EX-4.1 3 dex41.htm INDENTURE Indenture

EXHIBIT 4.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 


 

NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY PARTNERS INC.,

 

as the Issuer,

 

EACH OF THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,

 

as Guarantors,

 

and

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,

 

as Trustee.

 


 

INDENTURE

 


 

Dated as of May 19, 2005

 

9% Senior Secured Notes due 2010

 

 



CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

Trust Indenture Act Section


  

Indenture Section


310(a)(1)

   7.10

(a)(2)

   7.10

(a)(3)

   N.A.

(a)(4)

   N.A.

(a)(5)

   7.10

(b)

   7.03; 7.08; 7.10

(c)

   N.A.

311(a)

   7.11

(b)

   7.11

(c)

   N.A.

312(a)

   2.05

(b)

   12.03

(c)

   12.03

313(a)

   7.06

(b)(1)

   7.06

(b)(2)

   7.06

(c)

   7.06, 12.02

(d)

   7.06

314(a)

   4.03; 4.04, 12.05

(b)

   13.02(b)

(c)(2)

   12.04

(c)(3)

   12.04

(c)(3)

   N.A.

(d)

   13.03(c)

(e)

   12.05

(f)

   N.A.

315(a)

   7.01(b)

(b)

   7.05, 12.02

(c)

   7.01(a)

(d)

   7.01(c)

(e)

   6.11

316(a)(last sentence)

   2.09

(a)(1)(A)

   6.05

(a)(1)(B)

   6.04

(a)(2)

   N.A.

(b)

   6.07

(c)

   N.A.

317(a)(1)

   6.08

(a)(2)

   6.09

(b)

   2.04

318(a)

   12.01

(b)

   N.A.

(c)

   12.01

N.A. means Not Applicable

 

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


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

ARTICLE I           DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

   1
     Section 1.01.    Definitions    1
     Section 1.02.    Other Definitions    23
     Section 1.03.    Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act    23
     Section 1.04.    Rules of Construction    24
     Section 1.05.    Acts of Holders    24

ARTICLE II          THE NOTES

   26
     Section 2.01.    Form and Dating    26
     Section 2.02.    Execution and Authentication    27
     Section 2.03.    Registrar and Paying Agent    27
     Section 2.04.    Paying Agents to Hold Money in Trust    28
     Section 2.05.    Holder Lists    28
     Section 2.06.    Transfer and Exchange    28
     Section 2.07.    Replacement Notes    36
     Section 2.08.    Outstanding Notes    36
     Section 2.09.    Treasury Notes; When Notes Are Disregarded    37
     Section 2.10.    Temporary Notes    37
     Section 2.11.    Cancellation    37
     Section 2.12.    Defaulted Interest.    37
     Section 2.13.    Persons Deemed Owners    38
     Section 2.14.    CUSIP Numbers    38
     Section 2.15.    Designation    38
     Section 2.16.    Interest Act Disclosure    38
     Section 2.17.    Limitation on Interest    38

ARTICLE III         REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE

   39
     Section 3.01.    Notices to Trustee    39
     Section 3.02.    Selection of Notes    39
     Section 3.03.    Notice of Optional or Special Redemption    40
     Section 3.04.    Effect of Notice of Redemption    41
     Section 3.05.    Deposit of Redemption Price or Purchase Price    41
     Section 3.06.    Notes Redeemed or Repurchased in Part    41
     Section 3.07.    Optional Redemption    41

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

               Page

     Section 3.08.    Optional Redemption Upon Public Equity Offerings    42
     Section 3.09.    Redemption for Taxation Reasons    42
     Section 3.10.    Repurchase upon Change of Control Offer    43
     Section 3.11.    Repurchase upon Application of Net Cash Proceeds    44

ARTICLE IV         COVENANTS

   46
     Section 4.01.    Payment of Notes    46
     Section 4.02.    Maintenance of Office or Agency    46
     Section 4.03.    Reports to Holders    47
     Section 4.04.    Compliance Certificate    47
     Section 4.05.    Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.    47
     Section 4.06.    Stay, Extension and Usury Laws    48
     Section 4.07.    Limitation on Restricted Payments    48
     Section 4.08.    Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries    50
     Section 4.09.    Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness    52
     Section 4.10.    Limitation on Asset Sales    54
     Section 4.11.    Limitations on Transactions with Affiliates    56
     Section 4.12.    Limitation on Liens    58
     Section 4.13.    Continued Existence    58
     Section 4.14.    Insurance Matters    58
     Section 4.15.    Offer to Repurchase upon Change of Control    58
     Section 4.16.    Additional Guarantees    59
     Section 4.17.    Payments for Consent    60
     Section 4.18.    Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries    60
     Section 4.19.    Conduct of Business    60
     Section 4.20.    Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions    60
     Section 4.21.    Limitation on Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries    61
     Section 4.22.    Limitation on Layering    62
     Section 4.23.    Impairment of Security Interest    62
     Section 4.24.    Real Estate Mortgages and Filings    62
     Section 4.25.    Leasehold Mortgages and Filings    63
     Section 4.26.    Landlord, Bailee and Consignee Waivers    63

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page

ARTICLE V          SUCCESSORS

   64
     Section 5.01.    Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets    64
     Section 5.02.    Successor Corporation Substituted    66
ARTICLE VI         DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES    66
     Section 6.01.    Events of Default.    66
     Section 6.02.    Acceleration    68
     Section 6.03.    Other Remedies    68
     Section 6.04.    Waiver of Past Defaults    69
     Section 6.05.    Control by Majority    69
     Section 6.06.    Limitation on Suits    69
     Section 6.07.    Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment    70
     Section 6.08.    Collection Suit by Trustee    70
     Section 6.09.    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim    70
     Section 6.10.    Priorities    70
     Section 6.11.    Undertaking for Costs    71
     Section 6.12.    Restoration of Rights and Remedies    71

ARTICLE VII       TRUSTEE

   71
     Section 7.01.    Duties of Trustee    71
     Section 7.02.    Rights of Trustee    72
     Section 7.03.    Individual Rights of Trustee    73
     Section 7.04.    Trustee’s Disclaimer    73
     Section 7.05.    Notice of Defaults    73
     Section 7.06.    Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes    73
     Section 7.07.    Compensation, Reimbursement and Indemnity    74
     Section 7.08.    Replacement of Trustee    75
     Section 7.09.    Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc    75
     Section 7.10.    Eligibility; Disqualification    76
     Section 7.11.    Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company    76
     Section 7.12.    Trustee as Agent    76
     Section 7.13.    Sub-Collateral Agent    76

ARTICLE VIII     LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

   77
     Section 8.01.    Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance    77

 

-iii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

               Page

     Section 8.02.    Legal Defeasance and Discharge    77
     Section 8.03.    Covenant Defeasance    78
     Section 8.04.    Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance    79
     Section 8.05.    Deposited Money and U.S. Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions    80
     Section 8.06.    Repayment to Company    80
     Section 8.07.    Reinstatement    81

ARTICLE IX        AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

   81
     Section 9.01.    Without Consent of Holders of Notes    81
     Section 9.02.    With Consent of Holders of Notes    82
     Section 9.03.    Compliance with TIA    83
     Section 9.04.    Revocation and Effect of Consents    83
     Section 9.05.    Notation on or Exchange of Notes    84
     Section 9.06.    Trustee to Sign Amendment, Etc    84

ARTICLE X         GUARANTEE

   84
     Section 10.01.    Unconditional Guarantee    84
     Section 10.02.    Severability    85
     Section 10.03.    Limitation of Guarantor’s Liability    85
     Section 10.04.    Release of Guarantor    85
     Section 10.05.    Contribution    86
     Section 10.06.    Waiver of Subrogation    86
     Section 10.07.    Execution of Guarantee    87
     Section 10.08.    Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws    87

ARTICLE XI         SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

   87
     Section 11.01.    Satisfaction and Discharge    87
     Section 11.02.    Deposited Funds to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions    88
     Section 11.03.    Repayment to Company    89
     Section 11.04.    Reinstatement    89
ARTICLE XII       MISCELLANEOUS    89
     Section 12.01.    Trust Indenture Act Controls    89
     Section 12.02.    Notices    89
     Section 12.03.    Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes    91

 

-iv-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

               Page

     Section 12.04.    Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent    91
     Section 12.05.    Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion    91
     Section 12.06.    Rules by Trustee and Agents    91
     Section 12.07.    No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders    92
     Section 12.08.    Judgment Currency    92
     Section 12.09.    Payment of Additional Amounts    92
     Section 12.10.    Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial    94
     Section 12.11.    No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements    95
     Section 12.12.    Successors    95
     Section 12.13.    Severability    95
     Section 12.14.    Counterpart Originals    95
     Section 12.15.    Table of Contents, Headings, Etc    95
     Section 12.16.    Qualification of Indenture    95

ARTICLE XIII     COLLATERAL

   95
     Section 13.01.    Grant of Security Interest    95
     Section 13.02.    Recording and Opinions    96
     Section 13.03.    Release of Collateral    97
     Section 13.04.    Specified Releases of Collateral    98
     Section 13.05.    Release upon Satisfaction or Defeasance of All Outstanding Obligations    98
     Section 13.06.    Form and Sufficiency of Release    98
     Section 13.07.    Purchaser Protected    99
     Section 13.08.    Authorization of Actions To Be Taken by the Trustee and each Sub-Collateral Agent Under the Collateral Agreements    99
     Section 13.09.    Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Agreements    100
     Section 13.10.    Intercreditor Agreement    100

 

-v-


EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A

  Form of Series A Note

Exhibit B

  Form of Series B Note

Exhibit C

  Form of Guarantee

Exhibit D(1)

  Form of Regulation S Certificate

Exhibit D(2)

  Form of Certificate to Be Delivered upon Exchange or Registration of Transfer of Notes

Exhibit E

  Form of Certificate to Be Delivered in Connection with Transfers to Non-QIB Accredited Investors

Exhibit F

  Form of Certificate to Be Delivered in Connection with Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S

Exhibit G

  Form of Landlord, Equipment Lessor, Bailee and Consignee Waivers

 

NOTE: This Table of Contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.


INDENTURE, dated as of May 19, 2005, among NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY PARTNERS INC., a Canadian federal corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors (as defined herein) and WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H :

 

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the creation of two series of the Notes (as hereinafter defined), of the tenor and in an initial aggregate principal amount hereinafter set forth, and to provide therefor the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the Company, the valid obligations of the Company, and to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with the terms of the Notes and this Indenture, respectively, have been done; and

 

WHEREAS, upon the issuance of the Series B Notes or the effectiveness of a registration statement filed in connection with the Exchange Offer, this Indenture will be subject to the provisions of the TIA (as hereinafter defined) that are required to be a part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. Prior thereto, the provisions of said TIA will apply to this Indenture only to the extent expressly provided herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the Company’s 9% Senior Secured Notes due 2010.

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.01. Definitions.

 

“8 3/4% Senior Notes Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of November 26, 2003, among the Company, the guarantors parties thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee.

 

“Acquired Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of a Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or at the time it merges or consolidates with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person and in each case not incurred by such Person in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or such acquisition, merger or consolidation and which Indebtedness is without recourse to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to any of their respective properties or assets other than the Person or the assets to which such Indebtedness related prior to the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the time of such acquisition, merger or consolidation.

 

“Additional Interest” means all “Additional Interest” on Series A Notes then owing pursuant to and as defined in Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement or the comparable section of any registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the issuance of any Additional Notes.

 

“Additional Notes” means Notes issued pursuant to Article II and in compliance with Section 4.09, in addition to and having substantially the same terms as the US$60,481,000 aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes issued on the Issue Date or as the Series B Notes issued in exchange therefor.

 

1


“Administrative Agent” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “Credit Agreement.”

 

“Advisory Services Agreement” means that certain letter agreement dated October 31, 2003, among the Company, NACG Preferred, Holdings and the Equity Investors.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person. The term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative of the foregoing.

 

“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent, co-registrar or Sub-Collateral Agent.

 

“Applicable Indebtedness” means:

 

(1) in respect of any asset that is the subject of an Asset Sale at a time when such asset constitutes Collateral, Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes and secured at such time by such asset; or

 

(2) in respect of any other asset, Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes.

 

“Asset Acquisition” means (1) an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in any other Person pursuant to which such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or shall be merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or (2) the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) that constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprises any division or line of business of such Person or any other properties or assets of such Person other than in the ordinary course of business.

 

“Asset Sale” means any direct or indirect sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, lease (other than operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business), assignment or other transfer for value by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) to any Person other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of: (1) any Capital Stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares) of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or (2) any other property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company other than in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that Asset Sales shall not include: (a) a transaction or series of related transactions for which the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries receive aggregate consideration of less than $5.0 million; (b) the sale, lease, conveyance, disposition or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company as permitted under Section 5.01; (c) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 4.07 or that constitutes a Permitted Investment; (d) the sale or discount, in each case without recourse, of accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business; (e) disposals or replacements of damaged, obsolete or worn out equipment; and (f) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens.

 

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangements Act (Canada), the Winding-Up and Restructuring Act (Canada), or any similar U.S. federal, state, provincial or foreign law for the reorganization or relief of debtors, including laws providing for any plan of compromise or arrangement or other corporate proceeding involving or affecting creditors.

 

2


“Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the board of directors (or similar governing body) of such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof.

 

“Board Resolution” means, with respect to any Person, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such 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.

 

“Borrowing Base” means, as at any date of determination, the lesser of:

 

(1) the sum of:

 

(a) 10% of Consolidated PP&E; and

 

(b) 100% of the value of accounts receivable of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis arising in the ordinary course of business net of any reserves or write-offs in respect thereof as determined in accordance with GAAP; and

 

(2) $55.0 million.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York, Toronto, Ontario or Calgary, Alberta or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date, Redemption Date, Purchase Date or a day on which an action is to be taken is not a Business Day, payment may be made, or such action may be taken, on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

“Canadian Securities Laws” means the laws, regulations, rules, policies, rulings and guidelines applicable to trading securities in each province and territory of Canada.

 

“Canadian Securities Regulators” means the securities regulatory authorities in the provinces and territories of Canada.

 

“Capital Stock” means:

 

(1) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, including each class of Common Stock and Preferred Stock of such Person, and all options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing; and

 

(2) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests of such Person, and all options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.

 

“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, as to any Person, the obligations of such Person under a lease that are required to be classified and accounted for as capital lease obligations under GAAP and, for purposes of this definition, the amount of such obligations at any date shall be the capitalized amount of such obligations at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

3


“Cash Equivalents” means:

 

(1) obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States or Canadian Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or Canada, as the case may be, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(2) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the date of creation thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of at least A-1 from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or at least P-1 from Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. or R-1 High by Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited;

 

(3) certificates of deposit, eurodollar time deposits or bankers’ acceptances maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and overnight bank deposits, in each case issued by any bank organized under the laws of Canada or any province thereof or the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or any U.S. or Canadian branch of a foreign bank having at the date of acquisition thereof combined net capital and surplus of not less than US$250.0 million;

 

(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (1) or (3) above entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above; and

 

(5) investments in money market funds which invest substantially all their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (4) above.

 

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

 

(1) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person or group of related Persons for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (a “Group”), together with any Affiliates thereof (whether or not otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this Indenture) other than to a Permitted Holder or to either of Holdings or NACG Preferred; provided that such sale, lease, exchange or other transfer is made in accordance with Section 5.01(a);

 

(2) there is a report filed with any securities commission or securities regulatory authority in Canada, disclosing that any offeror (as the term “offeror” is defined in Section 89(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario) for the purpose of Section 101 of the Securities Act (Ontario), or any successor provision to either of the foregoing), other than the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan of either the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or any Permitted Holder has acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of the Securities Act (Ontario)) of, or the power to exercise control or direction over, any Capital Stock or Securities convertible into, any Capital Stock of the Company, that together with such offeror’s securities (as the term “offeror’s securities” is defined in Section 89(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario) or any successor provision thereto in relation to the Capital Stock of the Company) would constitute Voting Stock of the Company representing more than 50% of the total voting power attached to all Voting Stock of the Company then outstanding;

 

4


(3) the approval by the holders of Capital Stock of Holdings or the Company, as the case may be, of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of Holdings or the Company, as the case may be (whether or not otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this Indenture);

 

(4) any Person or Group (other than a Permitted Holder and any entity formed by a Permitted Holder solely for the purpose of owning Capital Stock of Holdings) shall become the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly (with beneficial ownership being as defined and calculated as set forth in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), of shares representing more than 50% of the Capital Stock (measured by voting power rather than number of shares) that is at the time entitled to vote for the election of the Board of Directors of Holdings or the Company; or

 

(5) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company or Holdings (together with any new directors whose election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company or Holdings, as applicable, was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason (other than death) to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors then in office.

 

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Societe Anonyme, Luxembourg.

 

“Collateral” shall mean all real and personal property of the Company or any Guarantor, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, upon which a Lien securing the Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, any Guarantee or any Collateral Agreement is granted or purported to be granted under any Collateral Agreement.

 

“Collateral Agent” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “Credit Agreement.”

 

“Collateral Agreements” means, as of the Issue Date, the Debentures, Mortgages, Pledge Agreements and Deposit Instruments granted by the Company or any Guarantor and thereafter, such documents, together with any other agreement or instrument granted to the Trustee or Sub-Collateral Agent by the Company or any Guarantor from time under which it grants a Lien in any of its assets to secure the Notes or its Guarantee, respectively. “Collateral Agreement” shall mean any one of the foregoing.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Common Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or non-voting) of such Person’s common stock, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or issued after the Issue Date, and includes, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.

 

“Company” means North American Energy Partners Inc., a Canadian federal corporation, or any successor obligor under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to Article V.

 

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the sum (without duplication) of:

 

(1) Consolidated Net Income; and

 

(2) to the extent Consolidated Net Income has been reduced thereby:

 

(a) all income taxes of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP for such period;

 

5


(b) Consolidated Interest Expense; and

 

(c) Consolidated Non-cash Charges less any non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period,

 

all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person during the latest four full fiscal quarters (the “Four Quarter Period”) ending prior to the date of the transaction or event giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for which financial statements are available (the “Transaction Date”) to Consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person for the Four Quarter Period. In addition to and without limitation of the foregoing, for purposes of this definition and the definitions of such terms, “Consolidated EBITDA” and “Consolidated Fixed Charges” shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis for the period of such calculation to:

 

(1) the incurrence or repayment, repurchase, defeasance, discharge or other retirement of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (and the application of the proceeds thereof) giving rise to the need to make such calculation and any incurrence or repayment, repurchase, defeasance, discharge or other retirement of other Indebtedness (and the application of the proceeds thereof), other than the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes pursuant to working capital facilities, occurring during the Four Quarter Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Four Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such incurrence or repayment, repurchase, defeasance, discharge or other retirement, as the case may be (and the application of the proceeds thereof), occurred on the first day of the Four Quarter Period; and

 

(2) any Asset Sale or Asset Acquisition (including, without limitation, any Asset Acquisition giving rise to the need to make such calculation as a result of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any Person who becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the Asset Acquisition) incurring, assuming or otherwise being liable for Acquired Indebtedness and also including any Consolidated EBITDA (including any pro forma expense and cost reductions calculated on a basis consistent with Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act) attributable to the assets which are the subject of the Asset Acquisition or Asset Sale during the Four Quarter Period) occurring during the Four Quarter Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Four Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such Asset Sale or Asset Acquisition (including the incurrence, assumption or liability for any such Acquired Indebtedness) occurred on the first day of the Four Quarter Period; provided that the Consolidated EBITDA of any Person acquired shall be included only to the extent includible pursuant to the definition of the term “Consolidated Net Income.” If such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly guarantees Indebtedness of a third Person, the preceding sentence shall give effect to the incurrence of such guaranteed Indebtedness as if such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person had directly incurred or otherwise assumed such guaranteed Indebtedness.

 

6


Furthermore, in calculating “Consolidated Fixed Charges” for purposes of determining the denominator (but not the numerator) of this “Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”:

 

(1) interest on outstanding Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis as of the Transaction Date (including Indebtedness actually incurred on the Transaction Date) and which will continue to be so determined thereafter shall be deemed to have accrued at a fixed rate per annum equal to the rate of interest on such Indebtedness in effect on the Transaction Date; and

 

(2) notwithstanding clause (1) above, interest on Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent such interest is covered by agreements relating to Interest Swap Obligations, shall be deemed to accrue at the rate per annum resulting after giving effect to the operation of such agreements.

 

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

 

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense; plus

 

(2) the product of (x) the amount of all dividend payments on any Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person and any series of Preferred Stock of such Person (other than dividends paid in Qualified Capital Stock) paid or accrued during such period times (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current effective consolidated federal, Canadian federal, state, provincial, territorial and local income tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal.

 

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of, without duplication:

 

(1) the aggregate of the interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, including without limitation: (a) any amortization of debt discount and amortization of deferred financing costs; (b) the net costs under Interest Swap Obligations; (c) all capitalized interest; and (d) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation; and

 

(2) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the aggregate net income (or loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded therefrom:

 

(1) after-tax gains or losses from Asset Sales (without regard to the $5.0 million limitation set forth in the definition thereof) or abandonments or reserves relating thereto;

 

(2) after-tax items classified as extraordinary or nonrecurring gains or losses;

 

(3) the net income of any Person acquired in a “pooling of interests” transaction accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person or is merged or consolidated with the referent Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person;

 

(4) the net income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person to the extent that the declaration of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that income is restricted by a contract, operation of law or otherwise; provided, however, that

 

7


such income shall be included in determining Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash that could have been distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend in compliance with such restriction;

 

(5) the net income of any Person, other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person, except to the extent of cash dividends or distributions paid to the referent Person or to a Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person by such Person;

 

(6) any restoration to income of any contingency reserve, except to the extent that provision for such reserve was made out of Consolidated Net Income accrued at any time following the Issue Date;

 

(7) income or loss attributable to discontinued operations (including, without limitation, operations disposed of during such period whether or not such operations were classified as discontinued);

 

(8) in the case of a successor to the referent Person by consolidation or merger or as a transferee of the referent Person’s assets, any earnings of the successor corporation prior to such consolidation, merger or transfer of assets;

 

(9) all gains and losses realized on or because of the purchase or other acquisition by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any securities of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(10) interest expense attributable to dividends on Qualified Capital Stock pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity” or comparable GAAP concept;

 

(11) non-cash charges resulting from the impairment of intangible assets; and

 

(12) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles.

 

“Consolidated Net Worth” of any Person means the consolidated stockholders’ equity of such Person, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, less (without duplication) amounts attributable to Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person.

 

“Consolidated Non-cash Charges” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the aggregate depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent they reduce Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (excluding any such charge that requires an accrual of or a reserve for cash charges for any future period).

 

“Consolidated PP&E” means, as at any date of determination, the assets (net of depreciation) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis which may properly be classified as property, plant and equipment in conformity with GAAP, excluding any assets subject to a Lien that ranks pari passu with or ahead of the Liens created by the Collateral Agreements (other than Permitted Liens described in clause (1), (2), (16) or (17) of the definition thereof (provided that in the case of such clauses (16) and (17), such Permitted Lien secures a Swap Agreement)), to the extent of the lesser of the Fair Market Value of such asset and the amount secured by such Lien.

 

8


“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.02 or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

 

“Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement dated as of May 19, 2005, among the Company, the lenders party thereto (in such capacity, together with any successors thereto, the “Lenders”), BNP Paribas (Canada), as administrative agent (in such capacity, together with any successor thereto, the “Administrative Agent”) and GE Canada Finance Holding Company, as the collateral agent (in such capacity, together with any successor thereto, the “Collateral Agent”), together with the related documents thereto (including, without limitation, any guarantee agreements and security documents), in each case as such agreements may be amended (including any deferrals, renewals, amendments and restatements thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement extending the maturity of, refinancing, refunding, replacing or otherwise substituting, restructuring (including increasing the amount of available borrowings thereunder (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under clause (2) of the definition of the term “Permitted Indebtedness”) or adding Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder) all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements and whether by the same or any other agent, lender, creditor or group of lenders or creditors.

 

“Currency Agreement” means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company against fluctuations in currency values or exchange rates.

 

“Debenture” means an agreement which charges or purports to charge a Lien in personal and real property of the Company or any Guarantor (including the Premises and the Leased Premises of the Company or any Guarantor), as well as any other Collateral secured by and described therein, to secure the Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees or any other Collateral Agreement.

 

“Default” means an event or condition the occurrence of which is, or with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

“Deposit Instrument” means a deposit instrument granted by the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, to the Trustee or Sub-Collateral Agent in conjunction with the granting of a Debenture under which the grantor deposits the Debenture with the Trustee or Sub-Collateral Agent to secure the obligations under this Indenture, the Notes or a Guarantee or any other Collateral Agreement, as the case may be.

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.06(g) as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and, thereafter, “Depositary” shall mean or include such successor.

 

“Designation” has the meaning given to this term in Section 4.21.

 

“Designation Amount” has the meaning given to this term in Section 4.21.

 

“Disqualified Capital Stock” means that portion of 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 thereof), or upon the happening of any event (other than an event that would constitute (i) a Change of Control or (ii) an Asset Sale if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not purchase or redeem such Capital Stock except in compliance with Section 4.07), matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the sole

 

9


option of the holder thereof (except, in each case, upon the occurrence of (i) a Change of Control or (ii) an Asset Sale if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not purchase or redeem such Capital Stock except in compliance with Section 4.07) on or prior to the first anniversary of the final maturity date of the Notes for cash or is convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries at any time prior to such anniversary.

 

“dollar” and the symbol “$” mean such coin or currency of Canada which, as at the time of payment, shall be immediately available legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

“Equity Investors” means, collectively, The Sterling Group, L.P., Genstar Capital, L.P., investment funds managed by Perry Corp. and Stephens Group, Inc.

 

“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System.

 

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

 

“Exchange Offer” means an exchange offer that may be made by the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement to exchange Series A Notes for Series B Notes.

 

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction. Determination of fair market value shall be by the Board of Directors of the Company acting reasonably and in good faith and shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“First Lien Collateral Agent” has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in Canada, consistently applied, as in effect from time to time.

 

“Group” as defined in definition of “Change of Control.”

 

“guarantee” means a direct or indirect guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments in the ordinary course of business) by any Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person and includes any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person: (1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or (2) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); “guarantee,” when used as a verb, and “guaranteed” have correlative meanings.

 

“Guarantor” means: (1) each of the Company’s Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date and named as such in this Indenture; and (2) each of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that in the future executes a supplemental indenture in which such Restricted Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms of this Indenture as a Guarantor; provided that any Person constituting a Guarantor as described above shall cease to constitute a Guarantor when its respective Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

 

10


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

 

“Holdings” means NACG Holdings Inc., the owner of 100% of the outstanding share capital of NACG Preferred.

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, as of any date, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that has (1) assets with a Fair Market Value or book value (whichever is greater) less than $100,000 and (2) revenues not exceeding $10,000 during the 365-day period ending on such date.

 

“Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person, without duplication:

 

(1) all Obligations of such Person for borrowed money;

 

(2) all Obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;

 

(3) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;

 

(4) all Obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable and other accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue by 90 days or more or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted);

 

(5) all Obligations for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transaction, whether or not then due;

 

(6) guarantees and other contingent obligations in respect of Indebtedness referred to in clauses (1) through (5) above and clause (8) below;

 

(7) all Obligations of any other Person of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (6) that are secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person, the amount of any such Obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the Fair Market Value of such property or asset and the amount of the Obligation so secured;

 

(8) net obligations under Currency Agreements and Interest Swap Obligations of such Person; and

 

(9) Disqualified Capital Stock issued by such Person with the amount of Indebtedness represented by such Disqualified Capital Stock being equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and its maximum fixed repurchase price, but excluding accrued dividends, if any.

 

For purposes hereof, the “maximum fixed repurchase price” of any Disqualified Capital Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Capital Stock as if such Disqualified Capital Stock were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Capital Stock, such price shall be the Fair Market Value thereof.

 

11


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; and

 

(2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

 

“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

“Independent Financial Advisor” means a nationally-recognized accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm:

 

(1) that does not, and whose directors, officers, employees or Affiliates do not, have a material direct or indirect financial interest in the Company; and

 

(2) that, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, is otherwise independent and qualified to perform the task for which it is to be engaged.

 

“Initial Purchaser” means Jefferies & Company, Inc.

 

“Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, between the Collateral Agent, the Trustee and the Sub-Collateral Agent and consented and agreed to by, inter alia, the Company and the Guarantors.

 

“Interest Swap Obligations” means the obligations of any Person pursuant to any arrangement with any other Person, whereby, directly or indirectly, such Person is entitled to receive from time to time periodic payments calculated by applying either a floating or a fixed rate of interest on a stated notional amount in exchange for periodic payments made by such other Person calculated by applying a fixed or a floating rate of interest on the same notional amount and shall also include, without limitation, interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars and similar agreements.

 

“Investment” means, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect investment in any other Person in the form of loans, advances or other extensions of credit (including, without limitation, a guarantee) or capital contributions to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition for consideration by such Person of any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities or evidences of Indebtedness issued by, any other Person. “Investment” shall exclude extensions of trade credit by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Common Stock of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, the Company no longer owns, directly or indirectly, greater than 50% of the outstanding Common Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary, 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 Common Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of. Except as otherwise provided for herein, the amount of an Investment shall be its Fair Market Value at the time such Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

 

“Issue Date” means the date of original issuance of the Notes.

 

“Lenders” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “Credit Agreement.”

 

12


“Lien” means any lien, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof and any agreement to give any security interest).

 

“Mortgages” means the mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds to secure Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, any Guarantee or any Collateral Agreement or other similar documents securing Liens on the Premises and/or the Leased Premises, as well as the other Collateral secured by and described in the mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds to secure such Obligations or other similar documents.

 

“NACG Preferred” means NACG Preferred Corp., the owner of 100% of the outstanding share capital of the Company.

 

“Net Cash Proceeds” means, with respect to any Asset Sale, the proceeds in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents including payments in respect of deferred payment obligations when received in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (other than the portion of any such deferred payment constituting interest) received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from such Asset Sale net of:

 

(1) reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and fees relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees and sales commissions and other direct costs of sale);

 

(2) taxes paid or estimated by the Company in good faith to be payable after taking into account any reduction in consolidated tax liability due to available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements;

 

(3) repayment of Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on the property or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale and is required to be repaid in connection with such Asset Sale; and

 

(4) appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, after 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.

 

Further, with respect to an Asset Sale by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, Net Cash Proceeds shall be reduced pro rata for the portion of the equity of such Subsidiary that is not owned by the Company.

 

“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness of a Subsidiary:

 

(1) as to which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise or (c) constitutes the lender;

 

(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any Indebtedness (other than the Notes) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default on the other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity; and

 

13


(3) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the Capital Stock or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

“Note Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

 

“Notes” means the Notes that are issued under this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, including Additional Notes, if any, and any Notes issued in exchange for the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, if any. The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes shall constitute one series of Notes for all purposes under this Indenture.

 

“Obligations” means all obligations for principal, premium, interest (including Additional Interest and interest accruing after the commencement of any bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar proceeding, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness (including Additional Amounts).

 

“Offering” means the offering of the Notes under the Offering Circular of the Company dated May 13, 2005.

 

“Officer” means (a) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller or principal accounting officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person and (b) with respect to any other Person, the individuals selected by such Person to perform functions similar to those of the officers listed in clause (a).

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate that (a) is signed by two Officers of the Company, at least one of whom shall be the principal financial officer of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee, and (b) meets the requirements of Sections 12.04 and 12.05.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be internal counsel of the Company) who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee that meets the requirements of Sections 12.04 and 12.05.

 

“Permitted Holders” means The Sterling Group, L.P., Genstar Capital, L.P., Perry Strategic Capital Inc. and Stephens Group, Inc. and their respective Affiliates (in each case, other than portfolio companies thereof).

 

“Permitted Investments” means:

 

(1) Investments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in any Person that is or will become immediately after such Investment a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or that will merge or consolidate into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(2) Investments in the Company by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that any Indebtedness evidencing such Investment and held by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor is unsecured and subordinated, pursuant to a written agreement, to the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture;

 

(3) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

14


(4) Currency Agreements and Interest Swap Obligations entered into by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries and otherwise in compliance with this Indenture;

 

(5) additional Investments not to exceed $15.0 million at any one time outstanding;

 

(6) Investments in securities of trade creditors or customers received pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of such trade creditors or customers or in good faith settlement of delinquent obligations of such trade creditors or customers;

 

(7) receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided, however, that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;

 

(8) Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection or deposit and lease, utility and workers compensation, performance and similar deposits entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(9) Investments made by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of consideration received in connection with an Asset Sale made in compliance with Section 4.10;

 

(10) Investments represented by guarantees that are otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

 

(11) Investments the payment for which is Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or Holdings;

 

(12) any assets acquired as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any secured Permitted Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Permitted Investment in default;

 

(13) Investments existing on of the Issue Date and any amendment, extension, substitution, renewal or modification thereof to the extent that any such amendment, extension, substitution, renewal or modification does not require the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to make any additional cash or non-cash payments or provide additional services in connection therewith;

 

(14) Investments to support bonding arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

 

(15) Investments in Permitted Joint Ventures in an amount not to exceed $10.0 million at any time outstanding; and

 

(16) loans or advances to employees or customers in the ordinary course of business and guarantees or similar obligations with respect to the foregoing in an amount not to exceed $1.0 million in each fiscal year.

 

“Permitted Joint Venture” means an entity characterized as a joint venture in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (a) owns at least 30% of the ownership interest and (b) has the right to receive a percentage of the profits or distributions at least equal to the percentage of its ownership interest.

 

15


“Permitted Liens” means the following types of Liens:

 

(1) Liens existing as of the Issue Date and securing Indebtedness permitted to be outstanding under clause (3) of the definition of the term “Permitted Indebtedness” to the extent and in the manner such Liens are in effect on the Issue Date;

 

(2) Liens securing Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted under clause (2) of the definition of the term “Permitted Indebtedness” and interest, fees and other Obligations thereunder not constituting Indebtedness;

 

(3) Liens securing this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees;

 

(4) Liens of the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company on assets of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(5) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness that is incurred in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture to Refinance any Indebtedness that has been secured by a Lien permitted under this Indenture; provided, however, that such Liens: (a) are no less favorable to the Holders in any material respect and are not more favorable to the lienholders in any material respect with respect to such Liens than the Liens in respect of the Indebtedness being Refinanced; and (b) do not extend to or cover any property or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries not securing the Indebtedness so Refinanced;

 

(6) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims either (a) not delinquent or (b) contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have set aside on its books such reserves as may be required pursuant to GAAP;

 

(7) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers, materialmen, repairmen and other Liens imposed by law incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith, if such reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof;

 

(8) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, including any Lien securing letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in connection therewith, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money);

 

(9) judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default so long as any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment shall not have been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated shall not have expired;

 

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

 

16


(11) any interest or title of a lessor under any Capitalized Lease Obligation incurred in accordance with Section 4.09; provided that (a) such Liens do not extend to any property or assets which is not leased property subject to such Capitalized Lease Obligation and (b) the sum of (x) the aggregate amount of such Capitalized Lease Obligations and (y) the aggregate amount of Purchase Money Indebtedness secured pursuant to a Permitted Lien described in clause (12) below shall not exceed $30.0 million;

 

(12) Liens securing Purchase Money Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 4.09; provided that (a) such Purchase Money Indebtedness shall not exceed the purchase price or other cost of such property or equipment and shall not be secured by any property or equipment of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company other than the property and equipment so acquired or constructed, (b) the Lien securing such Purchase Money Indebtedness shall be created within 90 days of such acquisition or construction and (c) the sum of (x) the aggregate amount of such Purchase Money Indebtedness and (y) the aggregate amount of Capitalized Lien Obligations secured pursuant to a Permitted Lien described in clause (11) above shall not exceed $30.0 million;

 

(13) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

(14) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit which encumber documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;

 

(15) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual, or warranty requirements of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including rights of offset and set off;

 

(16) Liens securing Interest Swap Obligations that relate to Indebtedness that is otherwise permitted hereunder (including Indebtedness arising under any Swap Agreement described in clause (1) of the definition thereof);

 

(17) Liens securing Indebtedness under Currency Agreements permitted hereunder (including Indebtedness arising under any Swap Agreement described in clause (2) of the definition thereof);

 

(18) Liens securing Acquired Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 4.09; provided that:

 

(a) such Liens secured such Acquired Indebtedness at the time of and prior to the incurrence of such Acquired Indebtedness by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and were not granted in connection with, or in anticipation of, the incurrence of such Acquired Indebtedness by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

 

(b) such Liens do not extend to or cover any property or assets of the Company or of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than the property or assets that secured the Acquired Indebtedness prior to the time such Indebtedness became Acquired Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and are no more

 

17


favorable to the lienholders than those securing the Acquired Indebtedness prior to the incurrence of such Acquired Indebtedness by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(19) leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(20) banker’s liens, rights of setoff and similar statutory or common law liens with respect to cash and Cash Equivalents on deposit in one or more bank accounts in the ordinary course of business;

 

(21) Liens arising from filing financing statements under the Personal Property Security Act (Alberta) or other applicable personal property security laws regarding operating leases; and

 

(22) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payments of custom duties in connection with the importation of goods.

 

“Person” means an individual, partnership (general or limited), corporation, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, association, joint stock company, trust or joint venture, or a governmental agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Pledge Agreement” means an agreement which charges or purports to charge a Lien in the Capital Stock of any Person held by the Company or any Guarantor, as well as any other Collateral secured by and described therein, to secure the Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees or any other Collateral Agreement.

 

“PORTAL Market” means the Private Offerings, Resales and Trading through Automatic Linkages Market, commonly referred to as the Portal Market, operated by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or any successor thereto.

 

“Preferred Stock” of any Person means any Capital Stock of such Person that has preferential rights to any other Capital Stock of such Person with respect to dividends or redemptions or upon liquidation.

 

“Public Equity Offering” means an underwritten primary public offering of Qualified Capital Stock of Holdings or the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the Commission in accordance with the Securities Act (excluding registration statements filed on Form S-8) or a prospectus filed with the applicable Canadian Securities Regulators in accordance with applicable Canadian Securities Laws; provided that, in the event of a Public Equity Offering by Holdings, Holdings contributes to the capital of the Company the portion of the net cash proceeds of such Public Equity Offering necessary to pay the aggregate Redemption Price (plus accrued interest to the applicable Redemption Date) of the Notes to be redeemed pursuant to Section 3.08.

 

“Purchase Date” means, with respect to any Note to be repurchased pursuant to Sections 4.10 and 3.11 or Sections 4.15 and 3.10, the date fixed for such repurchase by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Purchase Money Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price, or the cost of installation, construction or improvement, of property, equipment or a business; provided, that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness at the time of incurrence does not exceed the lesser of the Fair Market Value of such property or such purchase price or cost.

 

18


“Purchase Price” means the amount payable for the repurchase of any Note on a Purchase Date, exclusive of accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest (if any) thereon to the Purchase Date, unless otherwise specifically provided.

 

“QIB” means a qualified institutional buyer as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

“Qualified Capital Stock” means any Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Capital Stock.

 

“Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Note or portion thereof to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Redemption Price” means the amount payable for the redemption of any Note or portion thereof on a Redemption Date, exclusive of accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest (if any) thereon to the Redemption Date, unless otherwise specifically provided.

 

“Refinance” means, in respect of any security or Indebtedness, to refinance, restructure, defer, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue a security or Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such security or Indebtedness in whole or in part. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” shall have correlative meanings.

 

“Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary issued in exchange for, or the proceeds from the issuance and sale or disbursement of which are used substantially concurrently to Refinance in whole or in part, any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case that does not:

 

(1) result in an increase in the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of Indebtedness of such Person as of the date of such proposed Refinancing (plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing such Indebtedness and plus the amount of reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Refinancing); or

 

(2) create Indebtedness with: (a) a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is less than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced; or (b) a final maturity earlier than the final maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced; provided that (x) if such Indebtedness being Refinanced is Indebtedness solely of the Company (and is not otherwise guaranteed by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), then such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be Indebtedness solely of the Company and (y) if such Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinate or junior to the Notes or any Guarantee, then such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinate to the Notes or such Guarantee, as the case may be, at least to the same extent and in the same manner as the Indebtedness being Refinanced.

 

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the Issue Date among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchaser, as the same may be amended or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

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

 

“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer 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 knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

19


“Restricted Payment” means any of the following:

 

(1) the declaration or payment of any dividend or making any distribution (other than dividends or distributions payable in Qualified Capital Stock of the Company and dividends and distributions payable to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary that is a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary) on or in respect of shares of the Company’s Capital Stock to the direct or indirect holders of such Capital Stock;

 

(2) the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any such Capital Stock held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary);

 

(3) the making of any principal payment on, or the purchase, defeasance, redemption, prepayment, decreasing or other acquisition or retirement for value, prior to any scheduled final maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, of any Indebtedness that by its terms is subordinated to the Notes or a Guarantee (other than such Indebtedness that is held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary); or

 

(4) making of any Investment (other than Permitted Investments); or

 

(5) the declaration or payment of any cash dividend or making any cash distribution on or in respect to the Sponsor Preferred Stock to the direct or indirect holders of such Sponsor Preferred Stock and the making of any cash payment on, or the purchase, redemption, prepayment, decreasing or other acquisition or retirement for value in cash of the Sponsor Preferred Stock.

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” of any Person means any Subsidiary of such Person which at the time of determination is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any direct or indirect arrangement with any Person or to which any such Person is a party, providing for the leasing to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of any property, whether owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary at the Issue Date or later acquired, which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person or to any other Person from whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such Property.

 

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

 

“Senior Lien Agent” means the First Lien Collateral Agent under and as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

“Senior Lien Agreements” means, collectively, the Credit Agreement and the Swap Agreements.

 

“Senior Lien Obligations” means the Obligations arising under or evidenced by the Senior Lien Agreements.

 

“Senior Lienholders” means, collectively, the Senior Lien Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the counterparties to the Swap Agreements.

 

20


“Series A Notes” means the Company’s 9% Senior Secured Notes due 2010 issued under this Indenture and not registered under the Securities Act, whether issued on the Issue Date or thereafter, including any Additional Notes, if applicable.

 

“Series B Notes” means notes issued by the Company hereunder containing terms substantially identical to the Series A Notes (except that (i) the legend or legends relating to transferability and other related matters set forth on the Series A Notes, including the text referred to in footnote 2 of Exhibit A, shall be removed or appropriately altered, and (ii) as otherwise set forth herein), to be offered to Holders of Series A Notes in exchange for such Series A Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer or any exchange offer specified in any registration rights agreement relating to Additional Notes or in a registered public offering of Additional Notes. Each Series B Note issued in exchange for a Series A Note in the Exchange Offer or any such other exchange offer represents the same indebtedness as the Series A Note for which it was exchanged, and the Exchange Offer or any such other exchange offer do not result in a repayment or extinguishment of the Indebtedness initially represented by such Series A Notes. No Series B Note will be entitled to Additional Interest.

 

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

 

“Sponsor Preferred Stock” means the aggregate of 7,500 shares of senior preferred stock issued on May 19, 2005 by the Company to certain shareholders of NACG Holdings Inc., plus any shares of the Sponsor Preferred Stock paid as a dividend, on Sponsor Preferred Stock.

 

“Subsidiary”, with respect to any Person, means:

 

(1) any corporation of which the outstanding Capital Stock having at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors under ordinary circumstances shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person; or

 

(2) any other Person of which at least a majority of the voting interest under ordinary circumstances is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person.

 

“Swap Agreements” means (1) each agreement relating to Interest Swap Obligations entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to clause (4) of the definition of the term “Permitted Indebtedness” and (2) each Currency Agreement entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to clause (5) of the definition of the term “Permitted Indebtedness”, in each case, existing on the issue date or with a counterparty that is (or at the time such Swap Agreement was entered into, was) a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.

 

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA; provided that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

 

“Transfer Restricted Security” means a Note that is a restricted security as defined in Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act.

 

21


“Trustee” means the party named as such in the preamble of this instrument until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder. References to the Trustee as it relates to the Collateral and the Collateral Agreements include the Trustee and/or one or more Sub-Collateral Agents, as applicable.

 

“U.S.” means the United States of America.

 

“U.S. dollar” and the symbol “US$” mean such coin or currency of the United States of America which, as at the time of payment, shall be immediately available legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

“U.S. Government Securities” shall mean securities which are (a) denominated and payable only in U.S. dollars and (b) (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Securities or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt.

 

“U.S. Person” means any U.S. Person as defined in Regulation S.

 

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (1) any Subsidiary that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with Section 4.21 and (2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, securities of any class or classes of Capital Stock of such Person entitling the holders thereof (whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has voting power by reason of any contingency) to vote in the election of members of the Board of Directors (or equivalent governing body) of such Person.

 

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (a) the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness into (b) the sum of the total of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) which will elapse between such date and the making of such payment.

 

“Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” of any Person means any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such Person which at the time of determination is a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person.

 

“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means any Subsidiary of such Person of which all the outstanding voting securities (other than directors’ qualifying shares or an immaterial amount of shares owned by other Persons) are owned by such Person or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such Person.

 

22


Section 1.02. Other Definitions.

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, such provision is incorporated by reference in, and made a part of, this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

Term


  

Defined in Section


“Acceleration Notice”

  

        6.02

“Act”

  

        1.05(a)

“Additional Amounts”

  

      12.09(a)

“Adjusted Net Assets”

  

      10.05

“Affiliate Transaction”

  

        4.11(a)

“Agent Members”

  

        2.06(b)

“Certificated Notes”

  

        2.01

“Change of Control Offer”

  

        4.15(a)

“Change of Control Offer Period”

  

        3.10(b)

“Covenant Defeasance”

  

        8.03

“Event of Default”

  

        6.01

“Excluded Holder”

  

      12.09(a)

“Foreign Person”

  

        2.06(c)

“Funding Guarantor”

  

      10.05

“Global Notes”

  

        2.01

“Guarantee”

  

      10.01

“incur”

  

        4.09(a)

“Institutional Accredited Investors”

  

        2.01

“Legal Defeasance”

  

        8.02

“Net Proceeds Offer”

  

        4.10(b)

“Net Proceeds Offer Amount”

  

        4.10(b)

“Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date”

  

        4.10(b)

“Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date”

  

        4.10(b)

“Offshore Certificated Notes”

  

        2.01

“Original Currency”

  

      12.08(a)

“Other Currency”

  

      12.08(a)

“Paying Agent”

  

        2.03

“Permanent Regulation S Global Note”

  

        2.01

“Permitted Indebtedness”

  

        4.09(b)

“Private Placement Legend”

  

        2.06(h)

“Redesignation”

  

        4.21(d)

“Reference Date”

  

        4.07(a)(iii)(v)

“Registrar”

  

        2.03

“Regulation S Global Note”

  

        2.01

“Rule 144A Global Note”

  

        2.01

“Special Redemption”

  

        3.08

“Sub-Collateral Agent”

  

        7.13(a)

“Surviving Entity”

  

        5.01(a)(1)(b)

“Taxes”

  

      12.09(a)

“Temporary Regulation S Global Note”

  

        2.01

“U.S. Certificated Notes”

  

        2.01

 

Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, such provision is incorporated by reference in, and made a part of, this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

indenture securities” means the Notes.

 

23


indenture security holder” means a Holder.

 

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

 

indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

 

obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company or any other obligor on the Notes.

 

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

 

Section 1.04. Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

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

 

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

 

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

 

(5) words used herein implying any gender shall apply to both genders;

 

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

 

(7) when the words “includes” or “including” are used herein, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

 

(8) “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;

 

(9) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

(10) all references to Sections or Articles refer to Sections or Articles of this Indenture unless otherwise indicated; and

 

(11) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the TIA shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement and successor sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time unless otherwise specified.

 

Section 1.05. Acts of Holders.

 

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed (either physically or by means of a facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic transmission is transmitted through the facilities of a Depositary) by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such

 

24


instrument or instruments are delivered (either physically or by means of a facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic transmission is transmitted through the facilities of a Depositary) to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointment any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the TIA) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including a Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Note, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Note may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Note.

 

(c) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(d) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Notes held by any Person, and the date of commencement of such Person’s holding the same, shall be proved by the Trustee.

 

(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action of the Holder of any Note shall bind every future holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

 

(f) The Company may set any day as the record date for the purpose of determining Holders of outstanding Notes entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Notes (other than any such action provided or permitted to be taken under Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.05), but the Company shall have no obligation to do so; provided, that if the Company does set such a record date, it shall provide the Trustee with at least five days advance notice of such record date. With regard to any record date set pursuant to this clause (f), Holders of outstanding Notes of the applicable series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to give or take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of any such record date not later than the date of the first solicitation of any Holder to give or take any action.

 

25


ARTICLE II

 

THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01. Form and Dating.

 

The Series A Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage in addition to those set forth in Exhibit A and Exhibit B. The Series B Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B. Each Series B Note issued in exchange for a Series A Note in the Exchange Offer or any such other exchange offer represents the same indebtedness as the Series A Note for which it was exchanged, and the Exchange Offer or any such other exchange offer do not result in a repayment or extinguishment of the Indebtedness initially represented by such Series A Notes. No Series B Note will be entitled to Additional Interest. The notation on each Note relating to the Guarantees, if any, shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of US$1,000 and integral multiples thereof. Not in limitation but in furtherance of the foregoing, the Notes shall only be denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes and Guarantees shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture, and the Company, the Guarantors, if any, and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

 

Notes offered and sold in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of a single permanent global Note in registered form, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A (the “Rule 144A Global Note”), deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.

 

Notes offered and sold in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of a single temporary global Note in registered form substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A (the “Temporary Regulation S Global Note”), deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. At any time following 40 days after the later of the consummation of the offering of the Notes and the Issue Date (or, in the case of Additional Notes, 40 days after the later of the consummation of the offering of such Additional Notes or the date on which such Additional Notes were originally issued), upon receipt by the Trustee and the Company of a duly executed certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D(1), a single permanent Global Note in registered form substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A (the “Permanent Regulation S Global Note,” and together with the Temporary Regulation S Global Note, the “Regulation S Global Note”) duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided shall be deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made in the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary or its nominee, as hereinafter provided.

 

Subject to Section 2.06(g), Notes offered and sold to institutional accredited investors (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) (“Institutional Accredited Investors”), if any, shall be issued in the form of permanent U.S. Certificated Notes in registered form in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A (the “U.S. Certificated Notes”). Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.06 in

 

26


exchange for interests in the Rule 144A Global Note or the Regulation S Global Note shall be in the form of permanent Certificated Notes in registered form substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A (the “Offshore Certificated Notes”), in the case of those issued in exchange for the Regulation S Global Note, and U.S. Certificated Notes, in the case of those issued in exchange for the Rule 144A Global Note.

 

The Offshore Certificated Notes and U.S. Certificated Notes are sometimes collectively herein referred to as the “Certificated Notes.” The Rule 144A Global Note and the Regulation S Global Note are sometimes referred to herein as the “Global Notes.”

 

Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication.

 

Two Officers of the Company shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid. Each Guarantor, if any, shall execute a Guarantee in the manner set forth in Section 10.07.

 

A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

The Trustee, upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers of the Company, together with the other documents required by Sections 12.04 and 12.05, shall authenticate (i) Series A Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed US$60,481,000 and (ii) subsequent to the Issue Date and subject to Section 4.09, Additional Notes. The Trustee, upon written order of the Company signed by two Officers of the Company, together with the other documents required by Sections 12.04 and 12.05, shall authenticate Series B Notes; provided that such Series B Notes shall be issuable only upon the valid surrender for cancellation of Series A Notes of a like aggregate principal amount in accordance with the Exchange Offer or an exchange offer specified in any registration rights agreement relating to Additional Notes or in connection with one or more registered public offerings of Additional Notes. Such written order of the Company shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated. Any Additional Notes shall be part of the same issue as the Notes being issued on the Issue Date or exchanged therefor and will vote on all matters as one class with the Notes being issued on the Issue Date or exchanged therefor, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions, Change of Control Offers and Net Proceeds Offers.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. At the option of the Company, payment of interest and Additional Interest (if any) may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal, Redemption Price and Purchase Price of, and interest and Additional Interest (if any) on, all Global Notes

 

27


and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Trustee or the Paying Agent at least five Business Days before the relevant payment date. 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 Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar. The Depositary shall, by acceptance of a Global Note, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by the Depositary (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

 

The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Note Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

 

The Trustee is hereby authorized to enter into a letter of representations with the Depositary in the form provided by the Company and to act in accordance with such letter.

 

Section 2.04. Paying Agents to Hold Money in Trust.

 

The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest (if any) on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

 

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 Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes, and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a).

 

Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a) Transfer and Exchange Generally; Book Entry Provisions. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note to the Registrar, and satisfaction of the requirements for such transfer set forth in this Section 2.06, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Indenture and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Indenture.

 

28


Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at any such office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

All Notes presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing. Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, and in addition to the requirements set forth in the legend referred to in Section 2.06(h)(i) below, in connection with any transfer of Transfer Restricted Securities any request for transfer shall be accompanied by a certification to the Trustee relating to the manner of such transfer substantially in the form of Exhibit D(2).

 

(b) Book-Entry Provisions for the Global Notes. The Rule 144A Global Note and Regulation S Global Note initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of such Depositary, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as Note Custodian and (iii) bear legends as set forth in Section 2.06(h).

 

Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Rule 144A Global Note or Regulation S Global Note, as the case may be, held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Rule 144A Global Note or Regulation S Global Note, as the case may be, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Rule 144A Global Note or Regulation S Global Note, as the case may be, 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 Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any Note.

 

Transfers of the Rule 144A Global Note and the Regulation S Global Note shall be limited to transfers of such Rule 144A Global Note or Regulation S Global Note in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Beneficial interests in the Rule 144A Global Note and the Regulation S Global Note may be transferred in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary and the provisions of this Section 2.06. The registration of transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in a Global Note, which does not involve the issuance of a Certificated Note, shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with this Indenture (including the restrictions on transfer set forth herein) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for any act or omission of the Depositary.

 

At any time at the request of the beneficial holder of an interest in the Rule 144A Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note to obtain a Certificated Note, such beneficial holder shall be entitled to obtain a Certificated Note upon written request to the Trustee and the Note Custodian in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Note Custodian and Depositary for the issuance thereof. Upon receipt of any such request, the Trustee, or the Note Custodian at the direction of the Trustee, will cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Note Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as appropriate, to be reduced by the principal amount of the Certificated Note issued upon such request to such beneficial holder and, following such reduction, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to such beneficial holder (or its nominee) a Certificated Note or Certificated Notes in the appropriate aggregate principal amount in the name of such beneficial holder (or its nominee) and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Indenture.

 

29


(c) Transfers to Non-QIB Institutional Accredited Investors. The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security to any Institutional Accredited Investor that is not a QIB (other than any Person that is not a U.S. Person as defined under Regulation S, a “Foreign Person”):

 

(i) the Registrar shall register the transfer of any Note, whether or not such Note bears the Private Placement Legend, if (x) the proposed transferee has certified in writing to the Registrar that the requested transfer is at least two years after the later of (A) the Issue Date of the Notes and (B) the last date on which any Notes were acquired from an Affiliate of the Company and has delivered legal opinions and such other information as the Trustee and the Company may reasonably require, or (y) the proposed transferee has delivered to the Registrar (A) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E and (B) such certifications, legal opinions and other information as the Trustee and the Company may reasonably request to confirm that such transaction is in compliance with the Securities Act; and

 

(ii) if the proposed transferor is an Agent Member holding a beneficial interest in the Global Note, upon receipt by the Registrar of (x) the documents required by clause (i), and (y) instructions given in accordance with the Depositary’s and the Registrar’s procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Note to be transferred, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Certificated Notes of like tenor and amount.

 

(d) Transfers to QIBs. The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security to a QIB (other than Foreign Persons):

 

(i) if the Note to be transferred consists of Certificated Notes or an interest in the Regulation S Global Note, the Registrar shall register the transfer if such transfer is being made by a proposed transferor who has checked the box provided for on a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D(2) stating, or has otherwise advised the Company and the Registrar in writing, that the sale has been made in compliance with the provisions of Rule 144A to a transferee who is a QIB within the meaning of Rule 144A and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A; and

 

(ii) if the proposed transferee is an Agent Member, and the Note to be transferred consists of Certificated Notes or an interest in the Regulation S Global Note,

 

upon receipt by the Registrar of (x) the documents referred to in clause (i), and (y) instructions given in accordance with the Depositary’s and the Registrar’s procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Certificated Notes or the interest in the Regulation S Global Note, as the case may be, to be transferred, and the Trustee shall cancel the Certificated Notes or decrease the amount of the Regulation S Global Note so transferred.

 

30


(e) Transfers of Interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note. The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note:

 

(i) the Registrar shall register the transfer of an interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Certificate if (x) the proposed transferor has delivered to the Registrar a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F and the transferee shall have delivered a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D(1) stating, among other things, that the proposed transferee is a Foreign Person or (y) the proposed transferee is a QIB and the proposed transferor has checked the box provided for on a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D(2) stating, or has otherwise advised the Company and the Registrar in writing, that the sale has been made in compliance with the provisions of Rule 144A to a transferee who is a QIB within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A; and

 

(ii) if the proposed transferee is an Agent Member, upon receipt by the Registrar of (x) the documents referred to in clause (i), and (y) instructions given in accordance with the Depositary’s and the Registrar’s procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Temporary Regulation S Global Note to be transferred, and the Trustee, as Note Custodian, shall decrease the amount of the Temporary Regulation S Global Note.

 

(f) Transfers to Foreign Persons. The following provisions shall apply with respect to any transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security to a Foreign Person:

 

(i) the Registrar shall register any proposed transfer of a Note to a Foreign Person upon receipt of a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F from the proposed transferor and such certifications, legal opinions and other information as the Trustee or the Company may reasonably request; and

 

(ii) (a) if the proposed transferor is an Agent Member holding a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note or the Note to be transferred consists of Certificated Notes, upon receipt by the Registrar of (x) the documents required by clause (i), and (y) instructions given in accordance with the Depositary’s and the Registrar’s procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note or cancel the Certificated Notes, as the case may be, to be transferred, and (b) if the proposed transferee is an Agent Member, upon receipt by the Registrar of instructions given in accordance with the Depositary’s and the Registrar’s procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Regulation S Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Certificated Notes to be transferred, and the Trustee shall decrease the amount of the Rule 144A Global Note.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Notes or the Exchange Notes may not be resold in Canada without compliance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

 

(g) The Depositary. The Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act. The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes. Initially, the Rule 144A Global Note and the Regulation S Global Note shall be issued to the Depositary, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of the Depositary, and deposited with the Note Custodian for Cede & Co.

 

31


Certificated Notes shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in the Rule 144A Global Note or the Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as the case may be, if at any time:

 

(i) the Depositary for the Notes notifies the Company that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Rule 144A Global Note or the Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as the case may be, and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after delivery of such notice; or

 

(ii) the Company, at its sole discretion, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Certificated Notes under this Indenture,

 

and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02, authenticate and deliver Certificated Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Note or the Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as the case may be, in exchange for such Global Notes. Notes in Certificated form issued in exchange for a Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. Upon execution and authentication, the Trustee shall deliver such Certificated Notes in Certificated form to the persons in whose names such Notes in Certificated form are so registered. Notwithstanding any other provisions herein to the contrary, beneficial interests in Global Notes may not be exchanged for Certificated Notes, and no Certificated Notes will be issued, unless and until Certificated Notes have been delivered in exchange for all beneficial interests in the Global Notes as provided in this clause (g).

 

(h) Legends.

 

(i) Except as permitted by the following clauses (ii) and (iii), each Note certificate evidencing Global Notes and Certificated Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall (x) be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 2.06 (including those set forth in the legend below) unless such restrictions on transfer shall be waived by written consent of the Company, and the holder of each Transfer Restricted Security, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof, agrees to be bound by all such restrictions on transfer and (y) bear the legend set forth below (the “Private Placement Legend”):

 

“THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)), (B) IT IS A NON-U.S. PURCHASER AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S, OR (C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, AND (2) AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144(K) (OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THEREOF) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE)

 

32


AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THIS NOTE IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PURCHASERS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S, OR TRANSFER AGENT’S, AS APPLICABLE, RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E), OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE OR TRANSFER AGENT. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.”

 

The following legend is prescribed by applicable Canadian securities legislation and applies to trades in this Note involving persons in Canada:

 

“UNLESS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE MUST NOT TRADE THIS NOTE BEFORE THE DATE THAT IS 4 MONTHS AND A DAY AFTER THE LATER OF (1) MAY 19, 2005 AND (2) THE DATE THE COMPANY BECAME A REPORTING ISSUER IN ANY PROVINCE OR TERRITORY OF CANADA.”

 

(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security (including any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Global Note) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act:

 

(a) in the case of any Transfer Restricted Security that is a Certificated Note, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a Certificated Note that does not bear the legend set forth in (i) above (other than the legend relating to compliance with Canadian securities laws) and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security; and

 

33


(b) in the case of any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Global Note, such Transfer Restricted Security shall not be required to bear the legend set forth in (i) above (other than the legend relating to compliance with Canadian securities laws), but shall continue to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.06(b); provided, however, that with respect to any request for an exchange of a Transfer Restricted Security that is represented by a Global Note for a Certificated Note that does not bear the legend set forth in (i) above (other than the legend relating to compliance with Canadian securities laws), which request is made in reliance upon Rule 144, the Holder thereof shall certify in writing to the Registrar that such request is being made pursuant to Rule 144 (such certifications to be substantially in the form of Exhibit D(2));

 

in each case, upon the delivery by the transferor of such opinions and other information as the Trustee or the Company shall reasonably request.

 

(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02, the Trustee shall authenticate Series B Notes in exchange for Series A Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer, which Series B Notes shall not bear the legend set forth in (i) above (other than the legend relating to compliance with Canadian securities laws), and the Registrar shall rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Series A Notes, in each case unless the Company has notified the Registrar in writing that the Holder of such Series A Notes is either (A) a broker-dealer, (B) a Person participating in the distribution of the Series A Notes or (C) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144A) of the Company.

 

(iv) Each Global Note, whether or not a Transfer Restricted Security, shall also bear the following legend on the face thereof:

 

“THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY 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) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE 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 CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED

 

34


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.”

 

(v) Any Global Note may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture as may be required by the Note Custodian, the Depositary or by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. in order for the Notes to be tradable on the PORTAL Market or tradable on Euroclear or Clearstream or as may be required for the Notes to be tradable on any other market developed for trading of securities pursuant to Rule 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act or required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Notes may be listed or traded or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

 

(i) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in Global Notes have been exchanged for Certificated Notes, redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, all Global Notes shall be returned to or retained and cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Certificated Notes, redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Notes shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or the Note Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, to reflect such reduction. In the event of any transfer of any beneficial interest between the Rule 144A Global Note and the Regulation S Global Note in accordance with the standing procedures and instructions between the Depositary and the Note Custodian and the transfer restrictions set forth herein, the aggregate principal amount of each of the Rule 144A Global Note and the Regulation S Global Note shall be appropriately increased or decreased, as the case may be, and an endorsement shall be made on each of the Rule 144A Global Note and the Regulation S Global Note by the Trustee or the Note Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, to reflect such reduction or increase.

 

(j) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

 

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Certificated Notes and Global Notes at the Registrar’s request.

 

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a Holder 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 Section 2.06).

 

(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

(iv) All Certificated Notes and Global Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Certificated Notes or Global Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Certificated Notes or Global Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

35


(v) The Company shall not be required:

 

(a) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange 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 and ending at the close of business on the day of selection; or

 

(b) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or

 

(c) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.

 

(vi) Prior to due presentment of the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of all payments with respect to such Notes, and neither the Trustee, any Agent nor the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Certificated Notes and Global Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02.

 

Section 2.07. Replacement Notes.

 

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or either the Company or the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements for replacement of Notes are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Trustee and the Company may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note.

 

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

 

Section 2.08. Outstanding Notes.

 

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee or the Note Custodian in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

 

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, 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 for value.

 

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a Redemption Date, Purchase Date or maturity date, money in U.S. dollars 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.

 

36


Section 2.09. Treasury Notes; When Notes Are Disregarded.

 

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 thereof 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 knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. The Company shall notify the Trustee, in writing (which notice shall constitute actual notice for purposes of the foregoing sentence), when it or any of its Affiliates repurchases or otherwise acquires Notes, of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes so repurchased or otherwise acquired.

 

Section 2.10. Temporary Notes.

 

Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes, but may have such variations as the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

 

Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

 

Section 2.11. Cancellation.

 

The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy all canceled Notes in accordance with the Trustee’s usual procedures. The Trustee shall maintain a record of the destruction of all canceled Notes. Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes shall be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that have been paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, except as expressly provided in this Indenture.

 

Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest, including Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes, the Company 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. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date, provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) shall mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the

 

37


amount of such interest to be paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any interest that is paid prior to the expiration of the 30-day period set forth in Section 6.01(a) may be paid to Holders of Notes as of the record date for the interest payment date for which interest has not been paid.

 

Section 2.13. Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Note for registration of transfer and subject to Section 2.12, the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, any co-registrar and any Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name any Note shall be registered upon the register of Notes kept by the Registrar as the absolute owner of such Note (whether or not such Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of the ownership or other writing thereon made by anyone other than the Company, any co-registrar or any Registrar) for the purpose of receiving all payments with respect to such Note and for all other purposes, and none of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, any co-registrar or any Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

Section 2.14. CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Company in issuing the Notes may use a “CUSIP” number, and if so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP number in notices of redemption, repurchase or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number printed in the notice or on the Notes, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes. The Company shall notify the Trustee of any change to the CUSIP numbers.

 

Section 2.15. Designation.

 

The Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes is hereby irrevocably designated herein as “senior indebtedness” or such other term denoting seniority for the purposes of any future Indebtedness of the Company which the Company makes subordinate to any senior indebtedness or such other term denoting seniority.

 

Section 2.16. Interest Act Disclosure

 

For the sole purpose of disclosure pursuant to the Interest Act (Canada), the yearly rate of interest to which any rate of interest payable under this Indenture or any of the Notes that is calculated on any basis other than a full calendar year is equivalent may be determined by multiplying such rate by a fraction the numerator of which is the actual number of days in the calendar year in which such yearly rate of interest is to be ascertained and the denominator of which is the number of days comprising such other basis, and the rates of interest stipulated in this Indenture or in any of the Notes are intended to be nominal rates and not effective rates or yields.

 

Section 2.17. Limitation on Interest

 

If any provision of this Indenture or any of the Notes or any Guarantee would obligate the Company or any Guarantor to make any payment of interest or other amount payable to any Holder in an amount or calculated at a rate which would be prohibited by law, to the extent that the Company or such Guarantor may not lawfully waive the benefit of such law, or would result in a receipt by such Holder of interest at a criminal rate (as such terms are construed under the Criminal Code (Canada)) then, notwithstanding such provisions, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by law or so result in a receipt by such Holder of interest at a criminal rate, such adjustment to

 

38


be effected, to the extent necessary, as follows: (1) firstly, by reducing the amount or rate of interest required to be paid to such Holder under the Notes, and (2) thereafter, by reducing any fees, commissions, premiums and other amounts required to be paid to such Holder which would constitute “interest” for purposes of Section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada). Any amount or rate of interest referred to in this Section 2.17 shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practices and principles as an effective annual rate of interest over the term that the applicable Note remains outstanding on the assumption that any charges, fees or expenses that fall within the meaning of “interest” (as defined in the Criminal Code (Canada)) shall, if they relate to a specific period of time, be pro-rated over that period of time and otherwise be pro-rated over the period from the Issue Date to the date of termination or cancellation of the applicable Notes and, in the event of a dispute, a certificate of a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries appointed by the Company shall be conclusive for the purposes of such determination.

 

ARTICLE III

 

REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE

 

Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee.

 

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.07, 3.08 or 3.09, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, the Redemption Date, the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and the Redemption Price.

 

If the Company is required to offer to repurchase Notes pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4.10 and 3.11 or Sections 4.15 and 3.10, it shall notify the Trustee in writing, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Purchase Date, of the Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the repurchase shall occur, the Purchase Date, the principal amount of Notes required to be repurchased and the Purchase Price and shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the Company is required to make or has made a Net Proceeds Offer or a Change of Control Offer, as the case may be.

 

If the Registrar is not the Trustee, the Company shall, concurrently with each notice of redemption or repurchase, cause the Registrar to deliver to the Trustee a certificate (upon which the Trustee may rely) setting forth the principal amounts of Notes held by each Holder.

 

Section 3.02. Selection of Notes.

 

Except as set forth below, if less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed 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 then listed on a national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate. In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes or portions thereof 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.

 

If less than all of the Notes tendered are to be repurchased pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4.10 and 3.11 or Sections 4.15 and 3.10, the Trustee shall select the Notes or portions thereof to be repurchased in compliance with Sections 4.10 and 3.11 or Sections 4.15 and 3.10, as applicable. If less than all of the Notes tendered are to be redeemed pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.07 or 3.08, the Trustee shall select the Notes only pro rata or on as nearly a pro rata basis as is practicable (subject to DTC procedures) or by such other method as may be required by law.

 

39


The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes or portions thereof selected for redemption or repurchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or repurchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or repurchased. Notes and portions thereof selected shall be in amounts of US$1,000 or integral multiples of US$1,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of US$1,000, shall be redeemed. No Notes of a principal amount of US$1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.

 

Section 3.03. Notice of Optional or Special Redemption.

 

In the event Notes are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 3.07, 3.08 or 3.09, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date, the Company shall mail by first-class mail a notice of redemption to each Holder at its registered address whose Notes are to be redeemed in whole or in part, with a copy to the Trustee.

 

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

 

(a) the Redemption Date;

 

(b) the Redemption Price;

 

(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued;

 

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

 

(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price and accrued interest, including Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the Redemption Date;

 

(f) that, unless the Company defaults in making the redemption payment, interest, including Additional Interest, if applicable, on Notes called for redemption will cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date, and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes is to receive payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, including Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the Redemption Date upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed;

 

(g) if fewer than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the identification of the particular Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed, as well as the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be outstanding after such partial redemption; and

 

(h) the section of the Notes pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed.

 

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided that the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, at least 35 days prior to the Redemption Date (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

 

40


Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed, Notes or portions thereof called for redemption become due and payable on the Redemption Date at the Redemption Price. Upon surrender to any Paying Agent, such Notes or portions thereof shall be paid at the Redemption Price, plus accrued interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest that are due and payable on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Notes, registered as such, at the close of business on the relevant record date for the payment of such installment of interest.

 

Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price or Purchase Price.

 

On or before 10:00 A.M. New York City time on each Redemption Date or Purchase Date, the Company shall irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent (or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) money in U.S. dollars sufficient to pay the aggregate amount due on all Notes to be redeemed or repurchased on that date, including without limitation any accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the Redemption Date or Purchase Date. The Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money not required for that purpose.

 

Unless the Company defaults in making such payment, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes to be redeemed or repurchased will cease to accrue on the applicable Redemption Date or Purchase Date, whether or not such Notes are presented for payment. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest, including Additional Interest, if applicable, will be paid on the unpaid principal, from the applicable Redemption Date or Purchase Date until such principal is paid, and on any interest, including Additional Interest, if applicable, not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01.

 

Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed or Repurchased in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or repurchased in part, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to portion of the Note surrendered that is not to be redeemed or repurchased.

 

Section 3.07. Optional Redemption.

 

Except pursuant to Section 3.08 or 3.09, the Notes are not redeemable at the option of the Company before June 1, 2008. Thereafter, the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, during any period set forth below at the Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) set forth opposite such period:

 

Year


   Percentage

 

On or after June 1, 2008 and prior to June 1, 2009

   104.50 %

On or after June 1, 2009 and prior to June 1, 2010

   102.25 %

On June 1, 2010

   100.00 %

 

41


In addition, the Company must pay accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest, if any) on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date. Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06.

 

Section 3.08. Optional Redemption Upon Public Equity Offerings.

 

At any time, or from time to time, on or prior to June 1, 2007, the Company may, at its option, use the net cash proceeds from one or more Public Equity Offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) issued hereunder (a “Special Redemption”) at a Redemption Price equal to 109.0% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest, if any) thereon, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided that

 

(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) issued hereunder remains outstanding immediately after any such Special Redemption; and

 

(2) the Company makes such Special Redemption not more than 90 days after the consummation of any such Public Equity Offering.

 

Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.08 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06.

 

Section 3.09. Redemption for Taxation Reasons.

 

The Company may at any time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, redeem in whole but not in part the outstanding Notes at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest (including Additional Interest, if any) and any Additional Amounts to the Redemption Date if the Company has become or would become obligated to pay any Additional Amounts in respect of the Notes or the Guarantees as a result of:

 

(a) any change in or amendment to the laws (or regulations promulgated thereunder) of Canada (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein), or

 

(b) any change in or amendment to any published administrative position regarding the application, or any change in the judicial interpretation, of such laws or regulations,

 

which change or amendment is announced or is effective on or after the Issue Date, and such obligation to pay Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by the Company or such Guarantor taking reasonable measures available to it; provided, however, that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Company or such Guarantor would be obliged to pay Additional Amounts were a payment in respect of such Notes then due and payable. Prior to the distribution of any notice of redemption pursuant to this Section 3.09, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the right of the Company so to redeem have occurred, and an Opinion Of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee to the effect that the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be, has or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts as a result of such change or amendment.

 

42


Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06.

 

Section 3.10. Repurchase upon Change of Control Offer.

 

(a) In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.15, the Company shall be required to commence a Change of Control Offer, it shall follow the procedures specified in this Section 3.10.

 

(b) The Change of Control Offer shall remain open for a period from the date of the mailing of the notice of the Change of Control Offer described in clause (c) below until a date determined by the Company which is at least 30 but no more than 45 days from the date of mailing of such notice and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Change of Control Offer Period”). On the Purchase Date, which shall be no later than the last day of the Change of Control Offer Period, the Company shall purchase the principal amount of Notes properly tendered in response to the Change of Control Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

 

(c) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer. The Change of Control Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer, shall state:

 

(1) the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control, providing material information, to the extent publicly available, regarding the Person or Persons acquiring control, and stating that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.10 and Section 4.15 and that, to the extent lawful, all Notes properly tendered will be accepted for payment;

 

(2) the Purchase Price, the last day of the Change of Control Offer Period, and the Purchase Date;

 

(3) that any Note not properly tendered or otherwise not accepted for repurchase will continue to accrue interest and Additional Interest, if any;

 

(4) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the amount due on the Purchase Date, all Notes or portions thereof accepted for repurchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest and Additional Interest, if any, after the Purchase Date;

 

(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will be required to tender the Notes, with the form entitled Option of Holder to Elect Purchase on the reverse of the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice not later than the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Purchase Date;

 

43


(6) that Holders will 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 Change of Control Offer Period, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for repurchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes redeemed in whole or in part; and

 

(7) that Holders whose Notes are being repurchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the portion of the Notes tendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer) that is not to be repurchased, which portion must be equal to US$1,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple thereof.

 

(d) On or before 10:00 A.M. New York City time on the Purchase Date, the Company shall to the extent lawful, (i) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Purchase Price, together with accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the Purchase Date in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered and accepted for repurchase 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 thereof being repurchased by the Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail to each Holder of Notes so repurchased the amount due in connection with such Notes, and the Company shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate shall authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to transfer by book entry) to each relevant Holder a new Note, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered to the Holder thereof; provided that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of US$l,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.

 

(e) If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, in each case to the Purchase Date, shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no interest or Additional Interest, if applicable, shall accrue on any Notes so purchased in connection with the Change of Control Offer on or after such Purchase Date.

 

Section 3.11. Repurchase upon Application of Net Cash Proceeds.

 

(a) In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10, the Company shall be required to commence a Net Proceeds Offer, it shall follow the procedures specified in this Section 3.11.

 

(b) The notice of a Net Proceeds Offer shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer. Each Net Proceeds Offer will be mailed to all Holders as shown on the register of Holders within 25 days following the Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date, with a copy to the Trustee, and shall comply with the procedures set forth in this Indenture. Upon receiving notice of the Net Proceeds Offer, Holders may elect to tender their Notes in whole or in part in integral multiples of US$1,000 in exchange for cash. A Net Proceeds Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days or such longer period as may be required by law. Upon the expiration of that period, the Company shall promptly (but in any event within three Business Days following such expiration) purchase the Notes properly tendered in accordance with this Section 3.11 and Section 4.10 and any other Applicable Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement) containing provisions similar to those set forth in Section 4.10 properly tendered in accordance with the agreements or instruments governing such other Applicable Indebtedness. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Net Proceeds Offer, shall state:

 

(1) that the Net Proceeds Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.11 and Section 4.10;

 

44


(2) the Net Proceeds Offer Amount, the Purchase Price and the Purchase Date;

 

(3) that any Note not properly tendered or otherwise not accepted for repurchase shall continue to accrue interest and Additional Interest, if any;

 

(4) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the amount due on the Purchase Date, all Notes or portions thereof accepted for repurchase pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer shall cease to accrue interest and Additional Interest, if any, after the Purchase Date;

 

(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes repurchased pursuant to any Net Proceeds Offer shall be required to tender the Notes, with the form entitled Option of Holder to Elect Purchase on the reverse of the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Purchase Date;

 

(6) that Holders will 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 Purchase Date, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Notes delivered for repurchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Notes repurchased in whole or in part; and

 

(7) that, to the extent Holders properly tender Notes (along with any such other Applicable Indebtedness of the Company properly tendered) in an amount exceeding the Net Proceeds Offer Amount, the tendered Notes will be purchased pro rata based on the aggregate amounts of Notes and such other Applicable Indebtedness of the Company properly tendered (and the Trustee shall select the tendered Notes of tendering Holders pro rata based on the amount of Notes and such other Applicable Indebtedness of the Company properly tendered).

 

(c) On or before 10:00 A.M. New York City time on the Purchase Date, the Company shall to the extent lawful, (i) accept for payment, pro rata in accordance with this Indenture to the extent necessary, the Net Proceeds Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer (along with such other Applicable Indebtedness of the Company properly tendered), or if less than the Net Proceeds Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes properly tendered, (ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Purchase Price, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the Purchase Date in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered and accepted for repurchase 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 thereof being repurchased by the Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail to each Holder of Notes so repurchased the amount due in connection with such Notes, and the Company shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion to the Holder thereof; provided that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of US$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Net Proceeds Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.

 

(d) If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, in each case to the

 

45


Purchase Date, shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no interest or Additional Interest, if applicable, shall accrue on any Notes so purchased in connection with the Net Proceeds Offer on or after such Purchase Date.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01. Payment of Notes.

 

The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal, Redemption Price and Purchase Price of, and interest and Additional Interest (if any) on, the Notes on the dates, in the amounts and in the manner provided herein and in the Notes. Principal, Redemption Price, Purchase Price and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company, holds as of 10:00 A.M. New York City time on the due date money in U.S. dollars deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay the aggregate amount then due. The Company shall pay all Additional Interest, if any, on the dates, in the amounts and in the manner set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal, Redemption Price and Purchase Price at the applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

(a) The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Office of the Trustee.

 

(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; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

(c) The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03. The Trustee may resign such agency at any time by giving written notice to the Company no later than 30 days prior to the effective date of such resignation.

 

46


Section 4.03. Reports to Holders.

 

(a) For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders of the Notes the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

(b) Whether or not the Company is subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall file with the Commission and furnish to the Holders of the Notes and the Trustee, within the time periods required for filing such forms and reports as specified in the Commission’s rules and regulations:

 

(1) annual reports on Form 40-F or Form 20-F, as applicable, or any successor form, and

 

(2) quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or Form 6-K, as applicable, or any successor form, which, regardless of applicable requirements, shall contain, at a minimum, (i) 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, (ii) the financial statements required by the Commission’s Regulation S-X, including without limitation, Rule 3-10 thereunder, (iii) with respect to the annual financial statements only, a report thereon by the Company’s independent chartered accountants, and (iv) a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP as permitted by the Commission for foreign private issuers.

 

(c) In addition, following the consummation of the Exchange Offer, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, the Company will file a copy of all such information and reports with the Commission for public availability within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and regulations; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file such reports with the Commission if the Commission does not permit such filings.

 

Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate.

 

(a) The Company and each Guarantor shall deliver to the Trustee, within 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge, the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in Default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (and, 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.

 

(b) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, promptly upon any Officer of the Company obtaining knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and describing its status with reasonable particularity and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 4.05. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

 

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

 

47


Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though such law has not been enacted.

 

Section 4.07. Limitation on Restricted Payments.

 

(a) The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any Restricted Payment, unless, if at the time of such Restricted Payment or immediately after giving effect thereto:

 

(i) no Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(ii) the Company is able to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) in compliance with Section 4.09; and

 

(iii) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments (including such proposed Restricted Payment) made subsequent to the Issue Date (the amount expended for such purposes, if other than in cash, being the Fair Market Value of such property at the time of the making thereof) shall not exceed the sum of:

 

(v) 50% of the cumulative Consolidated Net Income (or if cumulative Consolidated Net Income shall be a loss, minus 100% of such loss) of the Company for the period (treating such period as a single accounting period) commencing with the first full fiscal quarter after the Issue Date to and including the last day of the fiscal quarter ended immediately prior to the date of such calculation for which consolidated financial statements are available (the “Reference Date”); plus

 

(w) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company from any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company) from the issuance and sale subsequent to the Issue Date of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or warrants, options or other rights to acquire Qualified Capital Stock of the Company (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Qualified Capital Stock) and 100% of the principal amount of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness that by its terms is subordinated to the Notes) that has been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or Holdings (other than to the extent of any Qualified Capital Stock issued to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company); plus

 

(x) without duplication of any amounts included in clause (iii)(w) above, 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds of any equity contribution (or the Fair Market Value of an equity contribution made in the form of Capital Stock of Holdings so long as such Capital Stock is used as consideration paid in an Asset Acquisition or to repay Indebtedness) received by the Company from a holder of the Company’s Capital Stock subsequent to the Issue Date (excluding, in the case of clauses (iii)(w) and (x), any net cash proceeds from a Public Equity Offering to the extent used to redeem the Notes in compliance with the provisions set forth in Section 3.08); plus

 

48


(y) without duplication, the sum of:

 

(1) the aggregate amount of the return to capital with respect to any Investment (other than a Permitted Investment) made subsequent to the Issue Date whether through interest payments, principal payments, dividends or other distributions or payments;

 

(2) the net cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the disposition of all or any portion of such Investments (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company); and

 

(3) upon redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Fair Market Value of such Subsidiary;

 

provided, however, that the sum of clauses (1), (2) and (3) above shall not exceed the aggregate amount of all such Investments made subsequent to the Issue Date.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing and without duplication, the Company will not be permitted to include the first $7.5 million of aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company from the issuance and sale of the Sponsor Preferred Stock on or before or subsequent to the Issue Date that would otherwise be permitted to be included in clause (iii)(w) above.

 

(b) The foregoing provisions will not prohibit:

 

(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution if the dividend or distribution would have been permitted on the date of declaration;

 

(2) the redemption, repurchase, or other acquisition or retirement for value of any shares of Capital Stock of the Company or Holdings, either (i) solely in exchange for shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or Holdings or (ii) through the application of net proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale for cash (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or Holdings;

 

(3) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of any Indebtedness that by its terms is subordinated to the Notes either (i) solely in exchange for shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company, or (ii) through the application of net proceeds of (a) a substantially concurrent sale for cash (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or Holdings, or (b) Refinancing Indebtedness or (iii) with the substantially concurrent receipt of a cash capital contribution from a direct or indirect holder of the Company’s Capital Stock to defease, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire such Indebtedness;

 

(4) if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the redemption, repurchase, or other acquisition or retirement for value by the Company of Common Stock of the Company or Holdings from current or former officers, directors and employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at any time or from their authorized representatives upon the death, disability or termination of employment of such employees or termination of their seat on the board of the Company, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2.0 million in any calendar year;

 

49


(5) the repurchase of Common Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options to the extent such Common Stock represents a portion of the exercise price of such stock options;

 

(6) payments to NACG Preferred to pay its or Holdings’ operating and administrative expenses including, without limitation, directors fees, employee salaries and other compensation, legal, accounting and audit expenses, compliance expenses and similar Canadian compliance expenses and corporate franchise and other taxes, whether similar or dissimilar, in each case arising from NACG Preferred’s ownership of the Company, Holdings’ ownership of NACG Preferred or the Company’s businesses of the type permitted by Section 4.19, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1.0 million per fiscal year;

 

(7) if NACG Preferred files a consolidated or combined return on behalf of itself and the Company and/or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company following an enabling change in the Income Tax Act (Canada), payments to NACG Preferred pursuant to any reasonable tax sharing agreement or arrangement but only to the extent that amounts payable from time to time by the Company under any such agreement do not exceed the corresponding tax payments that the Company would have been required to make to any relevant taxing authority had the Company not joined in such consolidated or combined return, but instead had filed returns including only the Company;

 

(8) payments by the Company in an amount not to exceed, in the aggregate, in any calendar year, $1.0 million to the Equity Investors pursuant to the Advisory Services Agreement for advisory services and transactions fees; and

 

(9) Restricted Payments not to exceed $8.5 million in the aggregate.

 

In determining the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made subsequent to the Issue Date in accordance with clause (iii) of Section 4.07(a), amounts expended pursuant to clauses (1), (2)(ii), (4), (7), (8) and (9) of this Section 4.07(b) shall be included in such calculation. The amount of any non-cash Restricted Payment shall be the Fair Market Value thereof at the date of the making of such Restricted Payment.

 

Section 4.08. Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on or in respect of its Capital Stock;

 

(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary or to pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or

 

50


(3) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(a) applicable law, rule, regulation or order;

 

(b) this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Collateral Agreements;

 

(c) customary non-assignment provisions of any contract or of any lease governing a leasehold interest of, or any license held by, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(d) any instrument governing Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or governing Acquired Indebtedness, which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person or the properties or assets of the Person so acquired;

 

(e) (i) the 8 3/4% Senior Notes Indenture or any other indenture governing debt securities that are permitted to be incurred hereunder and are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to dividend and other payment restrictions affecting Restricted Subsidiaries than those contained in the 8 3/4% Senior Notes Indenture or (ii) any other agreement existing on the Issue Date to the extent and in the manner such agreements are in effect on the Issue Date;

 

(f) the Credit Agreement;

 

(g) restrictions on the transfer of assets subject to any Lien permitted under this Indenture imposed by the holder of such Lien;

 

(h) restrictions imposed by any agreement to sell or dispose of assets or Capital Stock, which sale or disposition is permitted under this Indenture, pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

 

(i) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements (in each case relating solely to the respective joint venture or similar entity or the equity interests therein) or in licenses or leases or in asset or stock sale agreements or agreements similar to any of the foregoing entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

 

(k) mortgages, purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business or Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature described in clause (c) above on the property acquired with such Indebtedness; and

 

(l) an agreement amending, supplementing, modifying, restating, renewing, replacing, substituting, refinancing, increasing, refunding, extending, deferring or restructuring an agreement referred to in clauses (b), (d), (e) and (g) above; provided, however, that the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in any

 

51


such agreement are no less favorable to the Company in any material respect as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in its reasonable and good faith judgment than the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in agreements referred to in such clauses (b), (d), (e) and (g).

 

Section 4.09. Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness.

 

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume, guarantee, acquire, become liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to, or otherwise become responsible for payment of (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness); provided, however, that if no Default or Event of Default shall occur as a consequence of the incurrence of any such Indebtedness, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is or, upon such incurrence, becomes a Guarantor may incur Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Acquired Indebtedness) if on the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, after giving pro forma effect to the incurrence thereof and the application of the proceeds thereof, the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company is greater than 2.0 to 1.0.

 

(b) Section 4.09(a) will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “Permitted Indebtedness”), each of which shall be given independent effect:

 

(1) Indebtedness under the Notes issued on the Issue Date and the related Guarantees and the Notes issued in exchange for the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and the related Guarantees;

 

(2) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Credit Agreement in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the excess of (i) the greater of (x) $50.0 million and (y) the Borrowing Base; minus (ii) the aggregate amount of permanent reductions to the revolving commitments thereunder resulting from the receipt of Net Cash Proceeds of Asset Sales as provided in Section 4.10;

 

(3) other Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on the Issue Date reduced by the amount of any scheduled amortization payments or mandatory prepayments when actually paid or permanent reductions thereon;

 

(4) Interest Swap Obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company covering Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that such Interest Swap Obligations are entered into to protect the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries from fluctuations in interest rates on its outstanding Indebtedness to the extent the notional principal amount of such Interest Swap Obligation does not, at the time of the incurrence thereof, exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness to which such Interest Swap Obligation relates;

 

(5) Indebtedness under Currency Agreements; provided that in the case of Currency Agreements which relate to Indebtedness, such Currency Agreements do not increase the Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding other than as a result of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates or by reason of fees, indemnities and compensation payable thereunder;

 

(6) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company for so long as such Indebtedness is held by the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the holder of a

 

52


Permitted Lien described in clause (1), (2), (3), (16) or (17) of the definition thereof (provided that in the case of such clauses (16) and (17), such Permitted Lien secures a Swap Agreement), in each case subject to no Lien held by a Person other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the holder of a Permitted Lien described in clause (1), (2), (3), (16) or (17) of the definition thereof (provided that in the case of such clauses (16) and (17), such Permitted Lien secures a Swap Agreement); provided that if as of any date any Person other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the holder of a Permitted Lien described in clause (1), (2), (3), (16) or (17) of the definition thereof (provided that in the case of such clauses (16) and (17), such Permitted Lien secures a Swap Agreement) owns or holds any such Indebtedness or holds a Lien in respect of such Indebtedness, such date shall be deemed the incurrence of Indebtedness not constituting Permitted Indebtedness under this clause (6) by the issuer of such Indebtedness in the amount of the Indebtedness no longer so held;

 

(7) Indebtedness of the Company to a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company for so long as such Indebtedness is held by a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the holder of a Permitted Lien described in clause (1), (2), (3), (16) or (17) of the definition thereof (provided that in the case of such clauses (16) and (17), such Permitted Lien secures a Swap Agreement), in each case subject to no Lien other than a Permitted Lien described in clause (1), (2), (3), (16) or (17) of the definition thereof (provided that in the case of such clauses (16) and (17), such Permitted Lien secures a Swap Agreement); provided that (a) any Indebtedness of the Company to any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor is unsecured and subordinated, pursuant to a written agreement, to the Company’s obligations under the Notes and (b) if as of any date any Person other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or the holder of a Permitted Lien described in clause (1), (2), (3), (16) or (17) of the definition thereof (provided that in the case of such clauses (16) and (17), such Permitted Lien secures a Swap Agreement) owns or holds any such Indebtedness or holds a Lien in respect of such Indebtedness, such date shall be deemed the incurrence of Indebtedness not constituting Permitted Indebtedness under this clause (7) by the Company in the amount of the Indebtedness no longer so held;

 

(8) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five business days of incurrence;

 

(9) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including Indebtedness in respect of standby letters of credit) in respect of bid or performance bonds, completion guarantees, performance guarantees, workers’ compensation claims, surety or appeal bonds, and payment obligations in connection with self-insurance or similar obligations, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(10) Indebtedness represented by Capitalized Lease Obligations and Purchase Money Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $20.0 million at any one time outstanding;

 

(11) Refinancing Indebtedness of Indebtedness incurred under clauses (1) and (3) above and this clause (11) and Section 4.09(a);

 

(12) Indebtedness represented by guarantees by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;

 

53


(13) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of guarantees, indemnities or obligations in respect of purchase price adjustments in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets; provided that the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such disposition; and

 

(14) additional Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount (or the accreted value, if applicable) not to exceed $5.0 million at any one time outstanding.

 

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 Indebtedness described in clauses (1) through (14) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a), the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify (or later reclassify) such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09 and such Indebtedness shall be treated as incurred only once. 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 Capital Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Capital Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09. Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement outstanding on the Issue Date, if any, will be deemed incurred for purposes of this Section 4.09 under clause (2) of this Section 4.09(b).

 

Section 4.10. Limitation on Asset Sales.

 

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

 

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

 

(ii) at least 75% of the consideration received by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, from such Asset Sale is in the form of cash, Cash Equivalents and/or Replacement Assets (as defined below) (with the amount of consideration attributable to any such Replacement Assets equal to the Fair Market Value thereof) and is received at the time of such disposition; provided that for purposes of the provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

 

(A) the amount of any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet) of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee of a Guarantor) that are expressly assumed by the transferee of any such assets and so long as the documents governing such liabilities provide that there is no further recourse to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to such liabilities; and

 

(B) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted (by sale or other disposition) by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days of such Asset Sale, to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received in that conversion; and

 

54


(iii) the Company shall apply, or cause such Restricted Subsidiary to apply, the Net Cash Proceeds relating to such Asset Sale within 180 days of receipt thereof either:

 

(A) to (i) permanently reduce the commitments under the Credit Agreement and to the extent that the aggregate amount of revolving loans and letters of credit exceed the amount of the commitments thereunder as so reduced, repay such revolving loans and/or cash collateralize such letters of credit in an aggregate amount equal to such excess and/or (ii) permanently prepay the term loans or other non-revolving funded debt, if any, under the Credit Agreement;

 

(B) to make an investment in property, plant, equipment or other non-current assets that replace the properties and assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale or in property, plant, equipment or other non-current assets that will be used or useful in (or all of the Capital Stock of an entity that becomes a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary and is engaged in) the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as existing on the Issue Date or in businesses that are the same, similar, ancillary or reasonably related thereto or are reasonable extensions thereof (“Replacement Assets”); and/or

 

(C) a combination of prepayment and investment permitted by the foregoing clauses (A) and (B).

 

(b) Pending the final application of such Net Cash Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce borrowings under the Credit Agreement or invest such Net Cash Proceeds in Cash Equivalents. On the 181st day after an Asset Sale or such earlier date, if any, as the Board of Directors of the Company or of such Restricted Subsidiary determines not to apply the Net Cash Proceeds relating to such Asset Sale as set forth in clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Section 4.10(a)(iii) (each, a “Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date”), any portion of the Net Cash Proceeds that have not been applied on or before such Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date as permitted in clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Section 4.10(a)(iii) (each a “Net Proceeds Offer Amount”) shall be subsequently applied by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to make an offer pursuant to Section 3.11 to purchase (the “Net Proceeds Offer”) on a date (the “Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date”) not less than 30 nor more than 45 days following the applicable Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date, from all Holders and all holders of other Applicable Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement) containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Section 4.10, on a pro rata basis, the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other Applicable Indebtedness that may be purchased with the Net Proceeds Offer Amount at a Purchase Price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or if such Indebtedness was issued with original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value), plus accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest, if any) to the date of purchase. If at any time any non-cash consideration received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as the case may be, in connection with any Asset Sale is converted into or sold or otherwise disposed of for cash (other than interest received with respect to any such non-cash consideration), then such conversion or disposition shall be deemed to constitute an Asset Sale hereunder and the amount of cash received (other than such interest) shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds thereof shall be applied in accordance with this Section 4.10 and Section 3.11.

 

(c) The Company may defer any Net Proceeds Offer until there is an aggregate unutilized Net Proceeds Offer Amount equal to or in excess of $10.0 million resulting from one or more Asset Sales in which case the accumulation of such amount shall constitute a Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date (at which time, the entire unutilized Net Proceeds Offer Amount, and not just the amount in excess of $10.0 million, shall be applied as required pursuant to clause (b) above).

 

55


(d) In the event of the transfer of substantially all (but not all) of the property and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as an entirety to a Person in a transaction permitted under Section 5.01, which transaction does not constitute a Change of Control, the successor corporation shall be deemed to have sold the properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries not so transferred for purposes of this Section 4.10, and shall comply with the provisions of this Section 4.10 and Section 3.11 with respect to such deemed sale as if it were an Asset Sale. In addition, the Fair Market Value of such properties and assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries deemed to be sold shall be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds for purposes of this Section 4.10 and Section 3.11.

 

(e) Each notice of a Net Proceeds Offer will be mailed by first class mail to the Holders as shown on the register of Holders within 25 days following the Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date, with a copy to the Trustee, and shall comply with the procedures set forth in this Indenture. Upon receiving notice of the Net Proceeds Offer, Holders may elect to tender their Notes in whole or in part in integral multiples of US$1,000 in exchange for cash. To the extent Holders properly tender Notes in an amount exceeding the Net Proceeds Offer Amount, the Trustee will select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis. A Net Proceeds Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 business days or such longer period as may be required by law. If any Net Cash Proceeds remain after the consummation of any Net Proceeds Offer, the Company may use those Net Cash Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. Upon completion of each Net Proceeds Offer, the amount of Net Cash Proceeds will be reset at zero.

 

(f) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 4.10 or Section 3.11, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.10 or Section 3.11 by virtue thereof.

 

Section 4.11. Limitations on Transactions with Affiliates.

 

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to exist any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with, or for the benefit of, any of its Affiliates (each, an “Affiliate Transaction”), other than (x) Affiliate Transactions permitted under clause (c) below and (y) Affiliate Transactions on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s-length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary.

 

(b) All Affiliate Transactions (and each series of related Affiliate Transactions that are part of a common plan) involving aggregate payments or other property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $5.0 million shall be approved by a majority of members of the Board of Directors of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (including a majority of the disinterested members thereof), as the case may be, such approval to be evidenced by a Board Resolution stating that such Board of Directors has determined that such transaction complies with the foregoing provisions. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company enters into an Affiliate Transaction (or a series of related Affiliate Transactions as part of a common plan) that involves an aggregate Fair Market Value of more than $10.0 million, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall, prior to the consummation thereof, obtain a favorable opinion as to the fairness of such transaction or series of related transactions to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, from a financial point of view, from an Independent Financial Advisor.

 

56


(c) The restrictions set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 4.11 shall not apply to:

 

(1) reasonable and customary directors’ fees, indemnification and similar arrangements, employees’ salaries, bonuses or employment agreements, compensation or employee benefit arrangements and incentive arrangements with any officer, director or employee of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary entered into in the ordinary course of business and payments under any indemnification arrangements permitted by applicable law, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors;

 

(2) transactions exclusively between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or exclusively between or among such Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such transactions are not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture;

 

(3) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date or any amendment, supplement, modification, restatement, renewal, replacement, refinancing, increase, refunding, extension, substitution or restructuring thereof or thereto or any transaction contemplated by any of the foregoing, so long as any such amendment, supplement, modification, restatement, renewal, replacement, refinancing, increase, refunding, extension, substitution or restructuring is not more disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

(4) payments to permit payments for NACG Preferred or Holdings’ employees and officers and directors similar to those provided in clause (1) above and payments by the Company in an amount not to exceed, in the aggregate, in any calendar year, $1.0 million to the Equity Investors pursuant to the Advisory Services Agreement for advisory services and transactions fees;

 

(5) loans or advances to directors, officers or employees in the ordinary course of business in an amount not to exceed $1.0 million per fiscal year;

 

(6) Restricted Payments, Permitted Investments described in clause (6), (11), (12), (13) or (16) of the definition thereof and intercompany Indebtedness described in clause (6) or (7) of the definition of the term “Permitted Indebtedness”;

 

(7) any transaction with an Affiliate where the only consideration paid by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or Holdings;

 

(8) sales of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Company or any such Capital Stock of Holdings that has been contributed to the Company, in each case, to Affiliates of the Company; and

 

(9) if NACG Preferred files a consolidated or combined return on behalf of itself and the Company and/or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company following an enabling change in the Income Tax Act (Canada), payments to or other transactions with NACG Preferred pursuant to any tax sharing agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary between the Company (or any Restricted Subsidiary) and any other Person with which the Company (or Restricted Subsidiary) files a consolidated tax return or with which the Company (or Restricted Subsidiary) is part of a consolidated group for tax purposes, but only to the extent that amounts payable from time to time by the Company under any such agreement do not exceed the corresponding tax payments that the Company would have been required to make to any relevant taxing authority had the Company not joined in such consolidated or combined return, but instead had filed returns including only the Company.

 

57


Section 4.12. Limitation on Liens.

 

The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit or suffer to exist any Liens of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) against or upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries whether owned on the Issue Date or acquired after the Issue Date, or any proceeds therefrom, or assign or otherwise convey any right to receive income or profits therefrom (other than in respect of Permitted Liens).

 

Section 4.13. Continued Existence.

 

Subject to Article V, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate or other existence and the corporate or other existence of each Guarantor in accordance with the organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or such Guarantor, except to the extent that the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that the preservation of such existence is no longer necessary or desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company or such Guarantor, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

 

Section 4.14. Insurance Matters.

 

The Company shall provide or cause to be provided for itself and each of its Subsidiaries insurance (including appropriate self-insurance) against loss or damage of the kinds that, in the reasonable, good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, are appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase upon Change of Control.

 

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company will be required to offer to purchase all or a portion of each Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described in Section 3.10 (the “Change of Control Offer”), at a Purchase Price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the Purchase Date.

 

(b) The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

 

(c) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 4.15 or Section 3.10, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.15 or Section 3.10 by virtue thereof.

 

58


Section 4.16. Additional Guarantees.

 

If (x) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall organize, acquire or otherwise invest in another Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) or (y) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was an Immaterial Subsidiary no longer satisfies the definition thereof, then:

 

(1) in the case of the occurrence of any event described in clause (x) above, the Company and each applicable Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall (a) execute and deliver to the Trustee such amendments to the Collateral Agreements as may be necessary or as the Trustee reasonably determines to be advisable to grant to the Trustee, for the benefit of itself and the Holders, a perfected security interest in the Capital Stock of such new Restricted Subsidiary and any debt securities of such new Restricted Subsidiary held by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, subject to the Permitted Liens, which are owned by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary and required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreements, (b) subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, deliver to the Trustee any certificates representing such Capital Stock and debt securities, together with (i) in the case of such Capital Stock, undated stock powers or instruments of transfer, as applicable, endorsed in blank, and (ii) in the case of such debt securities, endorsed in blank, in each case executed and delivered by an Officer of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be; and

 

(2) in the case of the occurrence of any event described in clause (x) or (y) above, such other Restricted Subsidiary shall:

 

(a) execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee on a senior secured basis all of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture on the terms set forth herein;

 

(b) take such actions as may be necessary or as the Trustee reasonably determines to be advisable to grant to the Trustee, for the benefit of itself and the Holders, a perfected security interest in the assets of such other Restricted Subsidiary, subject to the Permitted Liens and the Intercreditor Agreement, including the filing of Personal Property Security Act (Alberta) financing statements and any other applicable personal property security filings or registrations in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Collateral Agreements or by law or as may be reasonably requested by the Trustee;

 

(c) take such further action and execute and deliver such other documents specified herein, the Collateral Agreements or otherwise reasonably requested by the Trustee to effectuate the foregoing; and

 

(d) deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such supplemental indenture and any other documents required to be delivered have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Restricted Subsidiary and constitute legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary and such other opinions regarding the perfection of such Liens in the assets, Capital Stock and debt securities of such Restricted Subsidiary, subject to customary exceptions.

 

Thereafter, such Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for all purposes hereof.

 

59


Section 4.17. Payments for Consent.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any Holder of Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Notes, any Collateral Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

 

Section 4.18. Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

The Company will not permit or cause any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue or sell any Capital Stock (other than to the Company or to a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) or permit any Person (other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) to own or hold any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any Lien or security interest therein (other than as required by applicable law or any Permitted Lien); provided, however, that this provision shall not prohibit (1) any issuance or sale if, immediately after giving effect thereto, such Restricted Subsidiary would no longer constitute a Restricted Subsidiary and any Investment in such Person remaining after giving effect to such issuance or sale would have been permitted to be made under Section 4.07 if made on the date of such issuance or sale or (2) the sale of all of the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 4.10.

 

Section 4.19. Conduct of Business.

 

The Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not engage in any businesses that are not the same, similar, ancillary or reasonably related, to (or reasonable extensions thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company) businesses in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the Issue Date.

 

Section 4.20. Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction; provided that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a Sale and Leaseback Transaction if:

 

(a) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could have (a) incurred the Indebtedness attributable to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction pursuant to Section 4.09 and (b) granted a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.12;

 

(b) the consideration received in connection with such Sale and Leaseback Transaction is at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the asset that is the subject of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction; and

 

(c) the transfer of assets in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction is permitted by, and the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary applies the proceeds of such transaction in accordance with, Section 4.10.

 

60


Section 4.21. Limitation on Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

(a) The Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” under this Indenture (a “Designation”) only if:

 

(1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of or after giving effect to such Designation;

 

(2) the Company would be permitted to make, at the time of such Designation, an Investment pursuant to Section 4.07(a) in an amount (the “Designation Amount”) equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company’s proportionate interest in such Subsidiary on such date; and

 

(3) such Subsidiary does not own any Capital Stock of, or own or hold any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated.

 

(b) No Subsidiary shall be designated as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” unless such Subsidiary:

 

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

 

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

 

(3) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Capital Stock or (b) to maintain or preserve the Person’s financial condition or to cause the Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results.

 

(c) If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary fails to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes hereof and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary and any Liens on assets of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary as of such date and, if the Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09 or the Lien is not permitted under Section 4.12, the Company shall be in default of the applicable covenant.

 

(d) The Company may redesignate an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (a “Redesignation”) only if:

 

(1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of and after giving effect to such Redesignation; and

 

(2) all Liens or Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary outstanding immediately following such Redesignation would, if incurred or made at such time, be permitted to be incurred or made under this Indenture.

 

(e) All Designations and Redesignations must be evidenced by a Board Resolution certifying compliance with the foregoing provisions.

 

61


Section 4.22. Limitation on Layering.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness that is or purports to be by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) subordinated to any other Indebtedness of the Company or of such Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is also by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) made expressly subordinate to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Guarantor, to the same extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is subordinated to such other Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

Section 4.23. Impairment of Security Interest.

 

Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries will take or omit to take any action which would adversely affect or impair in any material respect the Liens in favor of the Trustee with respect to the Collateral. Neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall grant to any Person (other than the Trustee), or permit any Person (other than the Trustee), to retain any interest whatsoever in the Collateral other than holders of Permitted Liens. Neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries will enter into any agreement that requires the proceeds received from any sale of Collateral to be applied to repay, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire any Indebtedness of any Person, other than as permitted by this Indenture, the Notes, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Agreements. The Company shall, and shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, at its sole cost and expense, execute and deliver all such agreements and instruments as the Trustee shall reasonably request to more fully or accurately describe the property intended to be Collateral or the obligations intended to be secured by the Collateral Agreements. The Company shall, and shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, at their sole cost and expense, file or register any such notice filings or other agreements or instruments as may be necessary or desirable under applicable law to perfect the Liens created by the Collateral Agreements at such times and at such places as the Trustee may reasonably request.

 

Section 4.24. Real Estate Mortgages and Filings.

 

With respect to any fee interest in any real property (individually and collectively, the “Premises”) (a) owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary on the Issue Date or (b) acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, with (i) a purchase price or (ii) as of the Issue Date, a Fair Market Value, of greater than $500,000, on the Issue Date in the case of clause (a) and within 90 days of the acquisition thereof in the case of clause (b):

 

(1) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as mortgagee, fully executed counterparts of a Debenture (or an amendment to an existing Debenture, if applicable) or, if requested by the Trustee, separate Mortgages, duly executed by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, together with evidence of the completion (or satisfactory arrangements for the completion), of all recordings and filings of such Debenture, amendment or Mortgage as may be necessary to create a valid, perfected Lien, subject to Permitted Liens and the Intercreditor Agreement, against the properties purported to be covered thereby;

 

(2) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a customary title opinion in respect of the covered Premises in favor of the Trustee from legal counsel and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; and

 

(3) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, with respect to each of the covered Premises, the most recent survey of such Premises, together with either (i) an updated survey

 

62


certification in favor of the Trustee from the applicable surveyor stating that, based on a visual inspection of the property and the knowledge of the surveyor, there has been no change in the facts depicted in the survey or (ii) an affidavit from an officer of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary stating that there has been no change to the facts depicted in the survey.

 

Section 4.25. Leasehold Mortgages and Filings.

 

The Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall use its reasonable efforts to deliver a Debenture (or an amendment to an existing Debenture, if applicable) or, if requested by the Trustee, separate Mortgages with respect to the Company’s or any such Restricted Subsidiaries’ leasehold interests in the premises (the “Leased Premises”) occupied by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to leases (collectively, the “Leases,” and individually, a “Lease”), together with evidence of registration of such Debenture, amendment or Mortgage as may be necessary to create a valid, perfected Lien, subject to Permitted Liens and the Intercreditor Agreement, against the properties purported to be covered thereby.

 

(i) Prior to the effective date of any Lease to be entered into following the Issue Date and (ii) within 90 days of the Issue Date with respect to any Lease outstanding on the Issue Date, the Company and such Restricted Subsidiaries shall use its reasonable efforts to provide to the Trustee all of the items described in clauses (2) and (3) of Section 4.24 with respect to the leasehold interest and in addition shall use their respective reasonable commercial efforts to obtain an agreement executed by the lessor under the Lease, whereby the lessor consents to the Debenture, amendment to the Debenture or Mortgage, as the case may be, and agrees to provide notice of default to the Trustee and an opportunity for Trustee to cure such default and such other customary terms as the Trustee may reasonably request (whether granted by the instrument creating the leasehold estate or by applicable law), if any, and which shall be entered into by the Trustee.

 

Section 4.26. Landlord, Bailee and Consignee Waivers.

 

Each of the Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a lessee of, or becomes a lessee of, real property on or in which it will maintain, store, hold or locate all or any of its assets having an aggregate Fair Market Value of at least $50,000, is, and will be, required to use its reasonable best efforts to deliver to the Trustee a landlord waiver, substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto, executed by the lessor of such real property; provided that in the case where such lease is a lease in existence on the Issue Date or the lessee thereof that is a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company was not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company on the Issue Date, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary that is the lessee thereunder shall have 90 days from the Issue Date or the date it became a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, as the case may be, to satisfy, on a reasonable best efforts basis, such requirement; provided further, that no such waiver need be obtained with respect to any leased real property, if such leased real property is the subject of a Mortgage that has been delivered pursuant to Section 4.25. Each of the Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries that provides any of its assets having an aggregate Fair Market Value of at least $50,000 to a bailee or consignee agrees to be bound by the terms of the immediately preceding sentence (other than the second proviso thereto), mutatis mutandis; provided, that (i) the terms “landlord”, “lessee” and “lease” shall be replaced, respectively, with the terms “bailee” or “consignee”, as applicable, “bailor” or “consignor”, as applicable, and the “applicable agreement” and (ii) the condition that the lessee maintain, store, hold or locate all or any of its assets having an aggregate Fair Market Value of at least $50,000 shall instead be replaced with the condition that the Fair Market Value of the assets subject to the applicable bailment or consignment have a Fair Market Value of at least $50,000. In addition, each of the Company and each such Restricted Subsidiary shall, to the extent it delivers a landlord, bailee or consignee waiver to any Senior Lienholder and has not already delivered such a waiver mutatis mutandis under this Section 4.26, concurrently with such delivery, deliver a comparable waiver from the applicable landlord, bailee or consignee to the Trustee.

 

63


ARTICLE V

 

SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets.

 

(a) The Company will not, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, amalgamate, consolidate or merge with or into any Person, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of (or cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of) all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries) to any Person unless:

 

(1) either:

 

(a) the Company shall be the surviving or continuing corporation; or

 

(b) the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such amalgamation or consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person that acquires by sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition the properties and assets of the Company and of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries substantially as an entirety (the “Surviving Entity”):

 

(x) shall be a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of Canada or any province or territory thereof, the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia; and

 

(y) shall expressly assume, (i) by supplemental indenture (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee), executed and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest (including Additional Interest, if any) on all of the Notes and the performance of every covenant of the Notes, this Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement on the part of the Company to be performed or observed thereunder including, without limitation, the Company’s obligation to pay any Additional Amounts and (ii) by amendment, supplement or other instrument (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee), executed and delivered to the Trustee, all obligations of the Company under the Collateral Agreements, and in connection therewith shall cause such instruments to be filed and recorded in such jurisdictions and take such other actions as may be required by applicable law, but subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, to perfect or continue the perfection of the Lien created under the Collateral Agreements on the Collateral owned by or transferred to the Surviving Entity;

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and the assumption contemplated by clause (1)(b)(y) above (including giving effect to any Indebtedness and Acquired Indebtedness incurred or anticipated to be incurred in connection with or in respect of such transaction), the Company or such Surviving Entity, as the case may be, shall (a) have a Consolidated Net Worth equal to or greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company

 

64


immediately prior to such transaction (after excluding the effect of reasonable expenses incurred or anticipated to be incurred in connection with such transaction) and (b) be able to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) pursuant to Section 4.09;

 

(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and the assumption contemplated by clause (1)(b)(y) above (including, without limitation, giving effect to any Indebtedness and Acquired Indebtedness incurred or anticipated to be incurred and any Lien granted in connection with or in respect of the transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing; and

 

(4) the Company or the Surviving Entity shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and that all conditions precedent in this Indenture relating to such transaction have been satisfied.

 

For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise, in a single transaction or series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company the Capital Stock of which constitutes all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

 

(b) Each Guarantor (other than any Guarantor whose Guarantee is to be released in accordance with the terms of the Guarantee and this Indenture in connection with any transaction complying with the provisions of Section 4.10) will not, and the Company will not cause or permit any Guarantor to, amalgamate or consolidate with or merge with or into any Person other than the Company or any other Guarantor unless:

 

(1) the entity formed by or surviving any such amalgamation, consolidation or merger (if other than the Guarantor) or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Canada, any province or territory thereof, the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

(2) such entity assumes (a) by supplemental indenture (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee), executed and delivered to the Trustee, all of the obligations of the Guarantor on the Guarantee and the performance of every covenant of the Guarantee, this Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement on the part of the Guarantor to be performed or observed thereunder and (ii) by amendment, supplement or other instrument (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee), executed and delivered to the Trustee, all obligations of the Guarantor under the Collateral Agreements, and in connection therewith shall cause such instruments to be filed and recorded in such jurisdictions and take such other actions as may be required by applicable law to perfect or continue the perfection of the Lien created under the Collateral Agreements on the Collateral owned by or transferred to the Surviving Entity;

 

(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

65


(4) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and the use of any net proceeds therefrom on a pro forma basis, the Company could satisfy the provisions of Section 5.01(a)(2).

 

Any amalgamation, merger or consolidation of a Guarantor with and into the Company (with, in the case of a merger or consolidation, the Company being the surviving entity) or another Guarantor that is a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company need only comply with Section 5.01(a)(4).

 

Section 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted.

 

Upon any amalgamation, consolidation, combination or merger or any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01 in which the Company is not the continuing corporation, the successor Person formed by such amalgamation or consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, lease or 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 with the same effect as if such Surviving Entity had been named as such.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01. Events of Default.

 

Each of the following constitutes an “Event of Default”:

 

(a) the failure to pay interest, including Additional Interest, on any Notes when the same becomes due and payable and the default continues for a period of 30 days;

 

(b) the failure to pay the principal of or premium, if any, on any Notes, when such principal or premium becomes due and payable, at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise (including the failure to make a payment to purchase Notes tendered pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or a Net Proceeds Offer);

 

(c) the failure to make a Change of Control Offer as described in Sections 4.15 and 3.10, failure to make a Net Proceeds Offer as described in Sections 4.10 and 3.11 or a default in the observance or performance of the covenants described in Sections 4.07, 4.09 or 5.01, which failure or default continues for a period of 30 days after the Company receives written notice specifying the default (and demanding that such default be remedied) from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes (except with respect to the Section 5.01, which will constitute an Event of Default with such notice requirement but without such passage of time requirement);

 

(d) the failure to comply with any other covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or any Collateral Agreement which default continues for a period of 45 days after the Company receives written notice specifying the default (and demanding that such default be remedied) from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes;

 

(e) the failure to pay at final maturity (giving effect to any applicable grace periods and any extensions thereof) the stated principal amount of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or the acceleration of the final stated maturity of any such Indebtedness (which acceleration is not rescinded, annulled or otherwise cured within 20 days of receipt by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of notice of any such acceleration) if the aggregate principal

 

66


amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at final stated maturity or which has been accelerated (in each case with respect to which the 20-day period described above has elapsed), aggregates $10.0 million or more at any time;

 

(f) one or more judgments in an aggregate amount in excess of $10.0 million (net of any amounts that a reputable and creditworthy insurance company has acknowledged coverage in writing) shall have been rendered against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such judgments remain undischarged, unpaid or unstayed for a period of 60 days after such judgment or judgments become final and non-appealable;

 

(g) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company:

 

(i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law seeking (A) to adjudicate itself bankrupt or insolvent or (B) the liquidation, winding-up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(ii) consents to, or fails to contest, the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(iii) consents to, or fails to contest, the appointment of a custodian, receiver, interim-receiver, liquidator, trustee or similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

 

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

 

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

 

(vi) takes any corporate action to authorize any of the foregoing actions;

 

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

 

(i) is for relief in an involuntary case or proceeding against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(ii) appoints a custodian, receiver, interim-receiver, liquidator, trustee or similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of any of the foregoing; or

 

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

 

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

 

(i) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect or any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary is declared to be null and void and unenforceable or any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary is found to be invalid or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary denies its liability under its Guarantee (other than by reason of termination of this Indenture or release of a Guarantor from its Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture);

 

67


(j) any Collateral Agreement at any time for any reason shall cease to be in full force and effect in all material respects, or ceases to give the Trustee the Liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to be created thereby, superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons other than the holders of Permitted Liens and subject to no other Liens except as expressly permitted by the applicable Collateral Agreement; or

 

(k) the Company or any of the Guarantors, directly or indirectly, contest in any manner the effectiveness, validity, binding nature or enforceability of any Collateral Agreement.

 

Section 6.02. Acceleration.

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clauses (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 with respect to the Company) shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding Notes may declare the principal of and premium, if any, and accrued interest, including Additional Interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable by notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee specifying the respective Event of Default and that it is a “notice of acceleration” (the “Acceleration Notice”), and the same shall become immediately due and payable.

 

If an Event of Default specified in clauses (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, then all unpaid principal of, and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, on all of the outstanding Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

 

At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes as described in the preceding paragraphs, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may rescind and cancel such declaration and its consequences:

 

(1) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree;

 

(2) if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, including Additional Interest, if any, that has become due solely because of the acceleration;

 

(3) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest, including Additional Interest, if any, and overdue principal and premium, if any, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid;

 

(4) if the Company has paid the Trustee its reasonable compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its reasonable expenses, disbursements and its advances; and

 

(5) in the event of the cure or waiver of an Event of Default of the type described in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01, the Trustee shall have received an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel that such Event of Default has been cured or waived.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

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, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture or, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agreements.

 

68


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, and any recovery or judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes. 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 are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may waive any existing Default or Event of Default under this Indenture, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Notes. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.05. Control by Majority.

 

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with applicable law or this Indenture that the Trustee reasonably determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may subject the Trustee to personal liability and shall be entitled to the benefit of Sections 7.01(c)(iii) and 7.01(e).

 

Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits.

 

A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees or, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agreements only if:

 

(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

 

(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(c) such Holder or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee reasonable indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

 

(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

 

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

 

69


Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal of, or premium, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on the Note, on or after the respective due dates thereon (including in connection with an offer to repurchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the written consent of such Holder.

 

Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.0l(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium and Additional Interest, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and Additional Interest, if any, and such further amounts as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expense, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents (including accountants, experts or such other processionals as the Trustee deems necessary, advisable or appropriate) and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes 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. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 6.10. Priorities.

 

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

 

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

 

Second: if the Holders are forced to proceed against the Company directly without the Trustee, to the Holders for their collection costs;

 

Third: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, Purchase Price, Redemption Price and Additional Interest, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, Purchase Price, Redemption Price and Additional Interest, if any, and interest, respectively; and

 

70


Fourth: to the Company, the Guarantors, if any, or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

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

 

Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.

 

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

 

Section 6.12. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceedings to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee.

 

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, 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:

 

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

 

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, without investigation, as to the truth or the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon and statements, certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture but not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein or otherwise verify the contents thereof.

 

71


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

 

(i) this clause (c) does not limit the effect of clause (b) of this Section 7.01;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(e) No provision of this Indenture, the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement 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, the Collateral Agreements or the Intercreditor Agreement at the request of any Holder, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement, including Section 6.05 of this Indenture, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(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.

 

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting 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 the document.

 

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrain 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 written advice of such counsel and Opinions 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, accountants, experts and such other professionals as the Trustee deems necessary, advisable or appropriate and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any attorney, accountant, expert or other such professional appointed with due care.

 

72


(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, the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficiently evidenced by a written order signed by two Officers of the Company.

 

(f) The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under Section 6.01 (other than under Section 6.01(a) (subject to the following sentence) or Section 6.01(b)) unless either (i) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof, or (ii) the Trustee shall have received notice thereof in accordance with Section 12.02 from the Company or any Holder of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the Company’s obligation to pay Additional Interest or Additional Amounts, or the cessation of such obligation, unless the Trustee receives written notice thereof from the Company or any Holder.

 

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 within the meaning of the TIA it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply (subject to the consent of the Company) 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.

 

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, the Notes, the Guarantees or the Collateral Agreements (or the validity or perfection of any Lien purported to be granted thereunder) or the Intercreditor Agreement it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any offering memorandum or registration statement relating to the Notes other than its certificate of authentication.

 

Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default in payment on any Note (including payments pursuant to the redemption provisions of such 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 of the Notes.

 

Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

 

Within 60 days after each December 1 beginning with the December 1 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA Section 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA Section 313(c).

 

73


A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes 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 Section 313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.

 

Section 7.07. Compensation, Reimbursement and Indemnity.

 

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and the rendering by it of the services required hereunder and under the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement. 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 or on behalf of it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s attorneys, accountants, experts and such other professionals as the Trustee deems necessary, advisable or appropriate.

 

The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture (including its duties under Section 9.06), including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture, any Collateral Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Guarantee against the Company or a Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against or investigating any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Guarantor, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend any claim or threatened claim asserted against the Trustee, and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the termination of this Indenture.

 

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes and Guarantees on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal, Redemption Price or Purchase Price of or Additional Interest, if any, or interest on, particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the termination of this Indenture.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) 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.

 

74


Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the date on which 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 Notes of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation that is eligible under Section 7.10, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

 

75


Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof (including the District of Columbia) that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined net capital and surplus of at least US$100 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 Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 310(b).

 

Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

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

 

Section 7.12. Trustee as Agent.

 

References to the Trustee in Sections 7.01, 7.02, 7.03, 7.04, 7.07 and 7.08 and the first paragraph of Section 7.09 shall include the Trustee in its role as an Agent.

 

Section 7.13. Sub-Collateral Agent.

 

(a) At any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of any jurisdiction in which any of the Collateral may at the time be located, the Company and the Trustee shall have the power to appoint, and, upon the written request of the Trustee or of the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding, the Company shall for such purpose, join with the Trustee in the execution, delivery and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to appoint, one or more Persons approved by the Trustee either to act as sub-collateral agent (each, a “Sub-Collateral Agent”), jointly with the Trustee, of all or any part of the Collateral with such powers as may be provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person or Persons in the capacity aforesaid, any property, title, right or power, deemed necessary or desirable, subject to the other provisions of this Section 7.13. If the Company does not join such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by it of a request to do so, or if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Trustee alone shall have the power to make such appointment.

 

(b) Should any written instrument from the Company be required by any Sub-Collateral Agent so appointed for more fully confirming to such Sub-Collateral Agent such property, title, right or power, any and all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged and delivered by the Company.

 

(c) Every Sub-Collateral Agent shall, to the extent permitted by law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following terms, namely:

 

(i) The Notes shall be authenticated and delivered, and all rights, powers, duties and obligations hereunder in respect of the custody of securities, cash and other personal property held by, or required to be deposited or pledged with, the Trustee hereunder, shall be exercised solely by the Trustee.

 

76


(ii) The rights, powers, duties and obligations hereby conferred or imposed upon the Trustee shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Trustee or by the Trustee and such Sub-Collateral Agent, jointly as shall be provided in the instrument appointing such Sub-Collateral Agent, except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed, the Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act, in which event such rights, powers, duties and obligations shall be exercised and performed by such Sub-Collateral Agent.

 

(iii) The Trustee at any time, by an instrument in writing executed by it, with the concurrence of the Company evidenced by a Board Resolution, may accept the resignation of or remove any Sub-Collateral Agent appointed under this Section 7.13, and, in case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall have power to accept the resignation of, or remove, any such Sub-Collateral Agent without the concurrence of the Company. Upon the written request of the Trustee, the Company shall join with the Trustee in the execution, delivery and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to effectuate such resignation or removal. A successor to any Sub-Collateral Agent so resigned or removed may be appointed in the manner provided in this Section 7.13.

 

(iv) The Trustee shall not be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of any Sub-Collateral Agent hereunder.

 

(v) Any act of Holders delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been delivered to each such Sub-Collateral Agent.

 

(d) Computershare Trust Company of Canada is hereby appointed as a Sub-Collateral Agent and its acceptance of the same shall be evidenced by its execution of any Collateral Agreement; provided that the Trustee and the Company shall execute, deliver and perform any other agreements or instruments as may be necessary or proper to effectuate such appointment.

 

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, any references herein to a Collateral Agreement or any related document or instrument stated to granted in favor of the Trustee or to which the Trustee is a party shall be deemed to mean, if applicable, such Collateral Agreement or related document or instrument stated to granted in favor of the Trustee and/or the Sub-Collateral Agent or to which the Trustee or the Sub-Collateral Agent is a party.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

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

 

The Company may, at its option evidenced by a resolution of its Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, elect to have its obligations and the obligations of any Guarantors discharged with respect to the then outstanding Notes in accordance with either Section 8.02 or 8.03 as provided in this Article VIII.

 

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 and any Guarantor 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

 

77


the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors, if any, shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes and any Guarantees thereon, 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 clauses (a) through (d) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

(a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, including Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes when such payments are due;

 

(b) the Company’s obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payments;

 

(c) the rights, powers, trust, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(d) the Legal Defeasance provisions of this Article VIII.

 

Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02, notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03.

 

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 3.10, 3.11, 4.03, 4.04, 4.07 through 4.12, 4.14 through 4.16, 4.18 through 4.26 and 5.01 with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “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. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, Sections 6.01(c) through 6.01(f) and 6.01(i) through 6.01(k) shall not constitute Events of Default.

 

78


Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following are the conditions precedent to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 to the outstanding Notes as specified:

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. government obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, including Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

 

(a) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service or the Canada Revenue Agency, as the case may be, a ruling; or

 

(b) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Canadian or U.S. federal income tax law,

 

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Canadian or U.S. federal income tax purposes or become subject to Canadian non-resident withholding tax as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to Canadian or U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Canadian or U.S. federal income tax purposes or become subject to Canadian non-resident withholding tax as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to Canadian or U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or an Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any Lien securing such borrowings) or insofar as Defaults or Events of Default from bankruptcy or insolvency events are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit;

 

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under this Indenture (other than a Default or an Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any Lien securing such borrowings) or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

 

(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company or others;

 

79


(7) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with; and

 

(8) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that assuming no intervening bankruptcy of the Company between the date of deposit and the 91st day following the date of deposit, after the 91st day following the date of deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by clause (2) above with respect to a Legal Defeasance need not be delivered if all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (A) have become due and payable or (B) will become due and payable on the maturity date within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.

 

Section 8.05. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to Section 8.06, all money and U.S. Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05 only) 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 (other than the Company) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, Redemption Price of, and Additional Interest, if any, or interest on, the Notes, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

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

 

Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or U.S. Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04), 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.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal, Redemption Price of, or Additional Interest, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such amount has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof as a general creditor, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, at the expense of the Company, if required by applicable law cause to be published once, in The New York Times and The Wall Street

 

80


Journal (national editions), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days after the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

Section 8.07. Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or U.S. 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 obligations of the Company under this Indenture, the Notes and the Collateral Agreements and the Guarantors under this Indenture, the Guarantees and the Collateral Agreements 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 money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment with respect to any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors, if any, and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement without the consent of any Holder of a Note:

 

(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency contained therein;

 

(2) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders of the Notes pursuant to Article V;

 

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

 

(4) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of the Notes under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Agreements or the Intercreditor Agreement in any material respect;

 

(5) to allow any Subsidiary or any other Person to guarantee the Notes;

 

(6) to evidence or provide for a successor Trustee in accordance with the terms of Section 7.08;

 

(7) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

 

(8) to release a Guarantor and the Liens granted by such Guarantor in favor of the Trustee as permitted by this Indenture and the relevant Guarantee; or

 

81


(9) if necessary, in connection with any addition or release of Collateral permitted under the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or Collateral Agreements,

 

so long as such amendment does not, in the opinion of the Trustee, adversely affect the rights of any of the Holders in any material respect. In formulating its opinion on such matters, the Trustee will be entitled to rely on such evidence as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, solely on an Opinion of Counsel.

 

Upon the written request of the Company, accompanied by a Board Resolution (evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate) authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company, the Trustee and the Guarantors, if any, may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.02, 6.04 and 6.07, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes).

 

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

 

(1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver of any provision of this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Agreements or the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(2) reduce the rate of or change or have the effect of changing the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest or Additional Interest, if any, on any Notes;

 

(3) reduce the principal of or change or have the effect of changing the fixed maturity of any Notes, or change the date on which any Notes may be subject to redemption or reduce the Redemption Price therefor;

 

(4) make any Notes payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

 

(5) make any change in provisions of this Indenture relating to the right of each Holder to receive payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest, including Additional Interest, if any, on such Note on or after the due date thereof or to bring suit to enforce such payment, or permitting Holders of a majority in principal amount of Notes to waive Defaults or Events of Default;

 

(6) after the Company’s obligation to purchase Notes arises thereunder, amend, change or modify in any material respect the obligation of the Company to make and

 

82


consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event of a Change of Control or make and consummate a Net Proceeds Offer with respect to any Asset Sale that has been consummated or, after such Change of Control has occurred or such Asset Sale has been consummated, modify any of the provisions or definitions with respect thereto; or

 

(7) modify or change any provision of this Indenture or the related definitions affecting the ranking of the Notes or any Guarantee or any Lien created under any Collateral Agreement in a manner that adversely affects the Holders of the Notes;

 

(8) release any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary from any of its obligations under its Guarantee or this Indenture otherwise than in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(9) release all or substantially all of the Collateral other than in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Collateral Agreements or the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(10) modify or change the provisions of this Indenture relating to the eligibility to receive, or the computation of, Additional Amounts in a manner that adversely affects the rights of any Holder; or

 

(11) make any change to Section 9.01 or this Section 9.02.

 

Upon the written request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of the Board (evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate) authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

 

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

 

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

Section 9.03. Compliance with TIA.

 

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 of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not

 

83


made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and therefor binds every Holder.

 

Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

 

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall 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 Amendment, Etc.

 

The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company may not sign an amended or supplemental indenture until the Board approves such amended or supplemental indenture. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, in addition to the documents required by Sections 12.04 and 12.05, and, subject to Section 7.01, 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.

 

ARTICLE X

 

GUARANTEE

 

Section 10.01. Unconditional Guarantee.

 

Each Guarantor by executing a counterpart of this Indenture or a supplemental indenture as provided in Section 4.16 hereby unconditionally guarantees (each, a “Guarantee”), on a senior secured basis and jointly and severally, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, that: (i) the principal of and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon redemption, purchase pursuant to Article III or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal, if any, and interest on any overdue installment of interest, to the extent lawful, on the Notes and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or of any such other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon redemption, purchase pursuant to Article III or otherwise, subject, however, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, to the limitations set forth in Section 10.03. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, and action to enforce the same or any other circumstance (other than performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations

 

84


contained in the Notes, this Indenture and in this Guarantee. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, any Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or any Guarantor, any amount paid by the Company or any Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between each Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI 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 acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Guarantor for the purpose of this Guarantee.

 

Each of the Guarantors hereby indemnifies the Holders on demand against any loss or liability suffered by them as a result of its Guarantee being or becoming unenforceable, invalid or illegal in whole or in part. The covenants and agreements on the part of the Guarantors herein contained shall be joint and several obligations, and no Guarantor shall be released from liability hereunder by reason of this Guarantee ceasing to be binding on any other Guarantor.

 

Section 10.02. Severability.

 

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

 

Section 10.03. Limitation of Guarantor’s Liability.

 

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar Federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and such Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to Section 10.05, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guarantee not constituting such fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

Section 10.04. Release of Guarantor.

 

(a) Any Guarantee by a Guarantor (and, except with respect to any event described in clause (1)(A), (B) or (C) below, any Liens granted by it pursuant to any Collateral Agreement) shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged (provided, however, that if any event described in clause (3) shall occur, such Liens shall not be released and discharged with respect to the assets or Capital Stock so sold or otherwise disposed), without any further action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of the Notes, upon:

 

(1) (A) the amalgamation or consolidation of such Guarantor with the Company or any Guarantor that is a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; (B) the merger of such Guarantor with or into the Company or any Guarantor that is a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; (C) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor to the Company or any Guarantor that is a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or (D) the dissolution of such Guarantor;

 

85


(2) the Designation of such Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.21; or

 

(3) (A) the sale or other disposition (by merger or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor to any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or (B) the sale or other disposition (by merger or otherwise) to any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of such of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor owned directly or indirectly by the Company so that the Company no longer owns, directly or indirectly, greater than 50% of the Common Stock of such Guarantor; provided that such sale or disposition of such Capital Stock or assets is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture.

 

(b) The Trustee shall, if the Company requests, deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release upon receipt of a request by the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying as to the compliance with this Section 10.04.

 

(c) All Guarantees shall be of no further force and effect upon the occurrence of (i) a Legal Defeasance or a Covenant Defeasance pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03, subject to reinstatement pursuant to Section 8.07 under the circumstances described therein or (ii) a satisfaction and discharge pursuant to Section 11.01, subject to reinstatement pursuant to Section 11.04 under the circumstances described therein.

 

Section 10.05. Contribution.

 

In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Guarantors, the Guarantors agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under the Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled at the election of the Company to a contribution from all other Guarantors in a pro rata amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets (as defined below) of each Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to the Notes or any other Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guarantee. “Adjusted Net Assets” of such Guarantor at any date shall mean the lesser of the amount by which (x) the fair value of the property of such Guarantor exceeds the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date), but excluding liabilities under the Guarantee, of such Guarantor at such date and (y) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Guarantor at such date exceeds the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Guarantor on its debts (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date), excluding debt in respect of the Guarantee of such Guarantor, as they become absolute and matured.

 

Section 10.06. Waiver of Subrogation.

 

Until all Obligations under the Notes and this Indenture are paid in full, each Guarantor, hereby irrevocably waives any claims or other rights which it may now or hereafter acquire against the Company that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of such Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantee and this Indenture, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, indemnification, and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of any Holder against the Company, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity, or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from the Company, directly or

 

86


indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim or other rights. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence and the Notes shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall have been deemed to have been paid to such Guarantor for the benefit of, and held in trust for the benefit of, the Holders, and shall, forthwith be paid to the Trustee for the benefit of such Holders to be credited and applied upon the Notes, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the waiver set forth in this Section 10.06 is knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

 

Section 10.07. Execution of Guarantee.

 

To evidence its guarantee to the Holders set forth in this Article X, each Guarantor executing this Indenture or subsequently required to execute and deliver a Guarantee pursuant to Section 4.16 hereby agrees to execute the Guarantee in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, which shall be endorsed on each Note ordered to be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Guarantee. Each such Guarantee shall be signed on behalf of each Guarantor by two Officers, or an Officer and an Assistant Secretary or one Officer shall sign and one Officer or an Assistant Secretary (each of whom shall, in each case, have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate actions) shall attest to such Guarantee prior to the authentication of the Note on which it is endorsed, and the delivery of such Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of such Guarantee on behalf of such Guarantor. Such signatures upon the Guarantee may be by manual or facsimile signature of such officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Guarantee, and in case any such officer who shall have signed the Guarantee shall cease to be such officer before the Note on which such Guarantee is endorsed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or disposed of by the Company, such Note nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed the Guarantee had not ceased to be such officer of the Guarantor.

 

Section 10.08. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.

 

Each Guarantor hereby covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive each such Guarantor from performing its Guarantee as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) each such Guarantor hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 11.01. Satisfaction and Discharge.

 

This Indenture (and all Liens on Collateral in connection with the issuance of the Notes) will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as set forth below) as to all outstanding Notes and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture when:

 

87


(1) either:

 

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

 

(b) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (1) have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise, (2) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, or (3) are to be called for redemption within one year, under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in U.S. dollars in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest, including Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes to the date of maturity or redemption, as the case may be, together with irrevocable instructions from the Company directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

(2) the Company has paid all other sums payable under this Indenture and the Collateral Agreements by the Company; and

 

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.06, 2.07, 2.11, 7.07, 7.08, 11.02, 11.03, 11.04, 12.02 and 12.03, and the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Sections 11.02 and 11.03 shall survive until the Notes are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the Company’s obligations in Section 7.07 shall survive.

 

Section 11.02. Deposited Funds to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to Section 11.03, all funds (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 11.02 only) pursuant to Section 11.01 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 (other than the Company) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, Redemption Price of, and Additional Interest, if any, or interest on, the Notes, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the funds deposited pursuant to Section 11.01 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.

 

88


Section 11.03. Repayment to Company.

 

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

 

Section 11.04. Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any funds in accordance with Section 11.02, 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 obligations of the Company under this Indenture, the Notes and the Collateral Agreements and the Guarantors under this Indenture, the Guarantees and the Collateral Agreements shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 11.01; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment with respect to any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the funds held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.

 

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the TIA or another provision that would be required or deemed under such Act to be part of and govern this Indenture if this Indenture were subject thereto, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the TIA that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

Section 12.02. Notices.

 

Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee to others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

 

If to the Company or any Guarantor:

 

c/o North American Energy Partners Inc.

Zone 3, Acheson Industrial Area

2-53016 Highway 60

Acheson, Alberta T7X 5A7

Facsimile: (780) 960-7103

Attention: Vincent Gallant

 

89


With a copy to:

 

Bracewell & Giuliani LLP

711 Louisiana Street, Suite 2300

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Gary W. Orloff

Facsimile: 713-221-2166

 

If to the Trustee:

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

505 Main Street

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Attention: Melissa Scott

Fax: (817) 885-8650

 

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

 

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed, or in the case of any offer to purchase Notes under Section 3.09, 3.10 or 3.11 upon the date the communication is postmarked; when answered back, if telexed, but on the next Business Day if received after normal business hours; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied, but on the next Business Day if received after normal business hours; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, except that notices to the Trustee shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA Section 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 address 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.

 

90


Notwithstanding the location of offices for delivery of notices, the corporate trust office of the Trustee is located at c/o Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., MAC T5415-030, 45 Broadway, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10006.

 

Section 12.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.

 

Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 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 Section 312(c).

 

Section 12.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by the Company and/or any Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company and/or any Guarantor 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) stating that, in the opinion of the signer, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

 

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

 

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 Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e) and shall include:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 12.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

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

 

91


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

 

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, agent or stockholder of the Company or any of its Affiliates, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any of its Affiliates under the Notes or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, agent or stockholder of any of the Guarantors or any of their respective Affiliates, if any, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Guarantors under the Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes and Guarantees by accepting a Note and a Guarantee waives and releases all such liabilities. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes and the Guarantees.

 

Section 12.08. Judgment Currency.

 

(a) If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due under this Indenture or the Notes in any currency (the “Original Currency”) into another currency (the “Other Currency”), the parties agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, the Trustee could purchase the Original Currency with the Other Currency on the Business Day preceding the day on which final judgment is given or, if permitted by applicable law, on the day on which the judgment is paid or satisfied.

 

(b) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors in respect of any sum due in the Original Currency under this Indenture or the Notes shall, notwithstanding any judgment in any Other Currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Trustee of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Other Currency, the Trustee may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase the Original Currency with such Other Currency. If the amount of the Original Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due in the Original Currency, the Company and the Guarantors agree, to the fullest extent permitted by law, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding the judgment, to indemnify the Trustee and each Holder against any loss.

 

Section 12.09. Payment of Additional Amounts.

 

(a) All payments made by the Company or any Guarantor under or with respect to the Notes or the Guarantees will be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future tax, duty, levy, interest, assessment or other governmental charge imposed or levied by or on behalf of the Government of Canada or any province or territory thereof or by any authority or agency therein or thereof having power to tax (“Taxes”), unless the Company or such Guarantor is required to withhold or deduct Taxes under Canadian law or by the interpretation or administration thereof. If, after the Issue Date, the Company or any Guarantor is so required to withhold or deduct any amount for or on account of Taxes from any payment made under or with the respect to the Notes or the Guarantees, the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall pay as additional interest to each Holder of Notes that are outstanding on the date of the required payments, such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary so that the net amount received by such Holder (including the Additional Amounts) after all required withholdings or deductions is not less than the amount such Holder would have received if such Taxes had not been withheld or deducted; provided that no Additional Amounts will be payable with respect to a payment made in respect of a beneficial owner of a Note:

 

(i) with which the Company or any Guarantor does not deal at “arm’s length” (as defined for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) at the time of making such payment;

 

92


(ii) that is subject to such Taxes by reason of its being connected with Canada or any province or territory thereof otherwise than by the mere holding of the Notes or the receipt of payments thereunder;

 

(iii) that failed to comply with a reasonable and timely request of the Company to provide information concerning such beneficial owner’s nationality, residence, identity or connection with Canada or any political subdivision or authority thereof, if and to the extent that due and timely compliance with such request would have reduced or eliminated any Taxes with respect to which Additional Amounts would have otherwise been payable in respect of such beneficial owner but for this clause; provided, that no request will be considered timely if delivered less than 60 days prior to the date on which the Company was required to receive such information in order to reduce or eliminate such Taxes; or

 

(iv) any combination of the above clauses in this proviso (an “Excluded Holder”).

 

(b) The Company or any Guarantor will also:

 

(i) make all required withholdings or deductions; and

 

(ii) remit the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(c) The Company will furnish, within 30 days after the date the payment of any Taxes is due pursuant to applicable law, to the Holders of Notes that are outstanding on the date of the required payment, copies of tax receipts, if any, evidencing that all required withholdings or deductions have been made by the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

(d) The Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Notes that are outstanding on the date of the required payment (other than an Excluded Holder) and upon written request reimburse each such Holder for the amount of:

 

(i) any Taxes so levied or imposed and paid by such Holder as a result of payments made under or with respect to the Notes or the Guarantee;

 

(ii) any liability (including, without limitation, penalties, interest and expense) arising therefrom or with respect thereto;

 

(iii) any expenses incurred by the Holder in connection with the payment of any Taxes by such Holder that were levied or imposed as a result of payments made under or with respect to the Notes or the Guarantee; and

 

(iv) any Taxes imposed with respect to any reimbursement under clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, but excluding any such Taxes on such Holder’s net income.

 

(e) At least 30 days prior to each date on which any payment under or with respect to the Notes or the Guarantees is due and payable, if the Company or any Guarantor becomes obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such payment, the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Additional Amounts will be payable, the amount so payable and such other information as is necessary to enable the Trustee to pay such Additional Amounts to the Holders of the Notes on the payment date.

 

93


(f) Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context:

 

(i) the payment of principal (and premium, if any);

 

(ii) purchase prices in connection with a repurchase of Notes;

 

(iii) interest to be paid on the Notes (including Additional Interest, if any); or

 

(iv) any other amount payable on or with respect to any of the Notes or the Guarantees

 

such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for in this section to the extent, that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof.

 

Section 12.10. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS INDENTURE, THE GUARANTEES AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE GUARANTEES, IF ANY, AND THE NOTES, AND IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS IN RESPECT OF SUCH SUIT OR ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES. EACH OF THE TRUSTEE, THE COMPANY AND ANY GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THAT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TRIAL BY JURY AND ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. The Company and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably appoints CT Corporation System (the “Process Agent”), with an office on the date hereof at 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, U.S.A., as its agent to receive on its behalf service of copies of the summons and complaint and any other process which may be served in any action or proceeding between the parties hereto or any holder and arising out of the Indenture, Collateral Agreements, Registration Rights Agreement, Notes or Guarantees brought in any New York state or federal court. Such service may be made by mailing by certified mail or delivering a copy of such process to the Company or any Guarantor, in care of the Process Agent at the address specified above for the Process Agent, and the Company and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Process Agent to accept such service on its behalf. The Company and each Guarantor also irrevocably consents to such service upon it by the mailing by certified mail of copies thereof by U.S. air mail to its address set forth in Section 12.02. Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Trustee or any Holder of the Notes to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against the Company or any Guarantor in any other jurisdiction.

 

94


Section 12.11. 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 12.12. Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company and any Guarantor in this Indenture and the Notes and Guarantees shall bind their successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

 

Section 12.13. Severability.

 

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

 

Section 12.14. 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 shall represent the same agreement.

 

Section 12.15. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture, which 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 12.16. Qualification of Indenture.

 

The Company shall qualify this Indenture under the TIA in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement and shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees 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.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

COLLATERAL

 

Section 13.01. Grant of Security Interest.

 

(a) To secure the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, or Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes and all other Obligations due hereunder and under the Guarantees and the Collateral Agreements when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, by acceleration, purchase, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any, and interest (to the extent permitted by law), if any, on the Notes and the performance of all other obligations of the Company and the Guarantors to the Holders, any

 

95


Agent or the Trustee under this Indenture, the Collateral Agreements, the Guarantees and the Notes, the Company and the Guarantors hereby covenant to cause the Collateral Agreements to be executed and delivered concurrently with this Indenture. The Collateral Agreements shall provide for the grant by the Company and Guarantors party thereto to the Trustee or a Sub-Collateral Agent of a security interest in the Collateral pursuant to the applicable Collateral Agreements.

 

(b) Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Note, consents and agrees to the terms of each Collateral Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their respective terms, and authorizes and directs each of the Trustee or a Sub-Collateral Agent, as applicable, to enter into this Indenture, the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith. The Company shall, and shall cause each Guarantor to, do or cause to be done, at its sole cost and expense, all such actions and things as may be necessary or proper, or as may be required by the provisions of the Collateral Agreements, to assure and confirm to the Trustee or a Sub-Collateral Agent, as applicable, the security interests in the Collateral contemplated hereby and by the Collateral Agreements, as from time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes, Guarantees and Collateral Agreements secured thereby, according to the intent and purpose herein and therein expressed and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement. The Company shall, and shall cause each Guarantor to, take any and all actions required or as may reasonably be requested by the Trustee or a Sub-Collateral Agent, as applicable, to cause the Collateral Agreements to create and maintain, as security for the Obligations contained in this Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Agreements and the Guarantees valid and enforceable, perfected (except as expressly provided herein or therein) security interests in and on all the Collateral, in favor of the Trustee or a Sub-Collateral Agent, superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons other than as set forth herein and in the Intercreditor Agreement, and subject to no other Liens, in each case, except as expressly provided herein or therein.

 

Section 13.02. Recording and Opinions.

 

(a) The Company shall, and shall cause each Guarantor to, at its sole cost and expense, take or cause to be taken all action required to perfect, maintain, preserve and protect the security interests in the Collateral granted by the Collateral Agreements, including (i) the filing or registration of financing statements, continuation statements, collateral assignments and any instruments of further assurance, in such manner and in such places as required by law to preserve and protect fully the rights of the Holders, any Sub-Collateral Agent and the Trustee under this Indenture and the Collateral Agreements to all property comprising the Collateral, and (ii) to the extent not delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the delivery of the certificates evidencing the securities pledged under any Collateral Agreement, duly endorsed in blank to the Collateral Agent (or, upon payment in full of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, the Trustee), it being understood that concurrently with the execution of this Indenture financing statements shall have been filed or registered or the Company and the Guarantors, to the extent required under applicable personal property security laws, shall have delivered financing statements for filing by the Initial Purchaser or its agents. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all financing and continuation statement recording and/or filing fees, charges and recording and similar taxes relating to this Indenture, the Collateral Agreements and any amendments hereto or thereto and any other instruments of further assurance required pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

(b) The Company shall furnish to the Trustee, at such time as required by TIA Section 314(b) and, as reasonably requested by the Trustee, promptly after the execution and delivery of any other instrument of further assurance or amendment granting, perfecting, protecting, preserving or making effective a security interest pursuant to any Collateral Agreement, an Opinion of Counsel either (i) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, this Indenture and the Collateral Agreements, financing statements

 

96


and fixture filings, if applicable, then executed and delivered, as applicable, and all other instruments of further assurance or amendment then executed and delivered have been properly recorded, registered and filed, and to the extent not delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, all certificates evidencing securities pledged to the Trustee for the benefit of itself and the Holders under any Collateral Agreement have been delivered and duly endorsed in blank, to the extent necessary to perfect the security interests created by this Indenture and the Collateral Agreements and reciting the details of such action or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel in which such details are given, and stating that as to such Collateral Agreements and such other instruments, such recording, registering, filing and delivery are the only recordings, registerings, filings and deliveries necessary to perfect such security interest and that no re-recordings, re-registerings, re-filings or re-deliveries are necessary to maintain such perfection, and further stating that all financing statements and continuation statements have been executed and filed, and to the extent not delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement all such certificates have been delivered, that are necessary fully to preserve and protect the rights of and perfect such security interests of the Trustee for the benefit of itself and the Holders, under the Collateral Agreements or (ii) stating that, in the Opinion of such Counsel, no other action is necessary to perfect any security interest created under this Indenture, the Notes or any of the Collateral Agreements as intended by this Indenture, the Notes or any such Collateral Agreement.

 

Section 13.03. Release of Collateral.

 

(a) Neither the Trustee nor any Sub-Collateral Agent shall at any time release Collateral from the security interests created by the Collateral Agreements unless such release is in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the applicable Collateral Agreements or the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(b) Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, at any time when a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no release of Collateral pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture and the Collateral Agreements shall be effective as against the Holders.

 

(c) The release of any Collateral from the terms of the Collateral Agreements shall not be deemed to impair the security on all remaining Collateral under this Indenture in contravention of the provisions hereof if and to the extent the Collateral is released pursuant to this Indenture and the Collateral Agreements or the Intercreditor Agreement. To the extent applicable, the Company shall cause TIA Section 314(d) relating to the release of property from the security interests created by this Indenture and the Collateral Agreements to be complied with. Any certificate or opinion required by TIA Section 314(d) may be made by an Officer of the Company, except in cases where TIA Section 314(d) requires that such certificate or opinion be made by an independent Person, which Person shall be an independent engineer, appraiser or other expert selected or approved by the Trustee in the exercise of reasonable care. A Person is “independent” if such Person (a) is in fact independent, (b) does not have any direct financial interest or any material indirect financial interest in the Company or in any Affiliate of the Company and (c) is not an officer, employee, promoter, underwriter, trustee, partner or director or person performing similar functions to any of the foregoing for the Company. The Trustee and each Sub-Collateral Agent shall be entitled to receive and rely upon a certificate provided by any such Person confirming that such Person is independent within the foregoing definition.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, Collateral comprised of accounts receivable, inventory or (provided that an Event of Default shall not have occurred and be continuing) the proceeds of the foregoing shall be subject to release upon sales of such inventory and collection of the proceeds of such accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business. Such release shall occur automatically upon the occurrence of such events, but if requested in writing by the Company, the Trustee shall (and shall instruct each applicable Sub-Collateral Agent to) execute and deliver such documents,

 

97


instruments and statements and take all such other actions promptly upon receipt of such instructions as the Company may reasonably request to evidence or confirm that the Collateral falling under this Section 13.03 has been released from the Liens of all applicable Collateral Agreements.

 

Section 13.04. Specified Releases of Collateral.

 

Subject to Section 13.03, Collateral may be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Collateral Agreements at any time or from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement, or as provided hereby. Upon the request of the Company pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel certifying that all conditions precedent hereunder have been met and without the consent of any Holder, the Company and the Guarantors will be entitled to releases of assets included in the Collateral from the Liens securing the obligations under the Notes and the Guarantees under any one or more of the following circumstances:

 

(1) to enable the Company (or a Guarantor) to consummate asset dispositions permitted or not prohibited under Section 4.10;

 

(2) if any Subsidiary that is a Guarantor is released from its Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, such Subsidiary’s assets will also be released;

 

(3) if the Company exercises its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as described above under Section 8.01;

 

(4) upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Section 11.01 or payment in full in cash of the principal of and premium, if any, accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes and all other Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Agreements, the Guarantees and the Intercreditor Agreement that are then due and payable; or

 

(5) as required pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Upon receipt of such Officers’ Certificate and such Opinion of Counsel and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Company, the Trustee and each applicable Sub-Collateral Agent shall execute, deliver or acknowledge such instruments or releases to evidence the release of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Section 13.05. Release upon Satisfaction or Defeasance of All Outstanding Obligations.

 

The Liens on, and pledges of, all Collateral will also be terminated and released upon (i) payment in full of the principal of, premium, if any, on, accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes and all other Obligations hereunder, the Guarantees and the Collateral Agreements that are due and payable at or prior to the time such principal, premium, if any, accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, are paid, (ii) a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as described above under Section 11.01 or (iii) the occurrence of a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as described above under Section 8.01.

 

Section 13.06. Form and Sufficiency of Release.

 

In the event that the Company or any Guarantor has sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of or proposes to sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of any portion of the Collateral that may be sold,

 

98


exchanged or otherwise disposed of by the Company or such Guarantor, and the Company or such Guarantor requests in writing the Trustee or the applicable Sub-Collateral Agent to furnish a written disclaimer, release or quit-claim of any interest in such property under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Agreements, the Trustee or the applicable Sub-Collateral Agent shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company or such Guarantor (in proper form prepared by the Company or such Guarantor) such an instrument promptly after satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein for delivery of any such release. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, all purchasers and grantees of any property or rights purporting to be released herefrom shall be entitled to rely upon any release executed by the Trustee or the applicable Sub-Collateral Agent hereunder as sufficient for the purpose of this Indenture and as constituting a good and valid release of the property therein described from the Lien of this Indenture and of the Collateral Agreements.

 

Section 13.07. Purchaser Protected.

 

No purchaser or grantee of any property or rights purporting to be released herefrom shall be bound to ascertain the authority of the Trustee or the Sub-Collateral Agent to execute the release or to inquire as to the existence of any conditions herein prescribed for the exercise of such authority; nor shall any purchaser or grantee of any property or rights permitted by this Indenture, the Collateral Agreements or the Intercreditor Agreement to be sold or otherwise disposed of by the Company or any Guarantor be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire into the authority of the Company or any Guarantor to make such sale or other disposition.

 

Section 13.08. Authorization of Actions To Be Taken by the Trustee and each Sub-Collateral Agent Under the Collateral Agreements.

 

Subject to the provisions of this Indenture, the applicable Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement, each Holder, by acceptance of its Note(s) agrees that (a) the Trustee or a Sub-Collateral Agent, if applicable, shall execute and deliver the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement, and any amendments thereto, and act in accordance with the terms thereof, (b) the Trustee or such Sub-Collateral Agent may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Trustee or the Holders, take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to (i) enforce any of the terms of the Collateral Agreements or the Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations of the Company and the Guarantors hereunder and under the Notes, the Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Agreements and (c) the Trustee or such Sub-Collateral Agent shall have power to institute and to maintain such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by any act that may be unlawful or in violation of the Collateral Agreements, the Intercreditor Agreement or this Indenture, and suits and proceedings as the Trustee or such Sub-Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral (including the power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest thereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of the Holders). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee or such Sub-Collateral Agent, as the case may be, may, at the expense of the Company, request the direction of the Holders with respect to any such actions and upon receipt of the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes, shall take such actions; provided that all actions so taken shall, at all times, be in conformity with the requirements of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

99


Section 13.09. Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Agreements.

 

Each Sub-Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement and to the extent not prohibited under the Intercreditor Agreement, for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.10 and the other provisions of this Indenture.

 

Section 13.10. Intercreditor Agreement.

 

This Article XIII and the Collateral Agreements are subject to the terms, limitations and conditions set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

 

 

100


SIGNATURES

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:

NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY PARTNERS INC.

By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President, Finance
GUARANTORS:
NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP INC.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President, Finance
NORTH AMERICAN CAISSON LTD.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President
NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION LTD.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President
NORTH AMERICAN ENGINEERING INC.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President

 

Indenture


NORTH AMERICAN ENTERPRISES LTD.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President
NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRIES INC.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President
NORTH AMERICAN MAINTENANCE LTD.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President
NORTH AMERICAN MINING INC.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President
NORTH AMERICAN PIPELINE INC.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President
NORTH AMERICAN ROAD INC.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President

 

Indenture


NORTH AMERICAN SERVICES INC.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President

NORTH AMERICAN SITE DEVELOPMENT LTD.

By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President
NORTH AMERICAN SITE SERVICES INC.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President
GRIFFITHS PILE DRIVING INC.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Gallant


Name:   Vincent Gallant
Title:   Vice President
NACG FINANCE LLC
By:  

/s/ Chris Hayman


Name:   Chris Hayman
Title:   Secretary

 

Indenture


TRUSTEE:

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as Trustee

By:

 

/s/ Melissa Scott


Name:

 

Melissa Scott

Title:

 

Vice President

 

Indenture


EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF SERIES A NOTE

 

(Face of Note)

 

NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY PARTNERS INC.

 

9% SENIOR SECURED NOTE DUE 2010

 

[THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY 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) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE 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 CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS 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.]1

 

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)), (B) IT IS A NON-U.S. PURCHASER AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATIONS UNDER


1 To be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-1


THE SECURITIES ACT, PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S, OR (C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, AND (2) AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144(K) (OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THEREOF) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THIS NOTE IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PURCHASERS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S, OR TRANSFER AGENT’S, AS APPLICABLE, RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E), OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE OR TRANSFER AGENT. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

 

The following legend is prescribed by applicable Canadian securities legislation and applies to trades in this Note involving persons in Canada:

 

UNLESS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY MUST NOT TRADE THE SECURITY BEFORE THE DATE THAT IS 4 MONTHS AND A DAY AFTER THE LATER OF (1) MAY 19, 2005 AND (2) THE DATE THE ISSUER BECAME A REPORTING ISSUER IN ANY PROVINCE OR TERRITORY OF CANADA.

 

 

A-2


NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY PARTNERS INC.

 

9% SENIOR SECURED NOTE DUE 2010

 

CUSIP No. [            ]

 

No. [    ]

   US$                                         

 

Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1, commencing December 1, 2005 Record Dates: May 15 and November 15.

 

NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY PARTNERS INC., a Canadian federal corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of US$                     on June 1, 2010.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as set forth at this place.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

 

A-3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed.

 

Dated:

 

NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY PARTNERS INC.
By:  

 


Name:    
Title:    
By:  

 


Name:    
Title:    

 

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

 


    Authorized Signatory

 

 

A-4


(Back of Series A Note)

 

9% Senior Secured Notes due 2010

 

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

 

1. Interest. The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate of 9% per annum from the date of original issuance until maturity and shall pay Additional Interest, if any, pursuant to the registration rights agreement referred below. The Company shall pay interest and Additional Interest, if any, semi-annually on June 1, and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2005, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be December 1, 2005. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue payments of the principal, Purchase Price and Redemption Price at the rate stated above; 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), hereon at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. For purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), (i) the yearly rate of interest which is equivalent to the rate of interest for any period of less than one year is the rate of interest for such period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the actual number of days in the 12-month period commencing on the first day of such period and the denominator of which is the actual number of days elapsed in such period, (ii) the principle of deemed reinvestment of interest does not apply to any interest calculation in respect of this Note and (iii) the rates of interest stipulated in respect of this Note are intended to be nominal rates and not effective rates or yields.

 

2. Method of Payment. The Company shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest as provided below) and Additional Interest, if any, to the Persons who are Holders of Notes at the close of business on the May 15 and November 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, Redemption Price, Purchase Price, interest and Additional Interest, if any, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Additional Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal, Redemption Price and Purchase Price of, and interest and Additional Interest (if any) on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Trustee or the Paying Agent at least five days before the relevant payment date. 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.

 

 

A-5


3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., the Trustee under the Indenture, will 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; Guarantee. The Company initially issued US$60,481,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Notes under an Indenture dated as of May 19, 2005 (the “Indenture”) by and among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto from time to time and the Trustee. The Company may issue Additional Notes under the Indenture from time to time, subject to limitations set forth in the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. 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, such provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are general obligations of the Company.

 

To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other amounts payable by the Company under the Indenture and the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the Notes and the Indenture, each Guarantor and each future Restricted Subsidiary (other than Immaterial Subsidiaries) will unconditionally guarantee, jointly and severally, such obligations pursuant to the terms of the Indenture. Each Guarantee will be subject to release as provided in the Indenture.

 

5. Optional Redemption. Beginning on June 1, 2008, the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, during any period set forth below at the redemption price (expressed as percentages of the principal amount thereof) set forth opposite such period:

 

Year


   Percentage

 

On or after June 1, 2008 and prior to May 1, 2009

   104.50 %

On or after June 15, 2009 and prior to May 1, 2010

   102.25 %

On June 1, 2010

   100.00 %

 

In addition, the Company must pay accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed as described in the Indenture.

 

6. Optional Redemption Upon Public Equity Offering. At any time, or from time to time, on or prior to June 1, 2007, the Company may, at its option, use the net cash proceeds of one or more Public Equity Offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) issued under the Indenture (a

 

A-6


“Special Redemption”) at a redemption price of 109% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest, if any) thereon, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided that (1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after any such Special Redemption, and (2) the Company makes such Special Redemption not more than 90 days after the consummation of any such Public Equity Offering.

 

7. Mandatory Redemption. Except as set forth in Paragraph 10 below with respect to repurchases of Notes in certain events, the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or repurchase payments with respect to the Notes.

 

8. Redemption for Taxation Reasons. The Company may at any time redeem in whole but not in part the outstanding Notes at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest (including Additional Interest, if any) and Additional Amounts to the Redemption Date if the Company has become or would become obligated to pay any Additional Amounts in respect of the Notes or the Guarantees as a result of: (a) any change in or amendment to the laws (or regulations promulgated thereunder) of Canada (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein), or (b) any change in or amendment to any published administrative position regarding the application, or any change in the judicial interpretation, of such laws or regulations, which change or amendment is announced or is effective on or after the Issue Date, and such obligation to pay Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by the Company or such Guarantor taking reasonable measures available to it; provided, however, that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Company or such Guarantor would be obliged to pay Additional Amounts were a payment in respect of such Notes then due and payable. Prior to the distribution of any notice of redemption pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the right of the Company so to redeem have occurred, and an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee to the effect that the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be, has or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts as a result of such change or amendment.

 

9. Selection and Notice of Redemption. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, a notice of redemption will 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 US$1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of US$1,000, 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.

 

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed (a) in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed; or (b) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.

 

A-7


10. Mandatory Offers to Repurchase.

 

(a) Change of Control Offer. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described in paragraph 5 or paragraph 8 above and in the Indenture), the Company shall be required to make an offer to repurchase all or any part (equal to US$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder’s Notes at a Purchase Price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

 

(b) Net Proceeds Offer. Upon certain Asset Sales, the Company may be required to utilize a portion of the net proceeds received from such Asset Sale to offer to repurchase Notes from the Holders at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase, in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

 

11. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of US$1,000 and integral multiples of US$1,000. 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, it need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

12. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

13. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture and the Notes may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to Holders of the Notes pursuant to Article V of the Indenture, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not, in the opinion of the Trustee, adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement of any such Holder in any material respect, to comply with the Trust Indenture Act, to evidence or provide for a successor Trustee or additional Guarantors, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to release a Guarantor and the Liens granted by such Guarantor in favor of the Trustee as permitted by the Indenture or Guarantee, or if necessary, in connection with any addition or

 

A-8


release of Collateral permitted under the Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Agreements. In formulating its opinion on such matters, the Trustee will be entitled to rely on such evidence as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, solely on an Opinion of Counsel.

 

14. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default (other than certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency) shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) in principal amount of outstanding Notes may declare the unpaid principal of (and premium, if any) and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on all the Notes to be immediately due and payable by notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee specifying the Event of Default and that it is a “notice of acceleration.” Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default which will result in the unpaid principal of (and premium, if any) and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes to become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. For a comprehensive list of the Defaults and Remedies in connection with these Notes, see Article VI of the Indenture.

 

Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to all provisions of the Indenture and applicable law, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes 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. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with applicable law or the Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of the other Holders or that may subject the Trustee to personal liability. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or, premium, if any, or interest on any Note) if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the Holders.

 

15. Trustee Dealings with Company. Subject to certain limitations, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates as if it were not Trustee.

 

16. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any of its Affiliates, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any of its Affiliates under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes and Guarantees by accepting a Note and a Guarantee waives and releases all such liabilities. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes and the Guarantees.

 

17. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

A-9


18. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

19. Discharge Prior to Maturity. If the Company deposits with the Trustee or Paying Agent cash or U.S. Government Securities sufficient to pay the principal or Redemption Price of, and interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes to maturity or a specified Redemption Date and satisfies certain conditions specified in the Indenture, the Company and the Guarantors will be discharged from the Indenture, except for certain Sections thereof, or from their obligations to comply with certain Sections thereof.

 

20. Governing Law. The validity and interpretation of the Indenture, the Guarantees and this Note will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York, but without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of law to the extent that the application of the law of another jurisdiction would be required thereby. Each party hereto agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of any New York state court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or any federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York in respect of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Indenture, the Guarantees, if any, and the Notes, and irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts in respect of such suit or action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees. Each of the Trustee, the Company and any Guarantor irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, trial by jury and any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

21. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption or repurchase as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption or repurchase and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

22. Registration Rights. Pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2005, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchaser, the Company will be obligated upon the occurrence of certain events to consummate an exchange offer pursuant to which the Holder of this Note shall have the right to exchange this Note for a Note which has been registered under the Securities Act, evidencing the same continuing debt, in like principal amount and having terms identical in all material respects as this Note. The Holders shall be entitled to receive certain Additional Interest in the event such exchange offer is not consummated and upon certain other conditions, all pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of such registration rights agreement.

 

A-10


The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Request may be made to:

 

North American Energy Partners Inc.

Acheson Industrial Area

2-53016 Highway 60

Acheson, Alberta T7X 5A7

Facsimile: (780) 960-7103

Attention: Vincent Gallant

 

 

A-11


ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

(Print or type assignee’s name address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint                                                                                                                                     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 face of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee:

  

 


     (Participant in recognized signature guarantee medallion program)

 

A-12


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you wish to elect to have all or any portion of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 (“Net Proceeds Offer”) or Section 4.15 (“Change of Control Offer”) of the Indenture, check the applicable boxes

 

¨  Net Proceeds Offer:   

¨  Change of Control Offer:

 

        in whole ¨   

        in whole ¨

 

        in part     ¨   

        in part     ¨

 

        Amount to be purchased: US$                                Amount to be purchased: US$                    

 

Dated:                        Signature:  

 


       

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the

other side of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee:  

 


    (Participant in recognized signature guarantee medallion program)

 

Social Security Number or

Taxpayer Identification Number:                                                                                                                   

 

A-13


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for Certificated Notes or a part of another 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 officer

of Trustee


 

A-14


EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF SERIES B NOTE

 

(Face of Note)

 

NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY PARTNERS INC.

 

9% SENIOR SECURED NOTE DUE 2010

 

[THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY 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) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE 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 CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS 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.]2

 

The following legend is prescribed by applicable Canadian securities legislation and applies to trades in this Note involving persons in Canada:

 

UNLESS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY MUST NOT TRADE THE SECURITY BEFORE THE DATE THAT IS 4 MONTHS AND A DAY AFTER THE LATER OF (1) MAY 19, 2005 AND (2) THE DATE THE ISSUER BECAME A REPORTING ISSUER IN ANY PROVINCE OR TERRITORY OF CANADA.


2 To be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

B-1


NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY PARTNERS INC.

 

9% SENIOR SECURED NOTE DUE 2010

 

CUSIP No. [            ]

 

No.                US$                        

 

Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1, commencing December 1, 2005 Record Dates: May 15 and November 15.

 

NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY PARTNERS INC., a Canadian federal corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of US$                     on June 1, 2010.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as set forth at this place.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

B-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed.

 

Dated:

 

NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY PARTNERS INC.
By:  

 


Name:    
Title:    
By:  

 


Name:    
Title:    

 

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,
as Trustee
By:  

 


    Authorized Signatory

 

B-3


(Back of Series B Note)

 

9% Senior Secured Notes due 2010

 

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

 

1. Interest. The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate of 9% per annum from the date of original issuance until maturity and shall pay Additional Interest, if any, pursuant to the registration rights agreement referred below. The Company shall pay interest and Additional Interest, if any, semi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2005, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of original issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be December 1, 2005. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue payments of the principal, Purchase Price and Redemption Price at the rate stated above; 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), hereon at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. For purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), (i) the yearly rate of interest which is equivalent to the rate of interest for any period of less than one year is the rate of interest for such period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the actual number of days in the 12-month period commencing on the first day of such period and the denominator of which is the actual number of days elapsed in such period, (ii) the principle of deemed reinvestment of interest does not apply to any interest calculation in respect of this Note and (iii) the rates of interest stipulated in respect of this Note are intended to be nominal rates and not effective rates or yields.

 

2. Method of Payment. The Company shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest as provided below) and Additional Interest, if any, to the Persons who are Holders of Notes at the close of business on the May 15 and November 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, Redemption Price, Purchase Price, interest and Additional Interest, if any, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Additional Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal, Redemption Price and Purchase Price of, and interest and Additional Interest (if any) on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Trustee or the Paying Agent at least five days before the relevant payment date. 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.

 

B-4


3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., the Trustee under the Indenture, will 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; Guarantee. The Company initially issued US$60,481,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Notes under an Indenture dated as of May 19, 2005 (the “Indenture”) by and among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto from time to time and the Trustee. The Company may issue Additional Notes under the Indenture from time to time, subject to limitations set forth in the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. 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, such provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are general obligations of the Company.

 

To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other amounts payable by the Company under the Indenture and the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the Notes and the Indenture, each Guarantor and each future Restricted Subsidiary (other than Immaterial Subsidiaries) will unconditionally guarantee, jointly and severally, such obligations pursuant to the terms of the Indenture. Each Guarantee will be subject to release as provided in the Indenture.

 

5. Optional Redemption. Beginning on June 1, 2008, the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, during any period set forth below at the redemption price (expressed as percentages of the principal amount thereof) set forth opposite such period:

 

Year


   Percentage

 

On or after June 1, 2008 and prior to June 1, 2009

   104.50 %

On or after June 1, 2009 and prior to June 1, 2010

   102.25 %

On June 1, 2010

   100.00 %

 

In addition, the Company must pay accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed as described in the Indenture.

 

6. Optional Redemption Upon Public Equity Offering. At any time, or from time to time, on or prior to June 1, 2007, the Company may, at its option, use the net cash proceeds of one or more Public Equity Offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) issued under the Indenture (a

 

B-5


“Special Redemption”) at a redemption price of 109% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest, if any) thereon, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided that (1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any) issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after any such Special Redemption, and (2) the Company makes such Special Redemption not more than 90 days after the consummation of any such Public Equity Offering.

 

7. Mandatory Redemption. Except as set forth in Paragraph 10 below with respect to repurchases of Notes in certain events, the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or repurchase payments with respect to the Notes.

 

8. Redemption for Taxation Reasons. The Company may at any time redeem in whole but not in part the outstanding Notes at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest (including Additional Interest, if any) and Additional Amounts to the Redemption Date if the Company has become or would become obligated to pay any Additional Amounts in respect of the Notes or the Guarantees as a result of: (a) any change in or amendment to the laws (or regulations promulgated thereunder) of Canada (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein), or (b) any change in or amendment to any published administrative position regarding the application, or any change in the judicial interpretation, of such laws or regulations, which change or amendment is announced or is effective on or after the Issue Date, and such obligation to pay Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by the Company or such Guarantor taking reasonable measures available to it; provided, however, that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Company or such Guarantor would be obliged to pay Additional Amounts were a payment in respect of such Notes then due and payable. Prior to the distribution of any notice of redemption pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the right of the Company so to redeem have occurred, and an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee to the effect that the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be, has or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts as a result of such change or amendment.

 

9. Selection and Notice of Redemption. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, a notice of redemption will 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 US$1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of US$1,000, 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.

 

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed (a) in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed; or (b) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.

 

B-6


10. Mandatory Offers to Repurchase.

 

(a) Change of Control Offer. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described in paragraph 5 or paragraph 8 above and in the Indenture), the Company shall be required to make an offer to repurchase all or any part (equal to US$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder’s Notes at a Purchase Price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

 

(b) Net Proceeds Offer. Upon certain Asset Sales, the Company may be required to utilize a portion of the net proceeds received from such Asset Sale to offer to repurchase Notes from the Holders at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase, in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

 

11. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of US$1,000 and integral multiples of US$1,000. 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, it need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

12. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

13. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture and the Notes may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to Holders of the Notes pursuant to Article V of the Indenture, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not, in the opinion of the Trustee, adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees, the Collateral Agreements and the Intercreditor Agreement of any such Holder in any material respect, to comply with the Trust Indenture Act, to evidence or provide for a successor Trustee or additional Guarantors, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to release a Guarantor and the Liens granted by such Guarantor in favor of the Trustee as permitted by the Indenture or Guarantee, or if necessary, in connection with any addition or

 

B-7


release of Collateral permitted under the Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Agreements. In formulating its opinion on such matters, the Trustee will be entitled to rely on such evidence as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, solely on an Opinion of Counsel.

 

14. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default (other than certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency) shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) in principal amount of outstanding Notes may declare the unpaid principal of (and premium, if any) and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on all the Notes to be immediately due and payable by notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee specifying the Event of Default and that it is a “notice of acceleration.” Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default which will result in the unpaid principal of (and premium, if any) and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes to become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. For a comprehensive list of Defaults and Remedies in connection with these Notes, see Article IV of the Indenture.

 

Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to all provisions of the Indenture and applicable law, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes 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. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with applicable law or the Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of the other Holders or that may subject the Trustee to personal liability. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or, premium, if any, or interest on any Note) if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the Holders.

 

15. Trustee Dealings with Company. Subject to certain limitations, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates as if it were not Trustee.

 

16. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any of its Affiliates, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any of its Affiliates under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes and Guarantees by accepting a Note and a Guarantee waives and releases all such liabilities. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes and the Guarantees.

 

17. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

B-8


18. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

19. Discharge Prior to Maturity. If the Company deposits with the Trustee or Paying Agent cash or U.S. Government Securities sufficient to pay the principal or Redemption Price of, and interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes to maturity or a specified Redemption Date and satisfies certain conditions specified in the Indenture, the Company and the Guarantors will be discharged from the Indenture, except for certain Sections thereof, or from their obligations to comply with certain Sections thereof.

 

20. Governing Law. The validity and interpretation of the Indenture, the Guarantees and this Note will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York, but without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of law to the extent that the application of the law of another jurisdiction would be required thereby. Each party hereto agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of any New York state court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or any federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York in respect of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Indenture, the Guarantees, if any, and the Notes, and irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts in respect of such suit or action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees. Each of the Trustee, the Company and any Guarantor irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, trial by jury and any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

21. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption or repurchase as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption or repurchase and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Request may be made to:

 

North American Energy Partners Inc.

Acheson Industrial Area

2-53016 Highway 60

Acheson, Alberta T7X 5A7

Facsimile: (780) 960-7103

Attention: Vincent Gallant

 

B-9


ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

(Print or type assignee’s name address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint                                                                                                                                     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 face of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee:

  

 


     (Participant in recognized signature guarantee medallion program)

 

B-10


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you wish to elect to have all or any portion of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 (“Net Proceeds Offer”) or Section 4.15 (“Change of Control Offer”) of the Indenture, check the applicable boxes

 

¨  Net Proceeds Offer:   

¨  Change of Control Offer:

 

        in whole    ¨   

        in whole    ¨

 

        in part        ¨   

        in part       ¨

 

        Amount to be purchased: US$                                Amount to be purchased: US$                    

 

Dated:                        Signature:  

 


       

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the

other side of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee:  

 


    (Participant in recognized signature guarantee medallion program)

 

Social Security Number or

Taxpayer Identification Number:                                                                                                                   

 

B-11


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for Certificated Notes or a part of another 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 officer

of Trustee


 

B-12


EXHIBIT C

 

GUARANTEE

 

Each undersigned Guarantor hereby unconditionally guarantees (each, a “Guarantee”), on a senior secured basis and jointly and severally, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, that: (i) the principal of and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon redemption, purchase pursuant to Article III of the Indenture or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal, if any, and interest on any overdue installment of interest, to the extent lawful, on the Notes and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or of any such other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon redemption, purchase pursuant to Article III of the Indenture or otherwise, subject, however, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, to the limitations set forth in Section 10.03 of the Indenture. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or the Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, and action to enforce the same or any other circumstance (other than performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes, the Indenture and in this Guarantee. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, any Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or any Guarantor, any amount paid by the Company or any Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between each Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI of the Indenture 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 acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI of the Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Guarantor for the purpose of this Guarantee.

 

Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings given in the Indenture, dated May 19, 2005, among North American Energy Partners Inc., the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee.

 

THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE

 

C-1


STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY. THE GUARANTOR HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTEE.

 

This Guarantee is subject to release upon the terms set forth in the Indenture.

 

 

C-2


[GUARANTOR(S)]
By:  

 


Name:    
Title:    

 

 

C-3


EXHIBIT D(1)

 

FORM OF REGULATION S CERTIFICATE

 

                    ,             

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

505 Main Street

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Attention: Melissa Scott

 

  Re: North American Energy Partners Inc. (the “Company”)
       9% Senior Secured Notes due 2010 (the “Notes”)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter relates to US$                      principal amount at maturity of Notes represented by a certificate (the “Legended Certificate”) which bears a legend outlining restrictions upon transfer of such Legended Certificate. Pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Indenture (the “Indenture”) dated as of May 19, 2005 relating to the Notes, we hereby certify that we are (or we will hold such securities on behalf of) a person outside the United States to whom the Notes could be transferred in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

You and the Company are 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. Terms used in this letter have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.

 

Very truly yours,
[Name of Transferee]
By:  

 


    Authorized Signature

 

D(1)-1


EXHIBIT D(2)

 

CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED

UPON EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF NOTES

 

                    ,             

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

505 Main Street

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Attention: Melissa Scott

 

  Re: North American Energy Partners Inc. (the “Company”)
       9% Senior Secured Notes due 2010 (the “Notes”)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This Certificate relates to US$                      principal amount of Notes held in

 

¨  book-entry* or  ¨ certificated form*

 

by                                                                                  (the “Transferor”).

 

The Transferor:*

 

¨  has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Note held by the Depositary a Note or Notes in certificated, registered form of authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above); or

 

¨  has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

 

In connection with such request and in respect of each such Note, the Transferor does hereby certify that Transferor is familiar with the Indenture relating to the above captioned Notes and as provided in Section 2.06 of such Indenture, the transfer of this Note does not require registration under the Securities Act (as defined below) because:*

 

¨  Such Note is being acquired for the Transferor’s own account, without transfer.

 

¨  Such Note is being transferred to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) in reliance on Rule 144A and accordingly the undersigned does hereby certify that the Note is being transferred to a person that the transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the Note for its own account, or for one or


* Check applicable box or boxes.

 

D(2)-1


more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion and the Notes have been transferred in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and in accordance with any applicable securities law of any state of the United States.

 

¨  Such Note is being transferred to an “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) in accordance with Regulation D under the Securities Act.

 

¨  Such Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

¨  Such Note is being transferred in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.

 

¨  Such Note is being transferred (i) in reliance on and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, other than Rule 144A, 144 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, and (ii) to the extent Canadian securities laws, regulations, instruments or rules are applicable, pursuant to an exemption from the prospectus and registration requirements of such laws, regulations, instruments or rules. An Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such transfer does not require registration under the Securities Act accompanies this Certificate.

 

You and the Company are 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.

 

    Very truly yours,
   

 

 


    [INSERT NAME OF TRANSFEROR]
    By:  

 


    Name:    
    Title:    
Date:                             

 

 

D(2)-2


EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE

DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH

TRANSFERS TO NON-QIB ACCREDITED INVESTORS

 

                    ,             

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

505 Main Street

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Attention: Melissa Scott

 

  Re: North American Energy Partners Inc. (the “Company”)
       9% Senior Secured Notes due 2010 (the “Notes”)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

In connection with our proposed purchase of 9% Senior Secured Notes due 2010 (the “Notes”) of the Company, we confirm that:

 

1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture dated as of May 19, 2005 relating to the Notes (the “Indenture”) and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and applicable Canadian securities laws, regulations, instruments and rules.

 

2. We understand that the Notes have not been registered and that a prospectus has not been filed under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law, and that the Notes may not be offered, sold or otherwise transferred 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 offer, sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any Notes, we will do so only (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) inside the United States to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes to you a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter, (D) outside the United States to a foreign person in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, and, if such person is a resident of Canada, pursuant to an exemption from the prospectus and registration requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws, regulations, instruments and rules, (E) pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act (if available), (F) in accordance with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, or (G) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any person purchasing any of the Notes from us a notice advising such purchaser that resales of the Notes are restricted as stated herein and in the Indenture.

 

E-1


3. We understand that, with respect to any proposed transfer of any Notes, pursuant to paragraphs 2(B), 2(C), 2(D) and 2(E) above, we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed transfer complies with such restrictions and that with respect to any transfer in accordance with paragraph 2(F) we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such legal opinions and other information as you or the Company may reasonably require to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to such effect. We acknowledge that no representation is made as to the availability of any Rule 144 exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

4. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) 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 acquiring the Notes for investment purposes and not with a view to, or offer of sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction, and we are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

 

5. We are acquiring the Notes 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.

 

You and the Company are 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.

 

Very truly yours,
(Name of Transferee)
By:  

 


    Authorized Signature

 

E-2


EXHIBIT F

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED

IN CONNECTION WITH TRANSFERS

PURSUANT TO REGULATION S

 

                    ,             

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

505 Main Street

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Attention: Melissa Scott

 

  Re: North American Energy Partners Inc. (the “Company”)
       9% Senior Secured Notes due 2010 (the “Notes”)

 

Dear Sirs:

 

In connection with our proposed sale of $                     aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and, accordingly, we represent that:

 

(1) the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;

 

(2) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States;

 

(3) no directed selling efforts have been made by us, any of our affiliates or any person acting on our behalf in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S, as applicable;

 

(4) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933; and

 

(5) if we are a dealer or a person receiving a selling concession fee or other remuneration in respect of the Notes, and the proposed transfer takes place within 40 days of the Issue Date (as defined in the Indenture), or we are an officer or director of the Company or an Initial Purchaser (as defined in the Indenture), we certify that the proposed transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 904(b) of Regulation S.

 

F-1


You and the Company are 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. Terms used in this letter have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.

 

Very truly yours,
[Name of Transferor]
By:  

 


    Authorized Signature

 

 

F-2


EXHIBIT G

 

ESTOPPEL AND LEASE RECOGNITION AGREEMENT

 

TO:

 

  BNP PARIBAS (CANADA) and its successors and assigns, as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”)

AND TO:

 

  GE CANADA FINANCE HOLDING COMPANY and its successors and assigns, as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”)

AND TO:

 

  Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and its successors and assigns, as trustee and agent (the “Trustee”)

AND TO:

 

  The Swap Lenders, as defined in the Credit Agreement

FROM:

 

  [                                    ] (the “Landlord”)
RE:   Lease for [                                                     ] (the “Premises”)

 

On the understanding that the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be relying upon this Estoppel Certificate in proceeding with and closing the Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) dated May 19, 2005 among North American Energy Partners Inc., as borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Persons party thereto as lenders, as amended, supplemented, restated, replaced or refinanced from time to time, and that the Trustee shall be relying upon this Estoppel Certificate in proceeding with and closing the Senior Second Lien Secured Note Indenture dated May 19, 2005 pursuant to which the Senior Second Lien Secured Notes (as defined in the Credit Agreement) are issued, as such note indenture may be amended, supplemented, restated, replaced or refinanced from time to time, the Landlord confirms that as of the date hereof:

 

1. The lease of the Premises between [                                         ] (the “Tenant”) dated [                     ], [                                                          ], was validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Tenant and is unmodified and in full force and effect (the lease and any renewals and amendments thereto and assignments thereof are herein collectively called the “Lease”). The lands and buildings comprising the Premises are located entirely on the lands described in the Lease.

 

2. The term of the Lease is [                                     ], which term commenced on [                         ] and terminates on [                             ], and the Tenant is in possession of the Premises and has been carrying on business in accordance with the terms of the Lease.

 

3. All the rights and obligations of the Landlord and the Tenant are contained in the Lease.

 

4. All minimum rent and additional rent including the percentage rent and the tenant recoveries, if applicable, (collectively, the “Rent”) payable under the Lease have been paid to the date hereof, and neither the Rent nor a security deposit has been prepaid.

 

G-1


5. There is no existing default by either the Landlord or the Tenant under the terms of the Lease and the Lease is in good standing and all conditions under the Lease have been satisfied.

 

6. There are no abatements rights, set-offs, claims, defenses or counterclaims by either of the Landlord or the Tenant against the other in respect of the Lease.

 

7. All work to be done by the Landlord within or to the Premises has been completed and all tenant allowances and inducements have been paid.

 

8. No litigation or governmental or municipal proceeding have been commenced or are pending or threatened by or against the Landlord with respect to the Premises which, if decided against the Landlord, would adversely impair its ability to comply with the terms of the Lease.

 

9. To the best of the Landlord’s knowledge, no litigation or governmental or municipal proceedings have been commenced or are pending or threatened by or against the Tenant with respect to the Premises which, if decided against the Tenant, would adversely impair its ability to comply with the terms of the Lease.

 

10. (a) The minimum rent under the Lease is [                     ] monthly and the Tenant’s present monthly payment of additional rent is $                 .

 

  (b) The minimum rent payable under the Lease has been paid to                     ,              and the additional rent payable under the Lease has been paid to                     ,             .

 

11. The Tenant has no express or implied right to terminate this Lease.

 

12. The Premises have been completed in accordance with the terms of the Lease and there are no claims outstanding for defective workmanship and/or materials.

 

The Landlord agrees with the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and the Trustee (collectively, the “Agents”) as follows:

 

1. The Landlord agrees to deliver to the Agents a copy of any written notice which is sent by the Landlord to the Tenant dealing with any default or alleged default by the Tenant under the Lease. For the purposes of the Lease and this agreement, the addresses for notices to the Agents are:

 

BNP Paribas (Canada)

as Administrative Agent

BNP Paribas

One Front Street, 23rd Fl.

San Francisco CA 94111

  

GE Canada Finance Holding Company

as Collateral Agent

100 California Street, 10th Fl.

San Francisco, CA 94111

  

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

as Trustee and Agent

505 Main Street

Fort Worth, Texas

76102

Attention: Anthony Wilson,

Merchant Banking Group

Tel: (415) 772-1526

Fax: (415) 398-4240

  

Attention: Daniel Shapiro,

Global Sponsor Finance

Tel: (415) 277-7407

Fax: (415) 277-7443

  

Attention: Melissa Scott

Fax: (817) 885-8650

 

G-2


and to

 

BNP Paribas

77 King Street West

Suite 4100, P.O. Box 31

Royal Trust Tower, TD

Centre

Toronto, Ontario M5K 1N8

 

Attention: Eric Borromeo,

Vice-President

Tel: (416) 365-6719

Fax: (416) 947-9995

 

The Landlord further agrees that the Agents, at their option, shall have the right to remedy the default within the time period for remedying the default set out in the Lease prior to the exercise by the Landlord of any of the Landlord’s rights under the Lease. If, pursuant to its security or otherwise, the Agents take possession of the Premises, the Landlord agrees to permit such person or persons to remain in possession of the Premises provided that such person or persons agree to perform the Tenant’s obligations under the Lease and agrees in writing with the Landlord to be bound by all the terms and conditions of the Lease while such person or persons is in possession of the Premises.

 

2. This Agreement will take effect on the completion of the financing transaction under the Credit Agreement.

 

3. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, with the same effect as if all the parties had signed the same document and will become effective once a signed counterpart is delivered by each of the parties to the other. This Agreement shall be deemed to be executed under seal even if a party to this Agreement fails to affix its seal to this Agreement.

 

4. This Agreement may be executed by a party and delivered by telecopy and if so executed and transmitted this Agreement will be for all purposes effective as if the parties had delivered and executed the original Agreement.

 

G-3


DATED effective                     ,             .

 

[LANDLORD]
Per:  

 


  (c/s)
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
Per:  

 


   
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
BNP PARIBAS (CANADA)
Per:  

 


  (c/s)
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
Per:  

 


   
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
GE CANADA FINANCE HOLDING COMPANY
Per:  

 


  (c/s)
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
Per:  

 


   
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Per:  

 


  (c/s)
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
Per:  

 


   
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    

 

G-4


CONSENT AND AGREEMENT REGARDING ASSIGNMENT OF EQUIPMENT LEASES

 

[LESSOR]

 

TO:    BNP Paribas (Canada) and its successors and assigns in its capacity as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), GE Canada Finance Holding Company and its successors and assigns in its capacity as collateral agent (“Collateral Agent”), and the banks and financial institutions from time to time party, as lenders, to the credit agreement dated May 19, 2005 (the “Credit Agreement”) among North American Energy Partners Inc., as borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, and such lenders, as such Credit Agreement may be amended, supplemented, restated, replaced or refinanced from time to time;
AND TO:    Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and its successors and assigns in its capacity as trustee and agent (the “Trustee”) for the Second Lien Secured Parties under that certain Senior Second Lien Secured Note Indenture dated May 19, 2005 pursuant to which the Senior Second Secured Notes (as defined in the Credit Agreement) are issued, as such note indenture may be amended, supplemented, restated, replaced or refinanced from time to time;
AND TO:    North American Energy Partners Inc. and Affiliates
AND TO:    The Swap Lenders, as defined in the Credit Agreement

 

The undersigned (the “Lessor”) hereby:

 

1. consents to the assignment and transfer (by way of mortgage or security) in favour of the secured creditors of the Assignor of the right, title and interest of North American Construction Group Inc. or any affiliate thereof (the “Assignor”) in, to and under all equipment lease agreements previously or hereafter entered into between the Lessor and the Assignor (collectively, the “Equipment Leases”) and all equipment leased thereunder, including without limitation the lease agreements described in Schedule “A” attached hereto and any equipment described in any lease schedules entered into from time to time pursuant to such equipment lease agreements; and

 

2. agrees with the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee (collectively, the “Agents”) that the Lessor will not terminate any of the Equipment Leases or exercise any other remedy thereunder as a result of any default thereunder or any other circumstance without (a) first giving prior written notice to the Agents setting forth the Lessor’s intention to terminate or exercise any such other remedy and reasonable details of the default or other circumstance giving rise to the right to terminate or exercise such other remedy, and (b) allowing the Agents or any other person at their direction to cure, remedy or otherwise remove the default or other circumstance within the 60 day period following the giving of such notice (and if the default or other circumstance is so cured, remedied or removed within such period, the right to terminate or any other remedy will not be exercised as a result thereof). Any such notice shall be sent to the following addresses or to such other person or address as may be provided by notice in writing to the Lessor from time to time:

 

G-5


BNP Paribas (Canada)

as Administrative Agent

BNP Paribas

One Front Street, 23rd Floor

San Francisco CA 94111

  

GE Canada Finance Holding Company

as Collateral Agent

100 California Street, 10th Fl.

San Francisco, CA 94111

  

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

as Trustee and Agent

505 Main Street

Fort Worth, Texas

76102

Attention: Anthony Wilson,

Merchant Banking Group

Tel: (415) 772-1526

Fax: (415) 398-4240

  

Attention: Daniel Shapiro,

Global Sponsor Finance

Tel: (415) 277-7407

Fax: (415) 277-7443

  

Attention: Melissa Scott

Fax: (817) 885-8650

 

and to

 

BNP Paribas

77 King Street West

Suite 4100, P.O. Box 31

Royal Trust Tower, TD

Centre

Toronto, Ontario M5K 1N8

         

Attention: Eric Borromeo,

Vice-President

Tel: (416) 365-6719

Fax: (416) 947-9995

         

 

The Lessor shall, upon the reasonable request of the Assignor and at the expense of the Assignor, update Schedule A hereto, execute any further documents, give any further notices and take any further actions as may be reasonably required by the Assignor in order to further evidence or give further effect to the consent described above. The Lessor hereby authorizes the Assignor or its legal counsel to register any financing statements or other notices registered or filed against the Assignor (or any amendments to any of the foregoing) in order to reflect the assignment and transfer described in paragraph one above.

 

A faxed or electronic copy of an executed copy of this consent shall have the same force and effect as an originally executed copy of this consent.

 

This consent shall be binding upon the undersigned and its successors and assigns.

 

Dated as of the          day of              ,         

 

[LESSOR]
By:  

 


Name:  

 


Title:  

 


 

 

G-6


SCHEDULE “A” TO CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF EQUIPMENT LEASES

 

Description of Equipment Leases

 

1.

 

Lessee


  

Lessor


  

Type of Agreement


  

Date of Agreement


                

 

2. Lease Schedules to the foregoing master equipment lease(s) relating to the following equipment:

 

Unit Number


  

Description


  

Serial No.


  

Lessor


  

CCA


                     

 

G-7


FORM OF COLLATERAL ACCESS AGREEMENT

(PROCESSOR/WAREHOUSE COMPANY/CONSIGNEE)3

 

TO:   

BNP PARIBAS (CANADA) and its successors and assigns, as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”)

 

AND TO:   

GE CANADA FINANCE HOLDING COMPANY and its successors and assigns, as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”)

 

AND TO:   

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. and its successors and assigns, as trustee and agent (the “Trustee”, and together with the Collateral Agent, the “Secured Parties”)

 

AND TO:   

The Swap Lenders, as defined in the Credit Agreement

 

FROM:   

[Insert name and principal address of bailee/consignee] (the “Holder”)

 

RE:    Goods of [Name of Debtor(s)] located at facilities of the Holder

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

On the understanding that the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be relying upon this Collateral Access Agreement in proceeding with and closing the Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) dated May 19, 2005 among North American Energy Partners Inc., as borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Persons party thereto as lenders, as amended, supplemented, restated, replaced or refinanced (including with the same or different lenders) from time to time, and that the Trustee shall be relying upon this Collateral Access Agreement in proceeding with and closing the note indenture dated May 19, 2005 pursuant to which the 9% senior secured notes due 2010 are issued, as such note indenture may be amended, supplemented, restated, replaced or refinanced from time to time, the Holder agrees that as of the date hereof:

 

  1. The Holder’s correct legal name and principal address are set forth above.

 

  2. If in the future, the Holder changes the legal form in which it conducts business or changes its business name or changes its principal address it agrees to provide the Secured Parties with prompt written notice of the change.

 

  3. [Name of Issuer / Debtor] (the “Company”), from time to time, has and will deliver merchandise, equipment, inventory or other goods owned by the Company (the “Goods”) to the Holder for [storage/processing/on consignment/otherwise]4 at your facilities at the addresses set out in Schedule A. The Holder agrees to provide prompt written notice to the Secured Parties of a change in or addition to the addresses set out in Schedule A.

 

  4. The Company has granted a continuing general lien upon and security interest in favor of each of the Collateral Agent and the Trustee (the “Security Interests”) in all the present and future tangible and intangible personal property of the Company, including, without limitation, the Goods.

3 This form of Collateral Access Agreement is to be executed by processors, warehouse companies or consignees
4 Specify terms of arrangement.

 

G-8


  5. The Company is the owner of the Goods and the grant by the Company of the Security Interests does not constitute a default under any agreement involving the Company and the Holder, and to the extent that such agreement requires the Holder’s consent, the Holder hereby consents.

 

  6. The Holder does not have title to any of the Goods, nor does the Holder have any claim to or lien upon any of the Goods (other than for customary warehousing and processing charges); and any and all right of distraint or levy, right of retention or other interest which the Holder may now have or hereafter have in any of the Goods shall be subject and subordinate in every respect to the Security Interests. The Holder has not been notified by any other person that it has or purports to have a security interest, hypothec or other lien in or claim to the Goods. If the Holder issues storage receipts or other documents of title which evidence any Goods now or hereinafter delivered to the Holder, the Holder will make them non-negotiable and note on them that they have been issued for the account of the Collateral Agent and the Trustee.

 

  7. The Holder will allow the Secured Parties, their auditors or other designees access to the locations set out in Schedule A, upon reasonable prior notice, during ordinary business hours in order to inspect the Goods and verify the type and quantity thereof. In addition, if the Secured Parties elect to remove the Goods from the Holder’s premises pursuant to direction under paragraph 8 below, the Holder will grant the Secured Parties access to such premises, upon reasonable prior notice, during ordinary business hours to do so and will not hinder the Secured Parties’ actions in removing the Goods.

 

  8. Until further notice, the Holder may release any Goods to any authorized agent of the Company or upon the Company’s request and the Holder may issue non-negotiable warehouse receipts or non-negotiable documents of title to the Company. However, upon written direction of the Secured Parties, the Holder agrees not to deliver any further Goods to the Company or its designated recipient, but to hold all Goods subject to the Secured Parties’ further direction (such further direction may include, without limitation, a direction for the release of the Goods to the Secured Parties) and, upon receipt of such written direction, the Holder agrees to issue no further warehouse receipts or other documents of title, except as directed by the Secured Parties.

 

  9. The Company agrees that the Holder shall have no liability to the Company if the Holder complies with the Secured Parties’ written directions as described above. The Company further agrees that it will continue to pay all storage expenses related to the storage of the Goods and will reimburse the Holder for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred as a direct result of the Holder’s compliance with the terms and provisions of this Collateral Access Agreement.

 

  10.

If the Company defaults under any agreement it has with the Holder relating to the Goods, the Holder will not exercise any remedy under such agreement or applicable law or in equity unless the Holder has provided the Secured Parties with written notice of such default and given the Secured Parties 30 business days to cure a default and, during such time, the Holder will allow the Secured Parties to enter each of the locations set out in Schedule A and remove the Goods. If any default is cured during the applicable period, the Holder agrees to rescind the notice of default, but the

 

G-9


 

Secured Parties shall have no obligation to cure any default of the Company or, having commenced such cure, to complete such cure. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holder’s failure to provide such notice shall not render the Holder liable to the Secured Parties in any manner or diminish or otherwise affect the Holder’s rights under any such agreement with the Company.

 

  11. Any notice to the Secured Parties shall be sent to the following addresses or to such other person or address as may be provided by notice in writing to the Holder from time to time:

 

BNP Paribas (Canada)   GE Canada Finance Holding Company   Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

BNP Paribas

One Front Street, 23rd Floor

San Francisco CA 94111

 

100 California Street,

10th Fl.

San Francisco, CA

94111

 

505 Main Street

Fort Worth, Texas

76102

Attention: Anthony Wilson,

Merchant Banking Group

Tel: (415) 772-1526

Fax: (415) 398-4240

 

Attention: Daniel

Shapiro, Global Sponsor

Finance

Tel: (415) 277-7407

Fax: (415) 277-7443

 

Attention: Melissa

Scott

Fax: (817) 885-8650

 

and to

 

       

BNP Paribas

77 King Street West

Suite 4100, P.O. Box 31

Royal Trust Tower, TD Centre

Toronto, Ontario M5K 1N8

       

Attention: Eric Borromeo,

Vice-President

Tel: (416) 365-6719

Fax: (416) 947-9995

       

 

  12. This Collateral Access Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, with the same effect as if all the parties had signed the same document and will become effective once a signed counterpart is delivered by each of the parties to the other. This Collateral Access Agreement shall be deemed to be executed under seal even if a party to this Collateral Access Agreement fails to affix its seal to this Collateral Access Agreement.

 

  13. This Collateral Access Agreement may be executed by a party and delivered by telecopy and if so executed and transmitted this Collateral Access Agreement will be for all purposes effective as if the parties had delivered and executed the original Collateral Access Agreement.

 

G-10


THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK

 

G-11


DATED effective             , 2005.

 

[NAME OF HOLDER]
Per:  

 


  (c/s)
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
Per:  

 


   
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
[THE COMPANY]
Per:  

 


  (c/s)
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
Per:  

 


   
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
BNP PARIBAS (CANADA)
Per:  

 


  (c/s)
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
Per:  

 


   
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
GE CANADA FINANCE HOLDING COMPANY
Per:  

 


  (c/s)
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
Per:  

 


   
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Per:  

 


  (c/s)
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    
Per:  

 


   
    Name:    
    Authorized Signatory    

 

G-12


SCHEDULE “A” TO COLLATERAL ACCESS AGREEMENT

 

Addresses of Holder’s Facilities

[Include all of the Holder’s addresses where the Company’s Goods are located]

 

G-13