 9, representing the indemnified parties under such paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), as the case may be, who are parties to such action or actions) or (ii) the indemnifying party has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party. All fees and expenses reimbursed pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. After such notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party, the indemnifying party will not be liable for the costs and expenses of any settlement of such action effected by such indemnified party without the prior written consent of the indemnifying party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), unless such indemnified party waived in writing its rights under this Section 9, in which case the indemnified party may effect such a settlement without such consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party, or indemnity could have been sought hereunder by any indemnified party, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional written release of the indemnified party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) In circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9 is unavailable to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), each indemnifying party, in order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall

 

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contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions or alleged statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof). The relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and any Initial Purchaser on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Guarantors bear to the total discounts and commissions received by such Initial Purchaser. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by any of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand, or such Initial Purchaser on the other, the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or alleged statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances. The Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (d), no Initial Purchaser shall be obligated to make contributions hereunder that in the aggregate exceed the total discounts, commissions and other compensation received by such Initial Purchaser under this Agreement, less the aggregate amount of any damages that such Initial Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of the untrue or alleged untrue statements or the omissions or alleged omissions to state a material fact, and no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls an Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Initial Purchasers, and each director of the Company or any Guarantor, each officer of the Company or any Guarantor and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company and the Guarantors.

(e) The Initial Purchasers’ obligations pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective commitments as set forth opposite their names in Schedule 1.

Section 10. Survival Clause. The respective representations, warranties, agreements, covenants, indemnities and other statements of the Company and the Guarantors,

 

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their officers and the Initial Purchasers set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or any Guarantor, any of their respective officers or directors, the Initial Purchasers or any controlling person referred to in Section 9 hereof and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities. The respective agreements, covenants, indemnities and other statements set forth in Sections 6, 9, 10 and 15 hereof shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

Section 11. Termination. (c) This Agreement may be terminated in the sole discretion of the Initial Purchasers by notice to the Company given prior to the Closing Date in the event that the Company and the Guarantors shall have failed, refused or been unable to perform all obligations and satisfy all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior thereto or, if at or prior to the Closing Date,

(i) any of the Company or the Subsidiaries shall have sustained any loss or interference with respect to its businesses or properties from fire, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any strike, labor dispute, slow down or work stoppage or any legal or governmental proceeding, which loss or interference, in the sole judgment of the Initial Purchasers, has had or has a Material Adverse Effect, or there shall have been, in the sole judgment of the Initial Purchasers, any event or development that, individually or in the aggregate, has or could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (including without limitation a change in control of the Company or the Subsidiaries), except in each case as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto);

(ii) trading in securities of the Company or in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ National Market shall have been suspended or materially limited or minimum or maximum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or market;

(iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by New York or United States authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States;

(iv) there shall have been (A) an outbreak or escalation of hostilities between the United States and any foreign power, or (B) an outbreak or escalation of any other insurrection or armed conflict involving the United States or any other national or international calamity or emergency, or (C) any material change in the financial markets of the United States which, in the case of (A), (B) or (C) above and in the sole judgment of the Representative, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or the delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum; or

 

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(v) any securities of the Company shall have been downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization or any such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its ratings of any securities of the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).

(b) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 10 hereof.

Section 12. Information Supplied by the Initial Purchasers. The statements set forth in the third sentence of the seventh paragraph and the eighth paragraph under the heading “Private Placement” in the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Memorandum (to the extent such statements relate to the Initial Purchasers) constitute the only information furnished by the Initial Purchasers to the Company and the Guarantors for the purposes of Sections 2(a) and 9 hereof.

Section 13. Default by One or More of the Initial Purchasers. If one or more of the Initial Purchasers shall fail on the Closing Date to purchase the Notes which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representative shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or any other Initial Purchasers, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be purchased hereunder, each of the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or

(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be purchased hereunder, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Initial Purchaser or the Company, except as provided in Section 10 hereof.

No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Initial Purchaser from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, either the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Initial Purchaser” includes any person substituted for an Initial Purchaser under this Section.

 

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Section 14. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if sent to the Initial Purchasers, shall be mailed or delivered to (i) Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Corporate Finance Department; if sent to the Company, shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, 2122 York Road, Oak Brook, IL 60523, Attention: Jonathan W. Berger; with a copy to Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, 2 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602, Attention: Ross Emmerman.

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; and one business day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier.

Section 15. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Initial Purchasers, the Company, the Guarantors and their respective successors and legal representatives, and nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provisions herein contained; this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other person except that (i) the indemnities of the Company and the Guarantors contained in Section 9 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of any person or persons who control the Initial Purchasers within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and (ii) the indemnities of the Initial Purchasers contained in Section 9 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the directors of the Company and the Guarantors, their respective officers and any person or persons who control the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act. No purchaser of Securities from the Initial Purchasers will be deemed a successor because of such purchase.

Section 16. APPLICABLE LAW. THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED WHOLLY THEREIN, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY PROVISIONS THEREOF RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAW.

 

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Section 17. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Initial Purchaser is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company or any Guarantor, (iii) no Initial Purchaser has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company or any Guarantor with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Initial Purchaser has advised or is currently advising the Company or any Guarantor on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Company and each Guarantor agrees that it will not claim that any Initial Purchaser has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company or any Guarantor, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

Section 18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 19. Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

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If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please indicate your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and the Initial Purchasers.

 

Very truly yours,
  GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK CORPORATION
  By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

    Name:   Bruce J. Biemeck
    Title:   President and Chief Financial Officer
  GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
  By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

    Bruce J. Biemeck, President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
  DAWSON MARINE SERVICES COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
  By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

    Bruce J. Biemeck, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
  GREAT LAKES CARIBBEAN DREDGING, INC., a Delaware corporation
  By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

    Bruce J. Biemeck, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

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  NASDI HOLDINGS CORPORATION, a Delaware Corporation
  By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

   

Bruce J. Biemeck, Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

  FIFTY-THREE DREDGING CORPORATION, a New Jersey corporation
  By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

    Bruce J. Biemeck, Treasurer

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
By:  

/s/ Nicholas Hayes

  Name:   Nicholas Hayes
  Title:   Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Chris Blum

  Name:   Chris Blum
  Title:   Director
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
By:  

/s/ Michael Grimes

  Name:   Michael Grimes
  Title:   Director

 

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SCHEDULE 1

 

Initial Purchaser

   Principal Amount of Notes  

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

   $ 150,000,000   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

     87,500,000   

Lazard Capital Markets LLC

     12,500,000  
        

Total

   $ 250,000,000  
        


SCHEDULE 2

Subsidiaries of the Company

 

Name

  

Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Formation

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC*    Delaware
Dawson Marine Services Company*    Delaware
Great Lakes Caribbean Dredging, Inc.*    Delaware
NASDI Holdings Corporation*    Delaware
Fifty-Three Dredging Corporation*    New Jersey
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. Brasil Ltda.    Brazil
Lydon Dredging & Construction Co. Ltd.    Canada
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (Bahamas) Ltd.    Bahamas
GLDD Mexicana, S. de R.L. de C.V.    Mexico
NASDI, LLC    Delaware
Yankee Environmental Services, LLC    Delaware

 

* Indicates that the Subsidiary is a Guarantor under the Agreement.


SCHEDULE 2(b)

Equity Interests and Joint Ventures

 

(1) The Company has an equity interest in the following joint ventures:

A. Amboy Aggregates Joint Venture

 

(2) Fifty-Three Dredging Corporation owns 50% of the membership interests of Lower Main Street Development, LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company.

 

(3) Amboy Aggregates Joint Venture owns 50% of the membership interests of New York Sand and Stone, LLC, a New York limited liability company.

 

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ANNEX A

Supplement Dated January 25, 2011 to

Preliminary Offering Memorandum Dated January 18, 2011 of

$250,000,000

LOGO

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation

7.375% Senior Notes due 2019

This Supplement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum. The information in this Supplement supplements the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and supersedes the information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum to the extent inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.

The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are being offered only to (1) “qualified institutional buyers” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act and (2) outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Unless otherwise indicated, terms used but not defined herein have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.

 

Aggregate Principal Amount:    $250,000,000
Gross Cash Proceeds to the Issuer:    $250,000,000
Title of Securities:    7.375% Senior Notes due 2019
Final Maturity Date:    February 1, 2019
Issue Price:    100.000% plus accrued interest, if any, from January 28, 2011
Coupon:    7.375%
Yield to Maturity:    7.375%
Spread to Treasury Security:    440 bps
Benchmark:    2.75% UST due February 15, 2019


Interest Payment Dates:    February 1 and August 1
First Interest Payment Date:    August 1, 2011
Optional Redemption:    The notes will be redeemable at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, at any time on and after February 1, 2015 at the redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on February 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Date

   Price    
2015    103.688%  
2016    101.844%  
2017 and thereafter    100.000%  

 

   At any time prior to February 1, 2015, the Issuer may redeem the notes, in whole or in part upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to the registered address of each holder of notes or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of DTC, in cash, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”), subject to the rights of the holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.
   Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any note on any Redemption Date, the greater of:
   (1) 1.0% of the principal amount of such note; and
   (2) the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the redemption price of such note at February 1, 2015 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing above under the caption “Optional Redemption”), plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such note through February 1, 2015 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over (b) then outstanding principal amount of such note.

 

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   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 February 1, 2015; provided, however, that if the period from the Redemption Date to February 1, 2015 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.
Optional Redemption with Equity Proceeds:    In addition, up to 35% of the notes will be redeemable by the Issuer before February 1, 2014 at a price equal to 107.375% of their principal amount.
Change of Control:    101%
Initial Purchasers:   

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

Lazard Capital Markets LLC

Trade Date:    January 25, 2011
Settlement Date:    January 28, 2011 (T+3)
Distribution:    144A with registration rights as set forth in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum

 

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CUSIP/ISIN Numbers:    144A CUSIP: 390607 AA7
   144A ISIN: US390607AA75
   Regulation S CUSIP: U39023 AD5
   Regulation S ISIN: USU39023AD58
Trustee:    Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
Other Information:    On January 24, 2011, the Issuer and certain of its subsidiaries entered into an amendment to its bonding agreement with Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America. The amendment was entered into to, among other things, permit the Issuer to incur up to $250 million of debt as part of a refinancing of the Issuer’s $175 million principal amount senior subordinated notes due December 2013. The amendment also provides that if the Issuer’s outstanding credit exposure under its senior credit facility exceeds $25 million, then at Travelers’ request the Issuer is required to provide Travelers with $20 million of additional collateral (in cash or an irrevocable letter of credit, at the Issuer’s discretion). In addition, the Issuer is required to grant Travelers a first priority security interest in such additional collateral in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Issuer’s intercreditor agreement.

The information presented in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum is deemed to have changed to the extent affected by the changes described herein.

This material is confidential and is for your information only and is not intended to be used by anyone other than you. This information does not purport to be a complete description of these securities or the offering. Please refer to the offering memorandum for a complete description.

This communication is being distributed in the United States solely to qualified institutional buyers, as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and outside the United States solely to non-U.S. persons as defined under Regulation S.

This communication is not an offer to sell the securities and it is not a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in any jurisdiction where the offering is prohibited, where the person making the offer is not qualified to do so, or to any person who cannot legally be offered the securities.

 

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ANNEX B

Form of Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP Opinion

We are of the opinion that:

 

1. The Company is a corporation existing and in good standing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

2. The Company has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum.

 

3. The Company is qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in those states set forth on Exhibit A hereto.

 

4. Each domestic Subsidiary that is a corporation is existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction listed opposite its name on Exhibit B hereto; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and, to our knowledge, is owned by the Company, directly or through Subsidiaries.

 

5. Each domestic Subsidiary that is a limited liability company is existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, has the limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum and is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction listed on Schedule B hereto; all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of each Subsidiary that is a limited liability company have been duly authorized and validly issued and, to our knowledge, other than NASDI, LLC and Yankee Environmental Services LLC, are owned by the Company, directly or through Subsidiaries.

 

6. The Company and each Guarantor has the corporate or limited liability company power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and each Guarantor.


7. The Company and each Guarantor has the corporate or limited liability company power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and each Guarantor, and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and each Guarantor, enforceable against the Company and each Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

8. The Company has all corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Notes. The Indenture is in form sufficient for qualification under the TIA. The Notes are in the form contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

9. The Company has all requisite corporate power to authorize and issue the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes and the issuance of the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes has been duly authorized by the Company. Each of the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes, when and if executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement and the Indenture (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee and due authentication and delivery of the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture), and authenticated by the Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture, will be a valid and binding obligation of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

10. The Guarantees have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by each Guarantor and constitute valid and binding obligations of each Guarantor entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

11. The guarantees of the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes have been duly and validly authorized by each Guarantor and, when executed by each of the Guarantors and when the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes are duly executed and delivered against payment therefor and are authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, such guarantees of the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes will have been duly executed, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and binding obligations of each Guarantor entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

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12. The Company and each Guarantor has the corporate or limited liability company power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement. The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and each Guarantor and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company and each Guarantor (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Initial Purchasers), will constitute the valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and each Guarantor, enforceable against the Company and each Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

13. The Notes, the Guarantees and the Exchange Notes and the guarantees thereof and the Registration Rights Agreement conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum.

 

14. The statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum under the captions “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” fairly present and summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to therein.

 

15. To our knowledge, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened against the Company or any of the Guarantors that are required to be disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum, other than those disclosed therein, or that seek to restrain, enjoin or prevent the consummation of or otherwise challenge the issuance or sale of the Notes or the consummation of the other transactions described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum under the caption “Use of Proceeds.”

 

16. The execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance and sale of the Notes to the Initial Purchasers) will not (i) violate the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or similar organizational document) of any of the Guarantors, (ii) assuming compliance with all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws and assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchasers in Section 8 of the Purchase Agreement, contravene any statute or governmental rule or regulation which, in our experience, is normally applicable both to general business corporations that are not engaged in regulated business activities and to transactions of the type contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (except that we express no opinion in this clause (ii) as to compliance with any disclosure requirement or any prohibition against fraud or misrepresentation), or (iii) breach, or result in a default under, any existing obligation of the Company or any subsidiary under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, credit agreement or other material agreement or instrument filed or included as an exhibit to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Notwithstanding the foregoing, certain of these agreements contain financial covenants and tests and we have not undertaken or attempted to independently apply any of those covenants or tests and express no opinion with respect to such covenants and tests.

 

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17. To our knowledge, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any governmental authority is required for the issuance of the Notes to the Initial Purchasers or the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, except for such consents, approvals, authorizations or orders (i) as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, or (ii) the failure of which to obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or materially impede the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement or perform its obligations thereunder.

 

18. None of the Company or its Guarantors is, or immediately after the sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds from such sale (as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) will be, an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

19. No registration under the Act of the Notes is required for the sale of the Notes to the Initial Purchasers as contemplated by the Purchase Agreement or in connection with the initial resale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers in accordance with Section 8 of the Purchase Agreement, and prior to the commencement of the Exchange Offer (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), the Indenture is not required to be qualified under the TIA. We express no opinion, however, as to when or under what circumstances any Notes initially sold by the Initial Purchasers may be reoffered or resold.

 

20. Assuming the Company uses the proceeds of the Notes solely for the purposes identified in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum under the caption “Use of Proceeds,” neither the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement nor the sale, issuance, execution or delivery of the Notes will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

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We have participated in the preparation of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum and have participated in conferences with representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent accountants of the Company, you and your representatives and counsel during which disclosures in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum and related matters were discussed, and have reviewed such other documents as we deemed appropriate.

Based upon our procedures identified above (relying as to factual matters upon the certificates and statements of officers of the Company), our understanding of applicable law and the experience we have gained in our practice thereunder, we can advise you that nothing has come to our attention that has caused us to conclude that (a) the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the Time of Execution, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (b) the Final Memorandum, as of its date and as of the date hereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

This letter does not consider or cover, and we do not express any view or belief with respect to, any financial statements or supporting schedules (or any notes to any such statements) or other financial or statistical information or data included or incorporated by reference in (or omitted from) the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Memorandum.

 

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ANNEX C

Form of Winston & Strawn, LLP Opinion

We have acted as special counsel to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with that certain Purchase Agreement dated January 25, 2011 (the “Purchase Agreement”) by and among the Company, the Company’s subsidiaries listed on Schedule 2 thereto (the “Guarantors”) and the several initial purchasers named in Schedule 1 thereto (the “Initial Purchasers”) for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), relating to the offer and sale of up to $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 7.375% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “Notes”), which are to be issued under an indenture (the “Indenture”) to be dated as of January 28, 2011 by and among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”). This opinion letter is delivered to you at the request of the Company pursuant to Section 7(a)(ii) of the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein, but not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.

In rendering the opinions set forth herein, we have examined: (i) the Final Purchase Agreement; (ii) the Company’s preliminary offering memorandum dated January 18, 2011 (the “Preliminary Offering Memorandum”); (iii) the Pricing Supplement dated January 25, 2011 (the “Pricing Supplement,” together with the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”); and (iv) the indenture under which the Notes are to be issued (the “Indenture”).

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers or representatives of the Company and others, and such other agreements, documents, instruments, certificates and records, and such matters of law, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth below.

In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have, with your consent, assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons signing documents and that the signatures of persons signing all documents in connection with which this opinion letter is rendered are genuine, all documents submitted to us as originals or duplicate originals are authentic and all documents submitted to us as copies, whether certified or not, conform to authentic original documents. We have, with your consent, also assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all certificates and other statements, documents, records, financial statements and papers reviewed by us, and the accuracy and completeness of all representations, warranties, confirmations, schedules and exhibits contained in the Purchase Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, and the Indenture, with respect to the factual matters set forth therein.


In making our examination of documents executed by parties, we have assumed that: (1) such parties are duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of all jurisdictions where they were organized and where they are conducting their businesses or otherwise required to be so qualified; (2) such parties have full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform their respective obligations under such documents; (3) all such documents have been duly authorized by such parties; (4) all such documents have been duly executed and delivered by such parties; and (5) such documents constitute the valid and binding obligations of each such party thereto; enforceable against each such party in accordance with their respective terms.

As to any facts material to the opinions and beliefs expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.

Except as expressly set forth herein, we have not undertaken any independent investigation, examination or inquiry to determine the existence or absence of any facts (and have not caused the review of any court file or indices), and no inference as to our knowledge concerning any facts should be drawn as a result of the limited representation undertaken by us.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications, limitations and comments stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

1. The execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby by the Company do not violate the Dredging Act, the Jones Act, the Shipping Act of 1916, the vessel documentation laws set forth in Chapter 121 of Title 46 of the United States Code, or government regulations issued pursuant to such Acts and laws (collectively, the “Maritime Laws”) applicable to the Company.

 

2. The statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package under the captions “Risk Factors,” “Competitive Strengths,” “Competition,” and “Government Regulations,” regarding the Jones Act and the Maritime Laws, insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the Maritime Laws, constitute an accurate summary of such matters described therein in all material respects.

The opinions expressed herein are based upon and are limited to the Maritime Laws, and we express no opinion with respect to the laws of any state or any other jurisdiction or political subdivision.

Our opinions set forth in this letter are based upon the facts in existence and laws in effect on the date hereof, and we expressly disclaim any obligation to update our opinions herein, regardless of whether changes in such facts or laws come to our attention after the delivery hereof.

 

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This opinion letter is solely for the benefit of the addressees hereof in connection with the execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement. No attorney-client relationship exists or has existed by reason of our preparation, execution and delivery of this opinion letter to any addressee hereof or other person or entity except for the Company. In permitting reliance hereon by any person or entity other than the Company, we are not acting as counsel for such other person or entity and have not assumed and are not assuming any responsibility to advise such other person or entity with respect to the adequacy of this opinion letter for its purposes. This opinion letter may not be relied upon in any manner by any other person and may not be disclosed, quoted, filed with a governmental agency or otherwise referred to without our prior written consent.

 

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6th Amendment to 3rd Amended and Restated Underwriting and Indemnity Agreement

Exhibit 10.2

SIXTH AMENDMENT TO

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

UNDERWRITING AND CONTINUING INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

THIS SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED UNDERWRITING AND CONTINUING INDEMNITY AGREEMENT, dated as of January 24, 2011 (this “Amendment”), is entered into by and among (i) GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“HOLDINGS”), and the SUBSIDIARIES of HOLDINGS signatories hereto (collectively with HOLDINGS, the “INDEMNITORS”), (ii) TRAVELERS CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY, a Connecticut corporation (“TCASC”), and (iii) TRAVELERS CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY OF AMERICA, a Connecticut corporation (“TRAVELERS AMERICA” and together with TCASC, “TRAVELERS”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the INDEMNITORS and TRAVELERS are parties to a certain Third Amended and Restated Underwriting and Continuing Indemnity Agreement dated as of December 22, 2003, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, that certain Rider Concerning Additional Bonds dated December 31, 2010) (as so amended, supplemented and modified, the “Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the INDEMNITORS have requested TRAVELERS to amend the Agreement; and

WHEREAS, TRAVELERS is willing to amend the Agreement as provided herein, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the INDEMNITORS and TRAVELERS hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1. DEFINED TERMS.

Capitalized terms used herein shall, unless otherwise defined herein, have the meanings provided in the Agreement.

SECTION 2. AMENDMENTS TO AGREEMENT.

Subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3 of this Amendment, the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

(a) Section 1.1 of the Agreement is hereby amended by amending and restating the definitions of “DEBT INDENTURE”, “NOTE INDENTURE OBLIGATIONS”, “PAYMENT BLOCKAGE NOTICE” and “SUBORDINATED DEBT” in their entirety to read as follows:

“DEBT INDENTURE” means that certain Indenture dated as of December 22, 2003, by and among HOLDINGS, certain of the SUBSIDIARIES of HOLDINGS, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, governing the issuance by HOLDINGS of $175,000,000 in original principal amount of its 7- 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with Section 6.21.

 

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SIXTH AMENDMENT TO

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

UNDERWRITING AND CONTINUING INDEMNITY AGREEMENT


“NOTE INDENTURE OBLIGATIONS” means all of (a) HOLDINGS’ obligations under and with respect to the DEBT INDENTURE, including, without limitation, all obligations to pay principal in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $175,000,000 under its 7- 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013, and all interest, premium, fees, charges, expenses and indemnities with respect thereto, and all obligations to effect redemptions, repurchases and prepayments with respect thereto, in any case, whether fixed, contingent, matured or unmatured, and (b) HOLDINGS’ obligations under and with respect to such other unsecured DEBT the net proceeds of which are, in whole or in part, designated to be used, and are used reasonably promptly after the incurrence thereof, to refinance in whole or in part the then existing NOTE INDENTURE OBLIGATIONS (including any subsequent refinancing thereof from time to time which constitutes a PERMITTED NOTE REFINANCING); provided, that (i) the aggregate principal amount of such refinancing DEBT and any remaining DEBT under the DEBT INDENTURE (and any PERMITED NOTE REFINANCING thereof) does not exceed $250,000,000; (ii) such refinancing DEBT has a final maturity more than 180 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date under and as defined in the BANK LOAN FACILITY (or other comparable definition relating to the termination date for the revolving credit facility in the BANK LOAN FACILITY) and requires no scheduled payment of principal in cash prior to such date and (iii) includes (A) subordination provisions reasonably acceptable to TRAVELERS and (B) covenants, events of default and other terms and provisions (including quantities thereof) that are no more restrictive, when taken as a whole to HOLDINGS and its SUBSIDIARIES than are (x) in the case of any public issuance (including through a 144A or other similar issuance) of DEBT by HOLDINGS, customary at the time of such refinancing of such type for issuers with a debt rating similar to that of HOLDINGS and (y) in the case of any private issuance of DEBT by HOLDINGS, as set forth in the DEBT INDENTURE (any such refinancing as described in this clause (b), a “PERMITTED NOTE REFINANCING”).

“PAYMENT BLOCKAGE NOTICE” has the meaning assigned thereto in the DEBT INDENTURE or in any indenture governing NOTE INDENTURE OBLIGATIONS.

“SUBORDINATED DEBT” means all DEBT of HOLDINGS issued pursuant to the DEBT INDENTURE and any NOTE INDENTURE OBLIGATIONS.

 

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THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

UNDERWRITING AND CONTINUING INDEMNITY AGREEMENT


(b) Section 1.1 of the Agreement is hereby further amended by amending and restating clauses (b) and (h) appearing in the definition of “EVENT OF DEFAULT” in their entirety to read as follows:

(b) Failure by the INDEMNITORS, or any of them, to comply with or to perform their respective obligations under Sections 3.3, 6.7, 6.14, 6.16, 6.19, 6.20, 6.21 or 6.24 of this Agreement, and, in the case of Section 6.16, such failure shall continue for ten (10) days;

(h) Any INDEMNITOR shall (i) fail to pay any DEBT or CONTINGENT OBLIGATION of such INDEMNITOR in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000, or any interest or premium thereon, when due whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise (subject to any applicable grace periods), or (ii) fail to perform or observe any term, covenant, or condition on its part to be performed or observed under any agreement or instrument relating to any DEBT or CONTINGENT OBLIGATION of such INDEMNITOR in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000 (subject to any applicable grace periods), if the result of such failure to perform or observe is (A) in the case of the BANK LOAN FACILITY, either to accelerate the maturity of such DEBT or to cause a PAYMENT BLOCKAGE NOTICE to be delivered to the applicable trustee or agent for the NOTE INDENTURE OBLIGATIONS, (B) in the case of the NOTE INDENTURE OBLIGATIONS, to accelerate or permit the acceleration of the maturity of such DEBT or (C) in the case of any other DEBT or CONTINGENT OBLIGATION, to accelerate the maturity of such DEBT or CONTINGENT OBLIGATION;

(c) Section 1.1 of the Agreement is hereby further amended by inserting the following new definition in alphabetical order:

“PERMITTED NOTE REFINANCING” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “NOTE INDENTURE OBLIGATIONS”.

(d) Section 6.21(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

(b) HOLDINGS shall promptly give notice in writing to TRAVELERS of the receipt by the applicable trustee or agent for the NOTE INDENTURE OBLIGATIONS of any PAYMENT BLOCKAGE NOTICE.

(e) Article VI of the Agreement is hereby further amended by inserting a new Section 6.24 at the end thereof to read as follows:

SECTION 6.24 ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL. In the event that the aggregate amount of “Revolving Extensions of Credit” under and as defined in the BANK LOAN FACILITY (or other comparable definition relating to the aggregate amount of outstanding credit exposure under the BANK LOAN FACILITY)

 

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THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

UNDERWRITING AND CONTINUING INDEMNITY AGREEMENT


exceeds $25,000,000, HOLDINGS shall (i) so notify TRAVELERS promptly, but in no event later than five (5) calendar days, in writin, and (ii) within fifteen (15) calendar days following TRAVELERS written request for additional collateral, provide to TRAVELERS either (A) a cash deposit in the amount of $20,000,000 to be held by TRAVELERS (the “Cash Collateral”) as collateral, or (B) an Irrevocable Letter of Credit (“ILOC”) drawable by TRAVELERS in the amount of $20,000,000, in form and substance and from an issuer acceptable to TRAVELERS in its sole discretion, as additional collateral, in each case for clauses (A) and (B) above, pursuant to documentation acceptable to TRAVELERS and granting a first priority security interest to TRAVELERS in the Cash Collateral or ILOC in accordance with the terms and conditions of the INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. HOLDINGS shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to specify which of these forms of additional collateral will be provided.

SECTION 3. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

The provisions of this Amendment shall be effective upon receipt by TRAVELERS of the documents listed below:

this Amendment duly executed by all parties hereto.

SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

To induce TRAVELERS to enter into this Amendment, the INDEMNITORS represent and warrant to TRAVELERS as of the date hereof and after giving effect to this Amendment that:

(a) The representations and warranties contained in Article V of the Agreement, in Section 4 of each SECURITY AGREEMENT (A/R), in Section 4 of each SECURITY AGREEMENT (EQUIPMENT), in Section 4 of the PLEDGE AGREEMENT and in Article I of each of the VESSEL MORTGAGES, are correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof as though made on and as of such date except to the extent stated to relate to an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be correct as of such earlier date.

(b) No EVENT OF DEFAULT has occurred and is continuing.

SECTION 5. GENERAL.

(a) As hereby modified, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified, approved and confirmed in all respects.

(b) This Amendment shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

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(c) This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties on separate counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Amendment.

(d) HOLDINGS acknowledges and agrees that any expense incurred by TRAVELERS in connection herewith and any other documents referenced herein (if any) and the transactions contemplated hereby, including reasonable legal fees and out-of-pocket costs and expenses of outside counsel, shall be fully paid or reimbursed by HOLDINGS.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

UNDERWRITING AND CONTINUING INDEMNITY AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed by the parties as of the date first written above.

 

GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK CORPORATION

By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

  Name:   Bruce J. Biemeck
  Title:   President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK COMPANY, LLC

By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

  Name:   Bruce J. Biemeck
  Title:  

President, Chief Financial Officer

and Treasurer

LYDON DREDGING & CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, LTD.

By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

  Name:   Bruce J. Biemeck
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

FIFTY-THREE DREDGING CORPORATION

By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

  Name:   Bruce J. Biemeck
  Title:   Treasurer

DAWSON MARINE SERVICES COMPANY

By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

  Name:   Bruce J. Biemeck
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

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UNDERWRITING AND CONTINUING INDEMNITY AGREEMENT


GREAT LAKES CARIBBEAN DREDGING, INC.
By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

  Name:   Bruce J. Biemeck
  Title:  

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial

Officer and Treasurer

NASDI, LLC
By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

  Name:   Bruce J. Biemeck
  Title:   Vice President and Treasurer
NASDI HOLDINGS CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

  Name:   Bruce J. Biemeck
  Title:  

Vice President, Chief Financial

Officer and Treasurer

YANKEE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Bruce J. Biemeck

  Name:   Bruce J. Biemeck
  Title:  

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

and Treasurer

 

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UNDERWRITING AND CONTINUING INDEMNITY AGREEMENT


TRAVELERS CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY

By:  

/s/ Robert Raney

  Name:   Robert Raney
  Title:   Chief Underwriting Officer

TRAVELERS CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY OF AMERICA

By:  

/s/ Robert Raney

  Name:   Robert Raney
  Title:   Chief Underwriting Officer

 

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Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

  

News from Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation

 

For further information contact:

Katie Hayes, Investor Relations @ 630-574-3772

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation Announces Pricing of $250 million of Senior Notes

OAK BROOK, Ill., January 25, 2011 – Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (NASDAQ: GLDD) (“Great Lakes” or the “Company”), today announced that it has priced its previously announced offering of Senior Notes (“Notes”).

The face value of the Notes is $250 million, with an interest rate of 7.375%. The Notes were priced at 100% of face value. The Notes will mature on February 1, 2019.

The Notes will be sold to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A and to certain persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S, each under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with closing expected to occur on January 28, 2011, subject to customary closing conditions.

The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Any issuance of the Notes will be subject to customary closing conditions.

The Company

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation is the largest provider of dredging services in the United States and the only U.S. dredging company with significant international operations. The Company is also one of the largest U.S. providers of commercial and industrial demolition services primarily in the Northeast. Additionally, the Company owns a 50% interest in a marine sand mining operation in New Jersey which supplies sand and aggregate used for road and building construction. Great Lakes has a 120-year history of never failing to complete a marine project and owns the largest and most diverse fleet in the U.S. industry, comprised of over 180 specialized vessels.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking” statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”) or in releases made by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), all as may be amended from time to time. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties


and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Great Lakes and its subsidiaries, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by, among other things, the use of forward-looking language, such as the words “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “seeks,” or “scheduled to,” or other similar words, or the negative of these terms or other variations of these terms or comparable language, or by discussion of strategy or intentions. These cautionary statements are being made pursuant to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the PSLRA with the intention of obtaining the benefits of the “safe harbor” provisions of such laws. Great Lakes cautions investors that any forward-looking statements made by Great Lakes are not guarantees or indicative of future performance. Important assumptions and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those forward-looking statements with respect to Great Lakes and its business, include, but are not limited to, risks associated with Great Lakes’ leverage, fixed price contracts, dependence on government contracts and funding, bonding requirements and obligations, international operations, government regulation, restrictive debt covenants and fluctuations in quarterly operations, and those risks and uncertainties that are described in Item 1A of its Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2009, and in other securities filings by Great Lakes with the SEC.

Although Great Lakes believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from a projection or assumption in any forward-looking statements. Great Lakes’ future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and inherent risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date hereof and Great Lakes does not have or undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law.