EX-4.2 3 dex42.htm INDENTURE FOR THE 7 1/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2015 Indenture for the 7 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015

EXHIBIT 4.2

EXECUTION VERSION


 

DAVITA INC.,

as Issuer,

 

the GUARANTORS named herein,

as Guarantors,

 

and

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

 


 

INDENTURE

 


 

Dated as of March 22, 2005

 


 

71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015

 



 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA Section


   Indenture Section

310(a)(1)

   7.10

(a)(2)

   7.10

(a)(3)

   N.A.

(a)(4)

   N.A.

(a)(5)

   7.08; 7.10

(b)

   7.08; 7.10; 12.02

(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)

   4.06; 4.18; 12.02

(b)

   N.A.

(c)(1)

   7.02; 12.04; 12.05

(c)(2)

   7.02; 12.04; 12.05

(c)(3)

   N.A.

(d)

   N.A.

(e)

   12.05

(f)

   N.A.

315(a)

   7.01(b)

(b)

   7.05

(c)

   7.01

(d)

   6.05; 7.01(c)

(e)

   6.11

316(a)(last sentence)

   2.09

(a)(1)(A)

   6.02

(a)(1)(B)

   6.04

(a)(2)

   9.02

(b)

   6.07

(c)

   9.05

317(a)(1)

   6.08

(a)(2)

   6.09

(b)

   2.04

318(a)

   12.01

(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 ONE     
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE     

SECTION 1.01.

  

Definitions

   1

SECTION 1.02.

  

Other Definitions

   35

SECTION 1.03.

  

Incorporation by Reference of TIA

   36

SECTION 1.04.

  

Rules of Construction

   36
ARTICLE TWO     
THE NOTES     

SECTION 2.01.

  

Form and Dating

   37

SECTION 2.02.

  

Execution and Authentication

   37

SECTION 2.03.

  

Registrar and Paying Agent

   38

SECTION 2.04.

  

Paying Agent To Hold Assets in Trust

   39

SECTION 2.05.

  

Holder Lists

   39

SECTION 2.06.

  

Transfer and Exchange

   39

SECTION 2.07.

  

Replacement Notes

   40

SECTION 2.08.

  

Outstanding Notes

   40

SECTION 2.09.

  

Treasury Notes

   40

SECTION 2.10.

  

Temporary Notes

   41

SECTION 2.11.

  

Cancellation

   41

SECTION 2.12.

  

Defaulted Interest

   41

SECTION 2.13.

  

CUSIP Number

   41

SECTION 2.14.

  

Deposit of Moneys

   42

SECTION 2.15.

  

Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes

   42

SECTION 2.16.

  

Special Transfer Provisions

   43
ARTICLE THREE     
REDEMPTION     

SECTION 3.01.

  

Notices to Trustee

   46

SECTION 3.02.

  

Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed

   46

SECTION 3.03.

  

Notice of Redemption

   46

SECTION 3.04.

  

Effect of Notice of Redemption

   47

SECTION 3.05.

  

Deposit of Redemption Price

   48

SECTION 3.06.

  

Notes Redeemed in Part

   48

 

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          Page

ARTICLE FOUR     
COVENANTS     

SECTION 4.01.

  

Payment of Notes

   48

SECTION 4.02.

  

Maintenance of Office or Agency

   49

SECTION 4.03.

  

Corporate Existence

   49

SECTION 4.04.

  

Payment of Taxes and Other Claims

   49

SECTION 4.05.

  

Gambro Healthcare Acquisition

   50

SECTION 4.06.

  

Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default

   50

SECTION 4.07.

  

Suspension of Covenants

   50

SECTION 4.08.

  

Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws

   51

SECTION 4.09.

  

Change of Control

   51

SECTION 4.10.

  

Limitation on Indebtedness

   53

SECTION 4.11.

  

Limitation on Layering

   58

SECTION 4.12.

  

Limitation on Restricted Payments

   59

SECTION 4.13.

  

Limitation on Liens

   62

SECTION 4.14.

  

Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries

   63

SECTION 4.15.

  

Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock

   65

SECTION 4.16.

  

Limitation on Affiliate Transactions

   70

SECTION 4.17.

  

Conduct of Business

   71

SECTION 4.18.

  

SEC Reports

   71

SECTION 4.19.

  

Future and Subsidiary Guarantors

   72
ARTICLE FIVE     
MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION     

SECTION 5.01.

  

Merger and Consolidation

   73
ARTICLE SIX     
DEFAULT AND REMEDIES     

SECTION 6.01.

  

Events of Default

   74

SECTION 6.02.

  

Acceleration

   77

SECTION 6.03.

  

Other Remedies

   77

SECTION 6.04.

  

Waiver of Past Defaults

   77

SECTION 6.05.

  

Control by Majority

   78

SECTION 6.06.

  

Limitation on Suits

   78

SECTION 6.07.

  

Rights of Holders To Receive Payment

   79

SECTION 6.08.

  

Collection Suit by Trustee

   79

SECTION 6.09.

  

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

   79

SECTION 6.10.

  

Priorities

   79

SECTION 6.11.

  

Undertaking for Costs

   80

 

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          Page

ARTICLE SEVEN     
TRUSTEE     

SECTION 7.01.

  

Duties of Trustee

   80

SECTION 7.02.

  

Rights of Trustee

   81

SECTION 7.03.

  

Individual Rights of Trustee

   83

SECTION 7.04.

  

Trustee’s Disclaimer

   83

SECTION 7.05.

  

Notice of Default

   83

SECTION 7.06.

  

Reports by Trustee to Holders

   83

SECTION 7.07.

  

Compensation and Indemnity

   84

SECTION 7.08.

  

Replacement of Trustee

   85

SECTION 7.09.

  

Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

   86

SECTION 7.10.

  

Eligibility; Disqualification

   86

SECTION 7.11.

  

Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company

   86
ARTICLE EIGHT     
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE     

SECTION 8.01.

  

Termination of the Company’s Obligations

   86

SECTION 8.02.

  

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

   87

SECTION 8.03.

  

Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

   88

SECTION 8.04.

  

Application of Trust Money

   89

SECTION 8.05.

  

Repayment to the Company

   90

SECTION 8.06.

  

Reinstatement

   90
ARTICLE NINE     
AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS     

SECTION 9.01.

  

Without Consent of Holders

   91

SECTION 9.02.

  

With Consent of Holders

   92

SECTION 9.03.

  

Effect on Senior Indebtedness

   93

SECTION 9.04.

  

Compliance with TIA

   93

SECTION 9.05.

  

Revocation and Effect of Consents

   93

SECTION 9.06.

  

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

   94

SECTION 9.07.

  

Trustee To Sign Amendments, Etc.

   94
ARTICLE TEN     
SUBORDINATION OF NOTES     

SECTION 10.01.

  

Notes Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness

   95

 

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          Page

SECTION 10.02.

  

Suspension of Payment When Senior Indebtedness Is in Default

   95

SECTION 10.03.

  

Notes Subordinated to Prior Payment of All Senior Indebtedness on Dissolution, Liquidation or Reorganization of the Company

   97

SECTION 10.04.

  

Payments May Be Made Prior to Dissolution

   98

SECTION 10.05.

  

Holders To Be Subrogated to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness

   98

SECTION 10.06.

  

Obligations of the Company Unconditional

   99

SECTION 10.07.

  

Notice to Trustee

   99

SECTION 10.08.

  

Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent

   100

SECTION 10.09.

  

Trustee’s Relation to Senior Indebtedness

   100

SECTION 10.10.

  

Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Indebtedness

   100

SECTION 10.11.

  

Noteholders Authorize Trustee To Effectuate Subordination of Notes

   101

SECTION 10.12.

  

This Article Ten Not To Prevent Events of Default

   101

SECTION 10.13.

  

Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced

   101
ARTICLE ELEVEN     
NOTE GUARANTEE     

SECTION 11.01.

  

Unconditional Guarantee

   102

SECTION 11.02.

  

Subordination of Note Guarantee

   103

SECTION 11.03.

  

Limitation on Guarantor Liability

   103

SECTION 11.04.

  

Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee

   103

SECTION 11.05.

  

Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor

   104

SECTION 11.06.

  

Waiver of Subrogation

   105

SECTION 11.07.

  

Immediate Payment

   105

SECTION 11.08.

  

No Set-Off

   106

SECTION 11.09.

  

Guarantee Obligations Absolute

   106

SECTION 11.10.

  

Guarantee Obligations Continuing

   106

SECTION 11.11.

  

Guarantee Obligations Not Reduced

   106

SECTION 11.12.

  

Guarantee Obligations Reinstated

   106

SECTION 11.13.

  

Guarantee Obligations Not Affected

   107

SECTION 11.14.

  

Waiver

   108

SECTION 11.15.

  

No Obligation To Take Action Against the Company

   108

SECTION 11.16.

  

Dealing with the Company and Others

   108

SECTION 11.17.

  

Default and Enforcement

   109

SECTION 11.18.

  

Amendment, Etc.

   109

SECTION 11.19.

  

Acknowledgment

   109

SECTION 11.20.

  

Costs and Expenses

   109

SECTION 11.21.

  

No Merger or Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

   109

SECTION 11.22.

  

Survival of Guarantee Obligations

   110

SECTION 11.23.

  

Guarantee in Addition to Other Guarantee Obligations

   110

 

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          Page

SECTION 11.24.

  

Severability

   110

SECTION 11.25.

  

Successors and Assigns

   110
ARTICLE TWELVE     
MISCELLANEOUS     

SECTION 12.01.

  

TIA Controls

   110

SECTION 12.02.

  

Notices

   110

SECTION 12.03.

  

Communications by Holders with Other Holders

   112

SECTION 12.04.

  

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

   112

SECTION 12.05.

  

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

   112

SECTION 12.06.

  

Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar

   113

SECTION 12.07.

  

Legal Holidays

   113

SECTION 12.08.

  

Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial

   113

SECTION 12.09.

  

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

   113

SECTION 12.10.

  

No Recourse Against Others

   113

SECTION 12.11.

  

Successors

   114

SECTION 12.12.

  

Duplicate Originals

   114

SECTION 12.13.

  

Severability

   114

SECTION 12.14.

  

Force Majeure

   114

Signatures

        S-1

 

Exhibit A

 

    

Form of Note

Exhibit B

 

    

Form of Legends

Exhibit C

 

    

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

Exhibit D

 

    

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

Exhibit E

 

    

Form of Notation of Note Guarantee

Exhibit F

 

    

Incumbency Certificate

 

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

 

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INDENTURE dated as of March 22, 2005 among DAVITA INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), as issuer, and each of the Guarantors named herein, as Guarantors, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America, as Trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

The Company has duly authorized the creation of an issue of 71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 and, to provide therefor, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture. All things necessary to make the Notes, when duly issued and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered hereunder, the valid and binding obligations of the Company and to make this Indenture a valid and binding agreement of the Company have been done.

 

Each party hereto agrees as follows for the benefit of each other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes:

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

 

Set forth below are certain defined terms used in this Indenture.

 

Acquired Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (i) of a Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case whether or not Incurred by such Person in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such acquisition. Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been Incurred, with respect to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, on the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and, with respect to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, on the date of consummation of such acquisition of assets.

 

Acquisition” means the acquisition of Gambro Healthcare pursuant to the Gambro Healthcare Purchase Agreement.

 

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-Registrar.

 


Asset Disposition” means any direct or indirect sale, lease (other than an operating lease entered into in the ordinary course of business), transfer, issuance or other disposition, or a series of related sales, leases, transfers, issuances or dispositions that are part of a common plan, of shares of Capital Stock of a Subsidiary (other than directors’ qualifying shares), property or other assets (each referred to for the purposes of this definition as a “disposition”) by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items shall not be deemed to be Asset Dispositions:

 

(1) a disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2) the sale or other disposition of Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;

 

(3) a disposition of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(4) a disposition of obsolete or worn out equipment or equipment that is disposed of in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(5) transactions permitted under Article 5;

 

(6) an issuance of Capital Stock by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(7) for purposes of Section 4.15 only, the making of a Permitted Investment (other than a Permitted Investment to the extent such transaction results in the receipt of cash or Cash Equivalents by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries) or a Restricted Payment made in accordance with Section 4.12;

 

(8) dispositions of assets (including without limitation the Capital Stock of Subsidiaries) with an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $50.0 million per transaction or series of related transactions;

 

(9) the creation of any Permitted Lien and dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;

 

(10) dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings;

 

(11) the issuance by a Restricted Subsidiary of Preferred Stock that is permitted by Section 4.10;

 

(12) any sale, transfer, issuance or other disposition or distribution of Capital Stock in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

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(13) the licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles and licenses, leases or subleases of other property to the extent not materially interfering with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

(14) sales or other dispositions of assets or property pursuant to Sale/Leaseback Transactions entered into in compliance with Section 4.10; and

 

(15) sales or other dispositions of Receivables and related assets or an interest therein of the type specified in the definition of “Qualified Receivables Transaction” in a Qualified Receivables Transaction.

 

Attributable Indebtedness” in respect of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction means, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the interest rate assumed in making calculations in accordance with FAS 13, “Accounting for Leases”) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale/Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended).

 

Average Life” means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the numbers of years from the date of determination to the dates of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment by (2) the sum of all such payments.

 

Bank Indebtedness” means any and all amounts, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or Incurred after the Issue Date, in respect of the Senior Credit Facilities and any related notes, collateral documents, letters of credit and Guarantees and any Interest Rate Agreement entered into in connection with the Senior Credit Facilities, including principal, premium, if any, interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization of the Company at the rate specified therein whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, Guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.

 

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

 

Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the board of directors or similar 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.

 

Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

 

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Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participation or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock and limited liability or partnership interests (whether general or limited), but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

 

Capitalized Lease Obligations” means an obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as a capitalized lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation will be the capitalized amount of such obligation at the time any determination thereof is to be made as determined in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof will be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date such lease may be terminated without penalty.

 

Cash Equivalents” means:

 

(1) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, issued, fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof;

 

(2) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued, fully guaranteed or insured by any State of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof rated at least AA- by S&P or Aa3 by Moody’s, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of investments;

 

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits, overnight bank deposits, bankers’ acceptances and repurchase agreements issued by a Qualified Issuer having maturities of 270 days or less from the date of acquisition;

 

(4) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-2 by S&P or P-2 by Moody’s, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of investments, and having maturities of 270 days or less from the date of acquisition;

 

(5) money market accounts or funds, a substantial portion of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents described in clauses (1) through (4) above, with, issued by or managed by Qualified Issuers;

 

(6) money market accounts or funds, a substantial portion of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents described in clauses (1) through (4) above, which money market accounts or funds have net assets of not less than $500.0 million and have the highest rating available of either S&P or Moody’s, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of investments;

 

-4-


(7) money market accounts or funds rated at least AA by S&P and at least Aa by Moody’s;

 

(8) auction rate securities rated not less than AAA by S&P and not less than Aaa by Moody’s; and

 

(9) in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company, substantially similar instruments to those set forth in clauses (1) through (8) above.

 

Change of Control” means:

 

(1) any “person” or “group” of related persons (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), except that such person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time, directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company (or its successor by merger, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of its assets) (for the purposes of this clause, such person or group shall be deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock of the Company held by a parent entity, if such person or group “beneficially owns” (as defined above), directly or indirectly, more than 35% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity); or

 

(2) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors; or

 

(3) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act); or

 

(4) the adoption by the stockholders of the Company of a plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

provided that notwithstanding the foregoing the occurrence of a reorganization that results in all the Capital Stock of the Company being held by a parent entity (the “parent entity”) shall not result in a Change of Control provided that the shareholders of the parent entity immediately after such reorganization are the shareholders of the Company (with equivalent ownership percentages) immediately preceding such reorganization.

 

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

 

Common Stock” means with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or

 

-5-


non-voting) of such Person’s common stock whether or not outstanding on the Issue Date, and includes, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.

 

Company” means the Person identified as such in the Preamble hereto, until a successor Person shall have replaced the Company as obligor on the Notes pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter means such successor Person.

 

Consolidated Coverage Ratio” means as of any date of determination, with respect to any Person, the ratio of (x) the aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the date of such determination for which financial statements are in existence to (y) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such four fiscal quarters; provided, however, that:

 

(1) if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary:

 

(a) has Incurred any Indebtedness since the beginning of such period that remains outstanding on such date of determination or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is an Incurrence of Indebtedness, Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period will be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Indebtedness as if such Indebtedness had been Incurred on the first day of such period (except that in making such computation, the amount of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility drawn for working capital purposes in the ordinary course of business outstanding on the date of such calculation will be deemed to be (i) the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during such four fiscal quarters or such shorter period for which such facility was outstanding or (ii) if such facility was created after the end of such four fiscal quarters, the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the period from the date of creation of such facility to the date of such calculation) and the discharge of any other Indebtedness repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with the proceeds of such new Indebtedness as if such discharge had occurred on the first day of such period; or

 

(b) has repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged any Indebtedness since the beginning of the period that is no longer outstanding on such date of determination or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio involves a discharge of Indebtedness (in each case other than Indebtedness Incurred under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and the related commitment terminated), Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period will be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such discharge of such Indebtedness, including with the proceeds of such new Indebtedness, as if such discharge had occurred on the first day of such period;

 

(2) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary will have made any asset sale or other disposition or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is such an asset sale or other disposition:

 

(a) the Consolidated EBITDA for such period will be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of such asset sale or other disposition for such period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) directly attributable thereto for such period; and

 

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(b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period will be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Fixed Charges directly attributable to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with respect to the Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such asset sale or other disposition for such period (or, if the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary is sold, the Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period directly attributable to the Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Indebtedness after such sale);

 

(3) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (by merger or otherwise) will have made an Investment in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into the Company) or an acquisition of assets, including any acquisition of assets occurring in connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made hereunder, which constitutes all or substantially all of a company, division, operating unit, segment, business, group of related assets or line of business, Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period will be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the Incurrence of any Indebtedness) as if such Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of such period; and

 

(4) if since the beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) will have Incurred any Indebtedness or discharged any Indebtedness or made any asset sale or other disposition or any Investment or acquisition of assets that would have required an adjustment pursuant to clause (2) or (3) above if made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary during such period, Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period will be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such transaction occurred on the first day of such period.

 

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any calculation under this definition, the pro forma calculations (including pro forma expense and cost reductions calculated on a basis consistent with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act) will be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company; except that such pro forma calculations may include operating expense reductions for such period resulting from the transaction which is being given pro forma effect that have been realized or for which the steps necessary for realization have been taken or are reasonably expected to be taken within six months following any such transaction (which operating expense reductions are reasonably expected to be sustainable). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and

 

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is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness if such Interest Rate Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). If any Indebtedness that is being given pro forma effect bears an interest rate at the option of the Company, the interest rate shall be calculated by applying such optional rate chosen by the Company.

 

Consolidated Debt Expense” means, for any period, the total debt expense of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, whether paid or accrued, and included in debt expense as set forth on the statement of operations of the Company, plus, to the extent not included in such debt expense:

 

(1) interest expense attributable to Capitalized Lease Obligations and the interest portion of rent expense associated with Attributable Indebtedness in respect of the relevant lease giving rise thereto, determined as if such lease were a capitalized lease in accordance with GAAP and the interest component of any deferred payment obligations;

 

(2) amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost (provided that any amortization of bond premium will be credited to reduce Consolidated Interest Expense unless, pursuant to GAAP, such amortization of bond premium has otherwise reduced Consolidated Interest Expense);

 

(3) non-cash interest expense;

 

(4) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing;

 

(5) interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(6) costs associated with Hedging Obligations (including amortization of fees); provided, however, that if Hedging Obligations result in net benefits rather than costs, such benefits shall be credited to reduce Consolidated Interest Expense unless, pursuant to GAAP, such net benefits are otherwise reflected in Consolidated Net Income;

 

(7) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; and

 

(8) the cash contributions to any employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust to pay interest or fees to any Person (other than the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in connection with Indebtedness Incurred by such plan or trust.

 

For the purpose of calculating the Consolidated Coverage Ratio in connection with the Incurrence of any Indebtedness described in the final paragraph of the definition of “Indebtedness,” the calculation of Consolidated Interest Expense shall include all interest expense

 

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(including any amounts described in clauses (1) through (8) above) relating to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary described in the final paragraph of the definition of “Indebtedness.”

 

For purposes of the foregoing, total debt expense will be determined (i) after giving effect to any net payments made or received by the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Interest Rate Agreements, (ii) exclusive of amounts classified as other comprehensive income in the balance sheet of the Company and (iii) exclusive of the write-off of deferred financing costs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges Incurred in connection with any transaction pursuant to which the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer or grant a security interest in any accounts receivable or related assets shall be included in Consolidated Interest Expense.

 

Consolidated EBITDA” for any period means, without duplication, the Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus the following, to the extent deducted or taken into account in calculating such Consolidated Net Income:

 

(1) Consolidated Fixed Charges;

 

(2) Consolidated Income Taxes;

 

(3) consolidated expenses for valuation adjustments or impairment charges;

 

(4) consolidated depreciation or amortization expense;

 

(5) all one time non-recurring charges, fees and expenses Incurred by Gambro Healthcare pursuant to the Settlement Agreement entered into in December 2004 among the United States of America, acting through the United States Department of Justice and on behalf of the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services and TRICARE Management Activity, Steven J. Bander, M.D. and Gambro Healthcare and all other one time non-recurring fees and expenses Incurred in connection with such settlement and the related investigation including up to $15.0 million (and interest thereon) and other charges, fees and expenses related thereto with respect to settlement between Gambro Healthcare and the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units;

 

(6) expenses and charges relating to minority interests and equity income in consolidated Subsidiaries; and

 

(7) other non-cash charges reducing Consolidated Net Income (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash charges in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period not included in the calculation).

 

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, clauses (2) through (7) relating to amounts of a Restricted Subsidiary of a Person will be added to Consolidated Net Income to

 

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compute Consolidated EBITDA of such Person only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the net income (loss) of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in calculating the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and, to the extent the amounts set forth in clauses (2) through (7) are in excess of those necessary to offset a net loss of such Restricted Subsidiary or if such Restricted Subsidiary has net income for such period included in Consolidated Net Income, only if a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the Company by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior approval (that has not been obtained), pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges” means

 

    Consolidated Debt Expense, plus

 

    the product of (a) all dividends paid or payable, in cash, Cash Equivalents or Indebtedness, or accrued during such period on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person or on Preferred Stock of its Restricted Subsidiaries payable to a party other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state, provincial and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Income Taxes” means, with respect to any Person for any period, taxes imposed upon such Person or other payments required to be made by such Person by any governmental authority which taxes or other payments are calculated by reference to the income or profits of such Person or such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent such income or profits were included in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period), other than income taxes attributable to extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring gains or losses or taxes attributable to sales or dispositions outside the ordinary course of business.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that there will not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:

 

(1) any net income (loss) of any Person if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that:

 

(a) subject to the limitations contained in clauses (3) through (9) below, the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (2) below); and

 

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(b) the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Person for such period will be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

 

(2) any net income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary if such Subsidiary is subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter, any contract or agreement, operation of law or otherwise, on the payment of dividends or the making of distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to the Company, except that:

 

(a) subject to the limitations contained in clauses (3) through (9) below, the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash that could have been distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary (excluding the effect of restrictions relating to the Senior Credit Facilities permitted pursuant to clauses (i) and (iii) of the second paragraph of Section 4.14) during such period to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend (subject, in the case of a dividend to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained in this clause); and

 

(b) for the avoidance of doubt, the Company’s equity in a net loss of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

 

(3) any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any property, plant or equipment of the Company or its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person;

 

(4) any gain or loss arising from the early extinguishment of any Indebtedness in connection with the Transactions, including the amortization or write-off of debt issuance costs or debt discount in connection with the Transactions;

 

(5) any non-cash compensation charges arising from the grant of, issuance, vesting or repricing of stock, stock options or other equity-based awards or any amendment, modification, substitution or change of any such stock, stock options or other equity-based awards;

 

(6) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles;

 

(7) any fees, expenses or charges related to the Transactions;

 

(8) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (or extraordinary or nonrecurring loss), together with any related provision for taxes on any such extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (or the tax effect of any such extraordinary or nonrecurring loss), realized by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period; and

 

(9) gains and losses due solely to fluctuations in currency values.

 

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For purposes of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income” “nonrecurring” means any gain or loss as of any date that is not reasonably likely to recur within the two years following such date; provided that if there was a gain or loss similar to such gain or loss within the two years preceding such date, such gain or loss shall not be deemed nonrecurring.

 

Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who: (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of this Indenture; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such nomination or election.

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the corporate trust office of the Trustee located at The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, 700 South Flower Street — 5th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017, or such other office, designated by the Trustee by written notice to the Company, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.

 

Currency Agreement” means in respect of a Person any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures contract, option contract or other similar agreement or arrangements as to which such Person is a party or a beneficiary.

 

Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

Depository” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or a successor thereto registered under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation.

 

Designated Senior Indebtedness” means (1) the Bank Indebtedness and (2) any other Senior Indebtedness which, at the date of determination, has an aggregate principal amount outstanding of, or under which, at the date of determination, the holders thereof are committed to lend up to, at least $50.0 million and is specifically designated in the instrument evidencing or governing such Senior Indebtedness as “Designated Senior Indebtedness” for purposes of this Indenture.

 

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event:

 

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;

 

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(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock (excluding Capital Stock which is convertible or exchangeable solely at the option of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary); or

 

(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock in whole or in part,

 

in each case on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the earlier of the date (a) of the Stated Maturity of the Notes or (b) on which there are no Notes outstanding; provided that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date will be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided, further, that any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale (each defined in a substantially identical manner to the corresponding definitions in this Indenture) shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock (and all such securities into which it is convertible or for which it is ratable or exchangeable) provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock (and all such securities into which it is convertible or for which it is ratable or exchangeable) pursuant to such provision prior to compliance by the Company with Sections 4.09 and 4.15 and such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.12.

 

Equity Offering” means an offering for cash (generating gross proceeds of not less than $50.0 million) by the Company (to the extent such offering is not on behalf of selling stockholders) of its Common Stock, or options, warrants or rights with respect to its Common Stock, other than public offerings with respect to the Company’s Common Stock, or options, warrants or rights, registered on Form S-4 or S-8.

 

Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Notes” means the notes issued in an exchange offer pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset, the price (after taking into account any liabilities relating to such asset) that would be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction for cash between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of which is under any compulsion to complete the transaction. Fair Market Value (other than of any asset with a public trading market) (x) of $50.0 million or less shall be determined by Senior Management or the Board of Directors of the Company, in each case, acting reasonably and in good faith and (y) in excess of $50.0 million shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting reasonably and in good faith and shall be evidenced by a board resolution delivered to the Trustee.

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is not organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia and any Subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect as of the date of this Indenture, including those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture will be computed in conformity with GAAP.

 

Gambro Healthcare” means Gambro Healthcare, Inc., a Tennessee corporation.

 

Gambro Healthcare Purchase Agreement” means the Stock Purchase Agreement among Gambro AB, Gambro, Inc. and DaVita Inc. dated December 6, 2004, together with any amendments, modifications or waivers thereto.

 

Global Note” shall mean one or more IAI Global Notes, Regulation S Global Notes and 144A Global Notes.

 

Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and 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) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, 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); provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or undertakings customary in a Qualified Receivables Transaction. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

Guarantor” means each Subsidiary Guarantor and each other Person that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with Article Eleven.

 

Guarantor Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to a Guarantor, the following obligations, whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter issued, without duplication:

 

(1) any Guarantee of the Bank Indebtedness by such Guarantor and all other Guarantees by such Guarantor of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of any other Guarantor; and

 

(2) all obligations consisting of principal of and premium, if any, accrued and unpaid interest on, and fees and other amounts relating to, all other Indebtedness of the Guarantor.

 

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Guarantor Senior Indebtedness includes interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Guarantor regardless of whether postfiling interest is allowed in such proceeding.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding paragraphs of this definition, Guarantor Senior Indebtedness will not include:

 

(1) any Indebtedness Incurred in violation of this Indenture;

 

(2) any obligations of such Guarantor to another Subsidiary or the Company;

 

(3) any liability for Federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes owed or owing by such Guarantor;

 

(4) any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business (including Guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities);

 

(5) any Indebtedness, Guarantee or obligation of such Guarantor that is expressly subordinate or junior in right of payment to any other Indebtedness, Guarantee or obligation of such Guarantor, including, without limitation, any Guarantor Senior Subordinated Indebtedness and Guarantor Subordinated Obligations of such Guarantor; or

 

(6) any Capital Stock.

 

Guarantor Senior Subordinated Indebtedness” means, with respect to a Guarantor, the obligations of such Guarantor under any Note Guarantee and any other Indebtedness of such Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) that specifically provides that such Indebtedness is to rank equally in right of payment with the obligations of such Guarantor under any Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes and is not expressly subordinated by its terms in right of payment to any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is not Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor.

 

Guarantor Subordinated Obligation” means, with respect to a Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is expressly subordinate in right of payment to the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes pursuant to a written agreement.

 

Hedging Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement or Currency Agreement.

 

Holder” or “Noteholder” means the registered holder of any Note.

 

IAI Global Note” means a permanent global security in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the legend in Exhibit B and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee, issued in a denomination

 

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equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold to the Initial Purchasers as set forth in the Offering Memorandum.

 

Incur” means issue, create, assume, Guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) will be deemed to be Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that solely for purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.10 (i) amortization of debt discount or the accretion of principal with respect to a non-interest bearing or other discount security and (ii) unrealized losses or charges in respect of Hedging Obligations (including those resulting from the application of FAS 133), in each case will be deemed not to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness; and the terms “Incurred” and “Incurrence” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication):

 

(1) all obligations in respect of indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money;

 

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

 

(3) all obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments (including reimbursement obligations with respect thereto except to the extent such reimbursement obligation relates to a trade payable and such obligation is satisfied within 30 days of Incurrence);

 

(4) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property or services (except trade payables and other accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with obtaining goods, materials or services);

 

(5) Capitalized Lease Obligations and all Attributable Indebtedness of such Person;

 

(6) with respect to any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, any Preferred Stock (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);

 

(7) all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Persons;

 

(8) all Indebtedness of other Persons to the extent Guaranteed by such Person;

 

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(9) all obligations of such Person under Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements (the amount of any such obligations to be equal at any time to the termination value of such agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligation that would be payable by such Person at such time);

 

(10) all net obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to assets purchased by such Person;

 

(11) all Disqualified Stock issued by such Person with the amount of Indebtedness represented by such Disqualified Stock being equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and its maximum fixed repurchase price (not including, in either case, any redemption or repurchase premium); and

 

(12) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, the Receivables Transaction Amount outstanding relating to a Qualified Receivables Transaction.

 

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

 

The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date will be the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the maximum liability, upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation, of any contingent obligations at such date.

 

In addition, “Indebtedness” of any Person shall include Indebtedness described above in this definition that would not appear as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person if:

 

(1) such Indebtedness is the obligation of a partnership or joint venture that is not a Restricted Subsidiary (a “Joint Venture”);

 

(2) such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a general partner of the Joint Venture (a “General Partner”); and

 

(3) there is recourse, by contract or operation of law, with respect to the payment of such Indebtedness to property or assets of such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person; and then such Indebtedness shall be included in an amount not to exceed:

 

(a) the lesser of (i) the net assets of the General Partner and (ii) the amount of such obligations to the extent that there is recourse, by contract or operation of law, to the property or assets of such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person; or

 

(b) if less than the amount determined pursuant to clause (a) immediately above, the actual amount of such Indebtedness that is recourse to such Person

 

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or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, if the Indebtedness is evidenced by a writing and is for a determinable.

 

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Initial Purchasers” means J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC, Wachovia Capital Markets LLC and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

 

interest” means interest on the Notes and additional interest, if any, owed thereon pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Interest Payment Date” means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on the Notes.

 

Interest Rate Agreement” means with respect to any Person any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate hedge agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement as to which such Person is party or a beneficiary.

 

Investment” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of any direct or indirect advance, loan (other than advances or extensions of credit to customers or trade receivables in the ordinary course of business) or other extensions of credit (including by way of Guarantee or similar arrangement, but excluding any debt or extension of credit represented by a bank deposit other than a time deposit) or capital contribution 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 of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments issued by, such Person and all other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that none of the following will be deemed to be an Investment:

 

(1) endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(2) an acquisition of assets, Capital Stock or other securities by the Company or a Subsidiary for consideration to the extent such consideration consists of Common Stock of the Company.

 

For purposes of Section 4.12:

 

(1) “Investment” will include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in a Restricted Subsidiary to be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Restricted Subsidiary at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company will be

 

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deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to (a) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (b) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time that such Subsidiary is so re-designated a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer; and

 

(3) if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such entity is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or distribution equal to the Fair Market Value of the Capital Stock of that entity not sold or disposed of.

 

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P.

 

Issue Date” means March 22, 2005.

 

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

 

Liquidated Damages” means additional interest owed pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Maturity Date” means March 15, 2015.

 

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

 

Net Available Cash” from an Asset Disposition means cash payments received (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise and net proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any securities received as consideration, but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition or received in any other non-cash form) therefrom, in each case net of:

 

(1) all legal, accounting, investment banking, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses Incurred, and all Federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under GAAP (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing agreements), in connection with or as a consequence of such Asset Disposition;

 

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(2) all payments made on any Indebtedness which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Disposition, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Disposition, or by applicable law be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition;

 

(3) all payments made to discharge any severance liabilities arising in connection with such Asset Disposition;

 

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

 

(5) the deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Disposition and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Disposition.

 

Net Cash Proceeds,” with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, listing fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees and charges actually Incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result of such issuance or sale (after taking into account any available tax credit or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements).

 

Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness of a Person:

 

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

 

(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 other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default under such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity.

 

Non-U.S. Person” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation S.

 

Note Guarantee” means, individually, any Guarantee of payment of the Notes and Exchange Notes issued in a registered exchange offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreements by any Person pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and any supplemental indentures thereto, and, collectively, all such Guarantees. Each such Note Guarantee will be in the form prescribed by this Indenture.

 

Notes” means the Company’s 7 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes (including for the avoidance of doubt, Additional Notes) and any Exchange Notes thereof, treated as a single

 

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class of securities for all purposes (including voting), as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, that are issued pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Obligation” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnification, reimbursements, costs, expenses, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

Offering Memorandum” means the offering memorandum of the Company dated March 15, 2005 relating to the Notes.

 

Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company. Officer of any Subsidiary Guarantor has a correlative meaning.

 

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.

 

144A Global Note” means a permanent global security in registered form representing the aggregate principal amount of Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.

 

Permitted Business” means the businesses engaged in by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date (after giving pro forma effect to the Transactions) as described in the Offering Memorandum and businesses that are reasonably related thereto or reasonable extensions thereof.

 

Permitted Divestiture” means any sale or other divestiture of assets or property made in anticipation of the Acquisition (as a result of discussion with antitrust regulators in connection with the Acquisition) or required to be made pursuant to any consent decree or similar order or agreement, which decree, order or agreement is issued or entered into prior to the consummation of the Acquisition and in connection therewith by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Bureau of Competition of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and/or any similar state or foreign regulatory agency or body.

 

Permitted Investment” means an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in:

 

(1) (a) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or a Person which will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary, and (b) any Investment deemed to be made upon the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(2) another Person if as a result of such Investment such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its assets to, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(3) cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

(4) payroll, travel, moving, entertainment and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(5) Guarantees issued in accordance with Section 4.10;

 

(6) Capital Stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments or pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of a debtor;

 

(7) Investments made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Disposition that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.15;

 

(8) Investments in existence on the Issue Date and any extension, modification or renewal of any such investments existing on the Issue Date, but only to the extent not involving additional advances, contributions or other Investments (of cash or otherwise) or other increases thereof or Guarantees (other than as a result of the accrual or accretion of interest or original issue discount or the issuance by such investee of pay-in-kind securities, in each case, pursuant to the terms of such Investment as in effect on the Issue Date);

 

(9) Currency Agreements, Interest Rate Agreements and related Hedging Obligations, which transactions or obligations are both Incurred in compliance with Section 4.10 and of the type described in clause (5) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness;

 

(10) Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, together with all other Investments pursuant to this clause (10), in an aggregate amount at the time of such Investment not to exceed $75.0 million outstanding at any one time (with the Fair Market Value of such Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

 

(11) any Investment received in exchange for the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary and Investments owned by an Unrestricted Subsidiary upon its redesignation as a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(12) Investments of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Special Purpose Licensed Entity which, when aggregated with the aggregate amount of all obligations Guaranteed pursuant to clause (13) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness, shall not exceed $100.0 million at any time outstanding;

 

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(13) Investments by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction; and

 

(14) Investments in any Person to the extent such Investments consist of prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection, and lease, workers’ compensation, performance and similar deposits made in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Permitted Junior Securities” shall mean unsecured debt or equity securities of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any direct or indirect parent of the Company or any successor corporation issued pursuant to a plan of reorganization or readjustment, as applicable, that are subordinated to the payment of all then outstanding Senior Indebtedness of the Company or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of any Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, at least to the same extent that the Notes are subordinated to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company or the applicable Note Guarantees are subordinated to the payment of all Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of any Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, on the Issue Date, so long as to the extent that any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, outstanding on the date of consummation of any such plan of reorganization or readjustment is not paid in full in cash on such date, the holders of any such Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness not so paid in full in cash have consented to the terms of such plan of reorganization or readjustment.

 

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

 

(1) (a) Liens securing Indebtedness and other obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities (including related Hedging Obligations and other “Secured Obligations” (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities)) Incurred in compliance with Section 4.10 and (b) Liens securing other Senior Indebtedness (including the Senior Notes) and liens on assets of Restricted Subsidiaries securing Guarantees of Senior Indebtedness and other Guarantor Senior Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture;

 

(2) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws, social security laws or similar legislation or regulations or deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or United States government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import or customs duties or for the payment of rent, or deposits or other security securing liabilities to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(3) Liens imposed by law, including carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not more than 60 days past due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings if a reserve or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof;

 

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(4) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet subject to penalties for non-payment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings provided appropriate provisions, if any, required pursuant to GAAP have been made in respect thereof;

 

(5) Liens in favor of issuers of surety, indemnity, bid, warranty, release, appeal or performance bonds or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued, and completion guarantees provided for, pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business; provided, however, that such letters of credit do not constitute an obligation for money borrowed;

 

(6) encumbrances, ground leases, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights of way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning, building codes or other restrictions (including, without limitation, minor defects or irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

(7) Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as the related Indebtedness is, and is permitted to be under this Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligation;

 

(8) leases, licenses, subleases and sublicenses of assets (including, without limitation, real property and intellectual property rights) which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(9) judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default so long as such Lien is adequately bonded or appropriate reserves have been established as required by GAAP, if any;

 

(10) Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or Capitalized Lease Obligations, purchase money obligations or other payments Incurred to finance the acquisition, improvement or construction of, assets or property acquired or constructed in the ordinary course of business; provided that:

 

(a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture and does not exceed the cost of the assets or property so acquired or constructed; and

 

(b) such Liens are created within 180 days after the completion of the construction or acquisition of such assets or property and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto or proceeds thereof;

 

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(11) banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depositary institution; provided that:

 

(a) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Company in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board; and

 

(b) such deposit account is not intended by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository institution;

 

(12) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(13) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

 

(14) Liens on property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created, Incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; provided further, however, that any such Lien may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(15) Liens on property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created, Incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(16) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(17) Liens securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees;

 

(18) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance, refund, replace, amend, extend or modify Indebtedness that was previously so secured not in violation of this Indenture; provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced or is in respect of property that is the security for a Permitted Lien hereunder;

 

(19) any interest or title of a lessor under any Capitalized Lease Obligation or operating lease;

 

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

 

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(21) Liens under industrial revenue, municipal or similar bonds;

 

(22) Liens in connection with dispositions of self-pay receivables in the ordinary course of business, which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries believe in good faith cannot be paid in full;

 

(23) Liens securing Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clause (16) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness;

 

(24) Liens on assets that are the subject of a Qualified Receivables Transaction;

 

(25) customary non-assignment provisions in leases and other agreements entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(26) Liens securing Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Sale/Leaseback Transactions entered into in compliance with Section 4.10, but only to the extent that such Liens attach to the assets or property being financed pursuant to such Sale/Leaseback Transactions and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(27) in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (26) above, Liens of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount which, when taken together with the aggregate amount of all other Liens Incurred pursuant to this clause (27) and then outstanding, will not exceed $10.0 million.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

 

Preferred Stock,” as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation.

 

Private Placement Legend” means the legends initially set forth on the Notes in the form set forth in Exhibit B.

 

Qualified Institutional Buyer” or “QIB” shall have the meaning specified in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

Qualified Issuer” shall mean any commercial bank that has a combined capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million.

 

Qualified Proceeds” means assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Permitted Business.

 

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Qualified Receivables Transaction” means any sale, factoring or securitization transaction involving Receivables that may be entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer, or may grant a security interest in, any Receivables (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, all collateral securing such Receivables, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such Receivables, the proceeds of such Receivables and other assets which are customarily transferred, or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted, in connection with sales, factoring or securitizations involving Receivables.

 

Rating Agencies” means Moody’s and S&P.

 

Receivable” means a right to receive payment arising from a sale or lease of goods or the performance of services by a Person pursuant to an arrangement with another Person pursuant to which such other Person is obligated to pay for goods or services under terms that permit the purchase of such goods and services on credit and all proceeds thereof and rights (contractual or otherwise) and collateral related thereto and shall include, in any event, any items of property that would be classified as an account receivable of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or an “account,” “chattel paper,” “payment intangible” or “instrument” under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York and any “supporting obligations” or “proceeds” as so defined of any such items.

 

Receivables Transaction Amount” means (a) in the case of any Receivables securitization (but excluding any sale or factoring of Receivables), the amount of obligations outstanding under the legal documents entered into as part of such Receivables securitization on any date of determination that would be characterized as principal if such Receivables securitization were structured as a secured lending transaction rather than as a purchase and (b) in the case of any sale or factoring of Receivables, the cash purchase price paid by the buyer in connection with its purchase of Receivables (including any bills of exchange) less the amount of collections received in respect of such Receivables and paid to such buyer, excluding any amounts applied to purchase fees or discount or in the nature of interest, in each case as determined in good faith and in a consistent and commercially reasonable manner by the Company.

 

Record Date” means the applicable Record Date specified in the Notes; provided that if any such date is not a Business Day, the Record Date shall be the first day immediately preceding such specified day that is a Business Day.

 

Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to this Indenture and the Notes.

 

Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, means the price fixed for such redemption, payable in immediately available funds, pursuant to this Indenture and the Notes.

 

refinance” means to refinance, repay, prepay, replace, exchange, renew, extend or refund; “refinanced” and “refinances” shall have correlative meanings.

 

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Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is Incurred to refinance (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) any Indebtedness existing on the date of this Indenture or Incurred in compliance with this Indenture, including Indebtedness that refinances Refinancing Indebtedness; provided, however, that:

 

(1) (a) if the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced (the “Refinanced Indebtedness”) is earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Notes, the Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity no earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Refinanced Indebtedness or (b) if the Stated Maturity of the Refinanced Indebtedness is later than the Stated Maturity of the Notes, the Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity at least 91 days later than the Stated Maturity of the Notes;

 

(2) the Refinancing Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Refinanced Indebtedness;

 

(3) such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the sum of the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Refinanced Indebtedness (plus, without duplication, any additional Indebtedness Incurred to pay interest or dividends owed thereon, any reasonable premium (or premium required to be paid pursuant to the instruments governing such Refinancing Indebtedness) paid to the holders of the Refinanced Indebtedness and reasonable fees and expenses Incurred in connection therewith);

 

(4) if the Refinanced Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, as the case may be, on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of the Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Refinanced Indebtedness and, if the Refinanced Indebtedness is pari passu with the Notes or the Note Guarantees, as the case may be, such Refinancing Indebtedness ranks pari passu with, or is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes or the Note Guarantees, as the case may be;

 

(5) the obligor of Refinancing Indebtedness is the same Person as the obligor of the Refinanced Indebtedness; and

 

(6) the proceeds of the Refinancing Indebtedness shall be used substantially concurrently with the Incurrence thereof to redeem or refinance the Refinanced Indebtedness, unless the Refinanced Indebtedness is not then due and is not redeemable or prepayable at the option of the obligor thereof or is redeemable or prepayable only with notice or lapse of time, in which case such proceeds shall be held in a segregated account until the Refinanced Indebtedness becomes due or redeemable or prepayable or such notice or time period lapses and then shall be used to refinance the Refinanced Indebtedness; provided that in any event the Refinanced Indebtedness shall be redeemed or refinanced within one year of the Incurrence of the Refinancing Indebtedness.

 

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Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain registration rights agreement dated as of the date of this Indenture by and among the Company and the initial purchasers set forth therein relating to the Notes and, with respect to any Additional Notes, one or more substantially similar registration rights agreements among the Company and the other parties thereto, as such agreements may be amended from time to time.

 

Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

Regulation S Global Note” means a permanent global security in registered form representing the aggregate principal amount of Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

Replacement Assets” means:

 

(1) other properties or assets to replace the properties or assets that were the subject of the Asset Disposition;

 

(2) properties and assets that will be used in businesses of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries or a Permitted Business; or

 

(3) any Permitted Business or Capital Stock of a Person operating in a Permitted Business to the extent not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture.

 

Representative” means any trustee, agent or representative (if any) of an issue of Senior Indebtedness; provided that when used in connection with the Senior Credit Facilities, the term “Representative” shall refer to the administrative agent under the Senior Credit Facilities.

 

Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer in the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and shall also mean any officer who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

Restricted Investment” means any Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

 

Restricted Security” means a Note that constitutes a “Restricted Security” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act; provided, however, that the Trustee shall be entitled to request and conclusively rely on an Opinion of Counsel with respect to whether any Note constitutes a Restricted Security.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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

 

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S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

 

Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person.

 

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Senior Asset Disposition Offer” means an “Asset Disposition Offer,” as defined in the Senior Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Senior Credit Agreements” means the third amended and restated credit agreement dated as of July 30, 2004 among the Company, Credit Suisse First Boston, Cayman Islands Branch, Bank of America, N.A., Banc of America Securities LLC, The Bank of New York, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Wachovia Bank, National Association, the lenders, issuing banks and swingline bank party thereto including any related letters of credit, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as the same may be amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time (including increasing the amount loaned thereunder, extending the maturity of any Indebtedness thereunder or contemplated thereby or deleting, adding or substituting one or more parties thereto (whether or not such added or substituted parties are banks or other institutional lenders) (which for the avoidance of doubt shall include the new senior credit facilities to be entered into, at or prior to the Acquisition (and any other debt financing entered into, or debt securities issued, in connection with or in contemplation of the Acquisition), by the Company, certain Subsidiaries of the Company, the lenders party thereto and JP Morgan Securities Inc., as lead arranger, including any related letters of credit, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as the same may be amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time)).

 

Senior Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, one or more debt facilities (including the Senior Credit Agreements) or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders providing revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables) or letters of credit, in each case as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.

 

Senior Indebtedness” means, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter issued, created, Incurred or assumed, all amounts payable by the Company under or in respect of Indebtedness of the Company, including premiums and accrued and unpaid interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company at the rate specified in the documentation with respect thereto whether or not a

 

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claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding) and fees relating thereto; provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness will not include:

 

(1) any Indebtedness Incurred in violation of this Indenture;

 

(2) any obligation of the Company to any Subsidiary;

 

(3) any liability for Federal, state, foreign, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company;

 

(4) any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business (including Guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities);

 

(5) any Indebtedness, Guarantee or obligation of the Company that is expressly subordinate or junior in right of payment to any other Indebtedness, Guarantee or obligation of the Company, including, without limitation, any Senior Subordinated Indebtedness and any Subordinated Obligations; or

 

(6) any Capital Stock.

 

Senior Indenture” means the Indenture, dated the date hereof, among the Company, the guarantors identified therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, with respect to the Company’s 65/8% Senior Notes due 2013, as such may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

 

Senior Management” shall mean the Chairman of the Board (if an officer), President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

 

Senior Notes” means the “Notes,” as defined in the Senior Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Senior Note Guarantees” means the “Note Guarantees,” as defined in the Senior Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Senior Pari Passu Notes” means the “Pari Passu Notes,” as defined in the Senior Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Senior Registration Rights Agreement” means a “Registration Rights Agreement,” as defined in the Senior Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

Senior Subordinated Indebtedness” means the Notes and any other Indebtedness of the Company that specifically provides that such Indebtedness is to rank equally with the Notes in right of payment and is not subordinated by its terms in right of payment to any Indebtedness or other obligation of the Company which is not Senior Indebtedness.

 

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Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.

 

Special Purpose Licensed Entity” means any Person in a related business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries that (i) the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in directly under applicable law, including provisions of state law (a) prohibiting the ownership of healthcare facilities by public companies, (b) prohibiting the corporate practice of medicine or (c) otherwise restricting the ability of the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries to acquire directly a required license to operate a healthcare facility, and (ii) has entered into a transaction or series of transactions with the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under which:

 

(x) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries provides management, administrative or consulting services to the Special Purpose Licensed Entity;

 

(y) the owners of the Special Purpose Licensed Entity are prohibited from transferring any of their interests in the Special Purpose Licensed Entity without the consent of the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(z) the Company or one of its Subsidiaries has the right to require the owners of the Special Purpose Licensed Entity to transfer all of their interests in the Special Purpose Licensed Entity to a Person designated by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, but shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

 

Subordinated Obligation” means any Indebtedness of the Company (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Notes pursuant to a written agreement.

 

Subsidiary” of any Person means (a) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total ordinary voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or persons performing similar functions) or (b) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar business entity of which more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, is, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (1) such Person, (2) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (3) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise specified herein, each reference to a Subsidiary will refer to a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

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Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Company in existence on the Issue Date that provides a Note Guarantee on the Issue Date and any other Restricted Subsidiary that provides a Note Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Note Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Tax” means any tax, duty, levy, impost, assessment or other governmental charge (including penalties, interest and any other liabilities related thereto).

 

Taxing Authority” means any government or political subdivision or territory or possession of any government or any authority or agency therein or thereof having power to tax.

 

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb), as amended, as in effect on the date of the execution of this Indenture until such time as this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, and thereafter as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.04.

 

Total Tangible Assets” means, as of any date, the total amount of tangible assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at the end of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding such date.

 

Transactions” means the Acquisition and the related acquisition financing transactions and the issuance of the Notes on the Issue Date and the application of the proceeds therefrom as set forth in the Offering Memorandum under “Use of proceeds.”

 

Trustee” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means such successor.

 

Unrestricted Securities” means one or more Notes that do not and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend in the form set forth in Exhibit B, including, without limitation, the Exchange Notes.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

 

(1) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Company in the manner provided below; and

 

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary or a Person becoming a Subsidiary through merger or consolidation or Investment therein) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary only if:

 

(1) such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries does not own any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of or have any Investment in, or own or hold any Lien on any property of, any other Subsidiary of the Company which is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated or otherwise an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

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(2) all the Indebtedness of such Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries shall, at the date of designation, and will at all times thereafter, consist of Non-Recourse Debt;

 

(3) such designation and the Investment of the Company in such Subsidiary complies with Section 4.12;

 

(4) such Subsidiary, either alone or in the aggregate with all other Unrestricted Subsidiaries, does not operate, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

(5) such Subsidiary is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation:

 

(a) to subscribe for additional Capital Stock of such Person; or

 

(b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

 

(6) on the date such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary is not a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with terms, taken as a whole, substantially less favorable to the Company than those that might have been obtained from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company.

 

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complies with the foregoing conditions. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred as of such date.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof and the Company could Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the Coverage Ratio Exception on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

 

U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally

 

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guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of 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 depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

U.S. Legal Tender” means such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

Voting Stock” of a corporation means all classes of Capital Stock of such corporation then outstanding and normally entitled to vote in the election of directors.

 

Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary, all of the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) is owned by the Company or another Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary.

 

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.

 

Term


   Defined in Section

“Additional Notes”

   2.02

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.16

“Application Period”

   4.15

“Asset Disposition Offer Amount”

   4.15

“Asset Disposition Offer Period”

   4.15

“Asset Disposition Purchase Date”

   4.15

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.09

“Change of Control Payment”

   4.09

“Change of Control Payment Date”

   4.09

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.02

“Coverage Ratio Exception”

   4.10

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.15

“Guarantee Obligations”

   11.01

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.02

“Non-Payment Default”

   10.02

“Pari Passu Notes”

   4.15

“Participants”

   2.15

“Paying Agent”

   2.03

“Payment Blockage Notice”

   10.02

“Payment Blockage Period”

   10.02

“Payment Default”

   10.02

 

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Term


   Defined in Section

“Permitted Indebtedness”

   4.10

“Physical Notes”

   2.01

“Registrar”

   2.03

“Restricted Payments”

   4.12

“Restricted Payments Basket”

   4.12

“Restricted Period”

   2.15

“Reversion Time”

   4.07

“Successor Company”

   5.01

“Suspended Covenants”

   4.07

“Suspension Period”

   4.07

 

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of TIA.

 

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.

 

indenture security holder” means a Holder or a Noteholder.

 

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them therein.

 

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;

 

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(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

(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; and

 

(7) the words “including,” “includes” and similar words shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.”

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

THE NOTES

 

SECTION 2.01. Form and Dating.

 

The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. The Company shall approve the form of the Notes and any notation, legend or endorsement on them. Each Note shall be dated the date of its issuance and show the date of its authentication. Each Note shall have an executed Note Guarantee from each of the Subsidiary Guarantors endorsed thereon substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

 

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

 

Notes offered and sold in reliance on Rule 144 and Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Notes, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A, deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depository, duly executed by the Company (and having an executed Note Guarantee from each of the Guarantors endorsed thereon) and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided and shall bear the legends set forth in Exhibit B. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depository, as hereinafter provided.

 

Notes issued in exchange for interests in a Global Note pursuant to Section 2.16 may be issued in the form of permanent certificated Notes in registered form in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A (the “Physical Notes”).

 

SECTION 2.02. Execution and Authentication.

 

Two Officers of the Company (who shall have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate actions) shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note or Note Guarantee, as the case may be, was an Officer at the time of such execution but no longer holds that office at the time the

 

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Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note or Note Guarantee, as the case may be, shall nevertheless be valid.

 

A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall authenticate Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in the aggregate principal amount of $850,000,000 upon a written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate. In addition, the Trustee shall authenticate Notes (“Additional Notes”) thereafter in unlimited amount (so long as not otherwise prohibited by the terms of this Indenture, including without limitation, Section 4.10) for original issue upon a written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate. Each such Officers’ Certificate shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. Unless otherwise provided in the appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company and Affiliates of the Company.

 

The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

 

SECTION 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

The Company shall maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where (a) Notes may be presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”), (b) Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”) and (c) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, for such purposes. The Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may act as its own Registrar or Paying Agent provided compliance with the proviso of the previous sentence. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company, upon notice to the Trustee, may have one or more co-Registrars and one or more additional paying agents reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent until such time as the Trustee has resigned or a successor has been appointed.

 

The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Indenture, which agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee, in advance, of the name and

 

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address of any such Agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such.

 

SECTION 2.04. Paying Agent To Hold Assets in Trust.

 

The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that, subject to Article Ten and Section 11.02, each Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all assets held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes (whether such assets have been distributed to it by the Company or any other obligor on the Notes), and shall notify the Trustee of any Default by the Company (or any other obligor on the Notes) in making any such payment. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to distribute all assets held by it to the Trustee and account for any assets disbursed and the Trustee may at any time during the continuance of any payment Default, upon written request to a Paying Agent, require such Paying Agent to distribute all assets held by it to the Trustee and to account for any assets distributed. Upon distribution to the Trustee of all assets that shall have been delivered by the Company to the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for such assets.

 

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 Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least two (2) Business Days prior to 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 Holders, which list may be conclusively relied upon by the Trustee.

 

SECTION 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.

 

Subject to Sections 2.15 and 2.16, when Notes are presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to register the transfer of such Notes or to exchange such Notes for an equal principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations, the Registrar or co-Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar or co-Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the Registrar’s or co-Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be imposed upon the Company, the Trustee or any Agent 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.

 

The Registrar or co-Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note (i) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of Notes and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, (ii) selected for redemption in whole or in part pursuant to Article Three, except the

 

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unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part, and (iii) during a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Disposition Offer if such Note is validly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition Offer and not validly withdrawn.

 

Any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Notes may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by the Holder of such Global Note (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the Note shall be required to be reflected in a book-entry system.

 

SECTION 2.07. Replacement Notes.

 

If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met. Such Holder must provide an indemnity bond or other indemnity, sufficient in the judgment of both the Company and the Trustee, to protect the Company, the Trustee or any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge such Holder for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in replacing a Note pursuant to this Section 2.07, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and of the Trustee.

 

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and every replacement Note Guarantee shall constitute an additional obligation of the Guarantor thereof.

 

SECTION 2.08. Outstanding Notes.

 

Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes that have been authenticated by the Trustee except those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. A Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective Affiliates holds the Note (subject to the provisions of Section 2.09).

 

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.07. If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01, it ceases to be outstanding and interest ceases to accrue. If on a Redemption Date or the Maturity Date the Trustee or Paying Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate thereof) holds U.S. Legal Tender or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to pay all of the principal and interest due on the Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

 

SECTION 2.09. Treasury Notes.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company or any of its

 

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Affiliates shall be disregarded, except that, for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in conclusively relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be disregarded.

 

SECTION 2.10. Temporary Notes.

 

Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Until such exchange, temporary Notes shall be entitled to the same rights, benefits and privileges as definitive Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Notes are represented by a Global Note, such Global Note may be in typewritten form.

 

SECTION 2.11. Cancellation.

 

The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee, or at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent (other than the Company or a Subsidiary), and no one else, shall cancel and, at the written direction of the Company, shall dispose of all Notes surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation in accordance with its customary procedures. Subject to Section 2.07, the Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. If the Company or any Guarantor shall acquire any of the Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to this Section 2.11.

 

SECTION 2.12. Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall, unless the Trustee fixes another record date pursuant to Section 6.10, pay the defaulted interest, plus (to the extent lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted interest, in any lawful manner. The Company may pay the defaulted interest to the persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, which date shall be the fifteenth day next preceding the date fixed by the Company for the payment of defaulted interest or the next succeeding Business Day if such date is not a Business Day. At least 15 days before any such subsequent special record date, the Company shall mail to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice that states the subsequent special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest, and interest payable on such defaulted interest, if any, to be paid.

 

SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Number.

 

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 or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to

 

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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 will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

 

SECTION 2.14. Deposit of Moneys.

 

Prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on each Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Payment Date and Asset Disposition Purchase Date, the Company shall have deposited with the Paying Agent in immediately available funds money sufficient to make cash payments, if any, due on such Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Payment Date and Asset Disposition Purchase Date, as the case may be, in a timely manner which permits the Paying Agent to remit payment to the Holders on such Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Payment Date and Asset Disposition Purchase Date, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 2.15. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes.

 

(a) The Global Notes initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of such Depository, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depository and (iii) bear legends as set forth in Exhibit B.

 

Members of, or participants in, the Depository (“Participants”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depository, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Note, and the Depository may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and Participants, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Note.

 

(b) Transfers of Global Notes shall be limited to transfers in whole, but not in part, to the Depository, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Notes may be transferred or exchanged for Physical Notes in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depository and the provisions of Section 2.16. In addition, Physical Notes shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in Global Notes if (i) the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for any Global Note and a successor Depository is not appointed by the Company, with a copy to the Trustee, within 90 days of such notice or (ii) a Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has received a written request from the Depository to issue Physical Notes.

 

(c) In connection with any transfer or exchange of a portion of the beneficial interest in a Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 2.15, the Registrar shall (if one or more Physical Notes are to be issued) reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of such Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Note to be transferred, and the Company

 

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shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Physical Notes of authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Note so transferred.

 

(d) In connection with the transfer of a Global Note as an entirety to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 2.15, such Global Note shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and (i) the Company shall execute, (ii) the Guarantors shall execute notations of Note Guarantees on and (iii) the Trustee shall upon written instructions from the Company authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depository in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Physical Notes of authorized denominations.

 

(e) Any Physical Note constituting a Restricted Security delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section 2.15 shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.16, bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

(f) On or prior to the 40th day after the later of the commencement of the offering of the Notes represented by the Regulation S Global Note and the issue date of such Notes (such period through and including such 40th day, the “Restricted Period”), a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in the corresponding Restricted Global Note only upon receipt by the Trustee of a written certification from the transferor to the effect that such transfer is being made (i)(a) to a Person that the transferor reasonably believes is a Qualified Institutional Buyer in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A or (b) pursuant to another exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act which is accompanied by an opinion of counsel regarding the availability of such exemption and (ii) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction.

 

(g) The Holder of any Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Participants and Persons that may hold interests through Participants, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

 

SECTION 2.16. Special Transfer Provisions.

 

(a) Transfers to Non-QIB Institutional Accredited Investors and Non-U.S. Persons. The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a Restricted Security to any Institutional Accredited Investor which is not a QIB or to any Non-U.S. Person:

 

(i) the Registrar shall register the transfer of any Restricted Security, whether or not such Note bears the Private Placement Legend, if (x) the requested transfer is after the second anniversary of the Issue Date; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company has held any beneficial interest in such Note, or portion thereof, at any time on or prior to the second anniversary of the Issue Date or (y) (1) in the case of a transfer to an Institutional Accredited Investor which is not a QIB (excluding Non-U.S. Persons), the proposed transferee has delivered to the Registrar a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto and any legal opinions and certifications

 

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required thereby and (2) in the case of a transfer to a Non-U.S. Person, the proposed transferor has delivered to the Registrar a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto;

 

(ii) if the proposed transferee is a Participant and the Notes to be transferred consist of Physical Notes which after transfer are to be evidenced by an interest in the IAI Global Note or Regulation S Global Note, as the case may be, upon receipt by the Registrar of the Physical Note and (x) written instructions given in accordance with the Depository’s and the Registrar’s procedures and (y) the appropriate certificate, if any, required by clause (y) of paragraph (i) above, the Registrar shall register the transfer and reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the IAI Global Note or Regulation S Global Note, as the case may be, in an amount equal to the principal amount of Physical Notes to be transferred, and the Registrar shall cancel the Physical Notes so transferred; and

 

(iii) if the proposed transferor is a Participant seeking to transfer an interest in a Global Note, upon receipt by the Registrar of (x) written instructions given in accordance with the Depository’s and the Registrar’s procedures and (y) the appropriate certificate, if any, required by clause (y) of paragraph (i) above, the Registrar shall register the transfer and reflect on its books and records the date and (A) a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interests are to be transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Notes to be transferred and (B) an increase in the principal amount of the IAI Global Note or the Regulation S Global Note, as the case may be, in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Notes to be transferred.

 

(b) Transfers to QIBs. The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a Restricted Security to a QIB:

 

(i) the Registrar shall register the transfer of any Restricted Security, whether or not such Note bears the Private Placement Legend, if (x) the requested transfer is after the second anniversary of the Issue Date; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company has held any beneficial interest in such Note, or portion thereof, at any time on or prior to the second anniversary of the Issue Date or (y) such transfer is being made by a proposed transferor who has checked the box provided for on the form of Note 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 has signed the certification provided for on the form of Note stating, or has otherwise advised the Company and the Registrar in writing, that it is purchasing the Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account 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 acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as it has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A;

 

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(ii) if the proposed transferee is a Participant and the Notes to be transferred consist of Physical Notes which after transfer are to be evidenced by an interest in the 144A Global Note, upon receipt by the Registrar of the Physical Note and written instructions given in accordance with the Depository’s and the Registrar’s procedures, the Registrar shall register the transfer and reflect on its book and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the 144A Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of Physical Notes to be transferred, and the Registrar shall cancel the Physical Notes so transferred; and

 

(iii) if the proposed transferor is a Participant seeking to transfer an interest in the IAI Global Note or the Regulation S Global Note, upon receipt by the Registrar of written instructions given in accordance with the Depository’s and the Registrar’s procedures, the Registrar shall register the transfer and reflect on its books and records the date and (A) a decrease in the principal amount of the IAI Global Note or the Regulation S Global Note, as the case may be, in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Notes to be transferred and (B) an increase in the principal amount of the 144A Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Notes to be transferred.

 

(c) Restrictions on Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

 

(d) Private Placement Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes not bearing the Private Placement Legend, the Registrar or co-Registrar shall deliver Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend, the Registrar or co-Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear the Private Placement Legend unless (i) there is delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act or (ii) such Note has been offered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.

 

(e) General. By its acceptance of any Note bearing the Private Placement Legend, each Holder of such a Note acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of such Note set forth in this Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend and agrees that it will transfer such Note only as provided in this Indenture.

 

The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to Section 2.15 or this Section 2.16. The Company shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable written notice to the Registrar.

 

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or

 

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among Depositary Participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

The Trustee shall have no responsibility for the actions or omissions of the Depository, or the accuracy of the books and records of the Depository.

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

REDEMPTION

 

SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee.

 

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 5 or Section 6 of the Notes, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed. The Company shall give notice of redemption to the Paying Agent and Trustee at least 45 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee in writing), together with an Officers’ Certificate stating that such redemption will comply with the conditions contained herein.

 

SECTION 3.02. Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed.

 

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption as follows:

 

    if the Notes are listed on a national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed; or

 

    if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate;

 

provided that, in the case of such partial redemption pursuant to Section 6 of the Notes or an Asset Disposition Offer, the Trustee will select the Notes on a pro rata basis or on as nearly a pro rata basis as practicable (subject to the procedures of the Depository).

 

No Notes of $1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.

 

SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption.

 

At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a Redemption Date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall forward the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense. Each

 

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notice for redemption shall identify the Notes (including the CUSIP number) to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date;

 

(2) the Redemption Price and the amount of accrued interest, if any, to be paid;

 

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

 

(4) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price plus accrued interest, if any;

 

(5) that, unless the Company defaults in making the redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases 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 upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed;

 

(6) 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, and upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued;

 

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

 

(8) the Section of the Notes pursuant to which the Notes are to be redeemed.

 

The notice, if mailed in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Notices of redemption may not be conditional.

 

SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price plus accrued interest, if any. Upon surrender to the Trustee or Paying Agent, such Notes called for redemption shall be paid at the Redemption Price (which shall include accrued interest thereon to the Redemption Date), but installments of interest, the maturity of which is on or prior to the Redemption Date, shall be payable to Holders of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates. On and after the Redemption Date interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

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SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or before 11:00 a.m. New York time on the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent U.S. Legal Tender sufficient to pay the Redemption Price plus accrued interest, if any, of all Notes to be redeemed on that date.

 

If the Company complies with the preceding paragraph, then, unless the Company defaults in the payment of such Redemption Price plus accrued interest, if any, interest on the Notes to be redeemed will cease to accrue on and after the applicable Redemption Date, whether or not such Notes are presented for payment.

 

SECTION 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part.

 

If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note or Notes shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note or Notes.

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes.

 

The Company shall duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes in the manner provided in the Notes, the Registration Rights Agreement and this Indenture. An installment of principal of or interest on the Notes shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Trustee or Paying Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate thereof) holds on that date U.S. Legal Tender designated for and sufficient to pay the installment. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

The Company will pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, Notes in global form registered in the name of or held by the Depository or its nominee in immediately available funds to the Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered Holder of such global Note.

 

The Company will pay interest (including, without limitation, post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and, to the extent such payments are lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest, without regard to any applicable grace periods, at the rate of 2.0% per annum in excess of the interest rate of the Notes from time to time, to the extent permissible by law.

 

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SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, the office or agency required under Section 2.03. 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 address of the Trustee set forth in Section 12.02.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The Company may, at its option, pay interest on the Notes by check mailed to Holders of the Notes at their registered address as it appears in the Registrar’s books.

 

The Company hereby initially designates The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 8W, New York, New York 10286, as such office of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03.

 

SECTION 4.03. Corporate Existence.

 

Except as otherwise permitted by Article Five, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the respective organizational documents of each such Restricted Subsidiary and the rights (charter and statutory) and material franchises of the Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, franchise or corporate existence with respect to each such Restricted Subsidiary if the loss thereof would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole and provided further that this Section 4.03 shall not prohibit or restrict any sale, transfer or other disposition in compliance with Section 4.15.

 

SECTION 4.04. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

 

Each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors that are individually Significant Subsidiaries, shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (a) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon it or upon the income, profits or property of it and (b) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, in each case, if unpaid, might by law become a material liability or Lien upon its property; provided, however, that the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount the applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate provision has been made or where the failure to effect such payment would not individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse

 

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effect on the ability of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantors to perform each of their respective obligations hereunder.

 

SECTION 4.05. Gambro Healthcare Acquisition.

 

To the extent that Gambro Healthcare and each Subsidiary of Gambro Healthcare that, upon the consummation of the Acquisition, will be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company has any Indebtedness, obligations, Investments, Liens, agreements containing encumbrances or restrictions of the types set forth in clause (1), (2) or (3) of Section 4.14 or agreements that would not be permitted pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 4.16 which, in each case, are outstanding or existing (as the case may be) as of the closing of the Acquisition, such Indebtedness, obligations, Investments, Liens and agreements shall be deemed to be in existence or outstanding as of the Issue Date (without regard to the last sentence of the definition of “Acquired Indebtedness”).

 

SECTION 4.06. Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default.

 

(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor 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 such Officer’s knowledge, the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor during such preceding fiscal year has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every such covenant and no Default occurred during such year and at the date of such certificate there is no Default that has occurred and is continuing or, if such signers do know of such Default, the certificate shall describe its status with particularity. The Company’s fiscal year currently ends on December 31. The Officers’ Certificate shall also notify the Trustee should the Company elect to change the manner in which it fixes its fiscal year end.

 

(b) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Default an Officers’ Certificate specifying the Default and describing its status with particularity and the action proposed to be taken thereto.

 

SECTION 4.07. Suspension of Covenants.

 

During any period of time (a “Suspension Period”) that:

 

(1) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings by both Rating Agencies; provided that prior to the assignment of the Investment Grade Ratings the Company has advised the Rating Agencies that the Suspended Covenants will not apply during the Suspension Period;

 

(2) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

 

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(3) the Company has delivered an officers’ certificate to the Trustee certifying that the conditions set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above are satisfied;

 

the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to Sections 4.10, 4.12, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17 and clause (3) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01 (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”). In the event that the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the preceding sentence and, subsequently, one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraws its ratings or downgrades the ratings assigned to the Notes below the required Investment Grade Ratings or a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants, and compliance with the Suspended Covenants with respect to Restricted Payments made after the time of such withdrawal, downgrade, Default or Event of Default (such time, the “Reversion Time”) will be calculated in accordance with the terms of Section 4.12 as though Section 4.12 had been in effect during the entire period of time from the Issue Date, it being understood that no actions taken by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the suspension period shall constitute a Default or an Event of Default under the Suspended Covenants.

 

For purposes of Section 4.15, at the Reversion Time the Excess Proceeds shall be reset to zero.

 

During a Suspension Period the Board of Directors of the Company may not designate any Subsidiary an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to the second paragraph of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.”

 

SECTION 4.08. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.

 

Each of the Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor 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 the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor from paying all or any portion of the principal of and/or interest on the Notes or the Note Guarantee of any such Subsidiary Guarantor 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 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.

 

SECTION 4.09. Change of Control.

 

If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the then outstanding Notes pursuant to Section 5 of the Notes, each Holder will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase.

 

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Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the then outstanding Notes pursuant to Section 5 of the Notes, the Company will mail a notice (the “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, stating:

 

(1) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require the Company to purchase such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”);

 

(2) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed) (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

 

(3) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;

 

(4) that, unless the Company defaults in making payment therefor, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

(5) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the second Business Day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Notes the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

 

(7) that Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part will be issued new Notes in a principal amount equal to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered;

 

(8) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Change of Control; and

 

(9) all other procedures, if any, determined by the Company, consistent with this Indenture, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Notes repurchased.

 

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

 

(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes (in integral multiples of $1,000) properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

 

(2) deposit with the Paying Agent U.S. Legal Tender equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes so tendered; and

 

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(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

 

The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof.

 

If the Change of Control Payment Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.

 

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.

 

The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section 4.09. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue of the conflict.

 

SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Indebtedness.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness); provided, however, that the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) if, after giving effect thereto (the “Coverage Ratio Exception”):

 

(1) the Consolidated Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is at least 2.00 to 1.00; and

 

(2) no Default or Event of Default will have occurred or be continuing or would occur as a consequence of Incurring the Indebtedness or transactions relating to such Incurrence.

 

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The first paragraph of this Section 4.10 will not prohibit the Incurrence of the following Indebtedness (“Permitted Indebtedness”):

 

(1) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred pursuant to the Senior Credit Facilities (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability thereunder to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries) or a Qualified Receivables Transaction in an aggregate principal amount Incurred pursuant to this clause (1) at any time outstanding not to exceed $3,450.0 million, less the aggregate principal amount of all principal repayments with the proceeds from Asset Dispositions utilized in accordance with clause (3)(a) of the first paragraph of Section 4.15 that permanently reduce the commitments thereunder;

 

(2) Guarantees by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness Incurred in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture or Guarantees by a Foreign Subsidiary of Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary Incurred in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture; provided that in the event such Indebtedness that is being Guaranteed by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor is (a) Senior Subordinated Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Subordinated Indebtedness, then the related Guarantee shall rank equally or junior in right of payment to any Note Guarantee of the Notes, or (b) a Subordinated Obligation or a Guarantor Subordinated Obligation relative to the Note Guarantees, then the related Guarantee shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or a Note Guarantee;

 

(3) Indebtedness of the Company owing to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to and held by the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however,

 

  (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Indebtedness being beneficially held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

 

  (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, not permitted by this clause (3);

 

(4) Indebtedness represented by (a) the Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Note Guarantees and the related exchange notes and exchange guarantees issued in a registered exchange offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Senior Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Senior Note Guarantees and the related exchange notes and exchange guarantees issued in a registered exchange offer pursuant to the Senior Registration Rights Agreement, and (b) any Indebtedness (other than the Indebtedness described in clauses (1), (2), (3), (5), (7), (8), (9) and (10)) outstanding on the Issue Date;

 

(5) Indebtedness under Hedging Obligations that are Incurred in the ordinary course of business (and not for speculative purposes) (1) for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness Incurred without violation of this Indenture, provided that the notional principal amount of such Hedging Obligations

 

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at the time Incurred does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness to which such Hedging Obligations relate; or (2) for the purpose of fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges, provided that the underlying Currency Agreements with respect to such Hedging Obligations 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) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness with respect to assets other than Capital Stock or other Investments, in each case to the extent Incurred for the purpose of financing or refinancing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of acquisition, construction or improvements of property used in the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the greater of (a) $150.0 million and (b) 5% of Total Tangible Assets at that time;

 

(7) Indebtedness Incurred in respect of workers’ compensation claims, self-retention or self-insurance obligations, unemployment insurance, performance, release, appeal, surety and similar bonds and related reimbursement obligations and completion guarantees or similar instruments provided or Incurred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and obligations in connection with participation in government reimbursement or other programs or other similar requirements (in each case, other than for an obligation for money borrowed);

 

(8) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, contribution, earnout, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any amount of such obligations included on the face of the balance sheet of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be permitted under this clause (8);

 

(9) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of Incurrence;

 

(10) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of Preferred Stock;

 

(11) Indebtedness of the Company to the extent the net proceeds thereof are promptly deposited to defease the Notes as described below under “Defeasance” or to

 

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defease the Senior Notes in accordance with the defeasance provisions of the Senior Indenture and the other conditions thereunder have been satisfied in full;

 

(12) Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to the Coverage Ratio Exception or clause (4) above or this clause (12);

 

(13) Guarantees given by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Special Purpose Licensed Entity which obligations, when aggregated with the aggregate amount of all Investments made under clause (12) of the definition of “Permitted Investment,” do not exceed $100.0 million at any time outstanding;

 

(14) Acquired Indebtedness Incurred by the debtor thereof prior to the time that the debtor thereunder was acquired by or merged into the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or prior to the time that the related asset or property was acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and was not Incurred in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such acquisition or merger, and Refinancing Indebtedness thereof, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $150.0 million at any time outstanding;

 

(15) Indebtedness Incurred in connection with any Sale/Leaseback Transaction; provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of all such Indebtedness does not exceed $40.0 million at any time outstanding;

 

(16) Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50.0 million at any time outstanding; and

 

(17) in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (16) above, Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (17) and then outstanding (including any renewals, extensions, substitutions, refinancings or replacements of such Indebtedness), will not exceed $200.0 million at any time outstanding.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding principal amount of any particular Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to and in compliance with, this Section 4.10:

 

(1) subject to clause (2) below, in the event that Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in the first and second paragraphs of this Section 4.10, the Company, in its sole discretion, will be permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of Incurrence, or later reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.10, and only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of such clauses;

 

(2) (x) all Indebtedness Incurred or outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities on the date of this Indenture or at the time of the closing of the Acquisition and (y) all other Indebtedness Incurred to finance the Acquisition (or otherwise Incurred in

 

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connection with the Acquisition, or in anticipation or contemplation thereof), whether Incurred under the Senior Credit Facilities or otherwise, shall be deemed Incurred under the Senior Credit Facilities on the Issue Date under clause (1) of “Permitted Indebtedness” and not the Coverage Ratio Exception or any of the other clauses under “Permitted Indebtedness”;

 

(3) Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included as long as Incurred by a Person that could have Incurred such Indebtedness;

 

(4) if obligations in respect of letters of credit are Incurred pursuant to the Senior Credit Facilities and are being treated as Incurred pursuant to the first or second paragraph above and the letters of credit relate to other Indebtedness, then such other Indebtedness shall not be included;

 

(5) the principal amount of any Disqualified Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, will be equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and its maximum fixed repurchase price (not including, in either case, any redemption or repurchase premium);

 

(6) Indebtedness permitted by this Section 4.10 need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this Section 4.10 permitting such Indebtedness;

 

(7) the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof will be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP;

 

(8) the principal amount of any Indebtedness outstanding in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction is the Receivables Transaction Amount relating to such Qualified Receivables Transaction (which amount shall not include dispositions of self-pay receivables in the ordinary course of business, which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries believes in good faith cannot be paid in full); and

 

(9) for purposes of clarity, except as set forth in clause (2) above, Indebtedness may be Incurred under the Senior Credit Facilities pursuant to the Coverage Ratio Exception and clauses (1), (2) (with respect to Guarantees) and (17) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness” so long as the borrowing thereunder is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to those provisions.

 

Accrual of interest, accrual of dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness and the payment of dividends in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.10. The amount of any Indebtedness

 

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outstanding as of any date shall be (i) the accreted value thereof in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount and (ii) the principal amount or the greater of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and the maximum fixed repurchase price thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

 

In addition, the Company will not permit any of its Unrestricted Subsidiaries to Incur any Indebtedness or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock, other than Non-Recourse Debt. If at any time an Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary as of such date (and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be Incurred as of such date under this Section 4.10, the Company shall be in Default of this Section 4.10).

 

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-dominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-dominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.10, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur pursuant to this Section 4.10 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

 

SECTION 4.11. Limitation on Layering.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary 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) senior in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the Notes and subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or of such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

For purposes of the foregoing, no Indebtedness will be deemed to be subordinated or junior in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor solely by virtue of being unsecured or secured by a junior priority lien or by virtue of the fact that the holders of such Indebtedness have entered into intercreditor agreements or similar arrangements giving one or more of such holders priority over the other holders in the collateral held by them.

 

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SECTION 4.12. Limitation on Restricted Payments.

 

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

 

(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution (whether made in cash, securities or other property) on or in respect of its Capital Stock (including any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) except:

 

  (a) dividends or distributions payable in Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Capital Stock of the Company; and

 

  (b) dividends or distributions payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (and if such Restricted Subsidiary is not a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary, to its other holders of common Capital Stock on a pro rata basis);

 

(2) purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company held by Persons other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than in exchange for Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock));

 

(3) purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations (other than (x) such Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement and (y) such Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary); or

 

(4) make any Restricted Investment in any Person

 

(any such dividend, distribution, purchase, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, other acquisition, retirement or Restricted Investment referred to in clauses (1) through (4) shall be referred to herein as a “Restricted Payment”), if at the time the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary makes such Restricted Payment:

 

  (a) a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom); or

 

  (b) the Company is not able to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the Coverage Ratio Exception after giving effect, on a pro forma basis, to such Restricted Payment; or

 

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  (c) the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments declared or made subsequent to the Issue Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2)(ii), (3), (4) and (8) below) would exceed the sum (the “Restricted Payments Basket”) of (without duplication):

 

  (i) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (treated as one accounting period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter which includes the date of this Indenture to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of such Restricted Payment for which financial statements are in existence (or, in case such Consolidated Net Income is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit); plus

 

  (ii) 100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds and the Fair Market Value of Qualified Proceeds received by the Company from the issue or sale of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or other capital contributions to the common equity of the Company subsequent to the Issue Date (other than (x) Net Cash Proceeds received from an issuance or sale of such Capital Stock to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan, option plan or similar trust to the extent such sale to an employee stock ownership plan or similar trust is financed by loans from or Guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary unless such loans have been repaid with cash on or prior to the date of determination and (y) Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company from the issue or sale of its Capital Stock to the extent used to redeem Notes in compliance with Section 6 of the Notes or to redeem Senior Notes in compliance with similar provisions in the Senior Notes); plus

 

  (iii) the amount by which Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries is reduced on the Company’s balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Company) subsequent to the Issue Date of any Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries issued after the Issue Date convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (less the amount of any cash, or the Fair Market Value of any other property, distributed by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries upon such conversion or exchange); plus

 

  (iv) the amount equal to the net reduction in Restricted Investments made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Person resulting from:

 

  (A)

repurchases or redemptions of such Restricted Investments by such Person, proceeds realized upon the sale of such

 

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Restricted Investment to an unaffiliated purchaser, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets (including by way of dividend or distribution) by such Person to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than expressly for reimbursement of tax payments) not to exceed the aggregate amount of all such Restricted Investments made since the Issue Date; or

 

  (B) the redesignation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries (valued in each case as provided in the definition of “Investment”) not to exceed, in the case of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, the amount of Investments previously made since the Issue Date by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Unrestricted Subsidiary,

 

which amount in each case under this clause (iv) was included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; provided, however, that no amount will be included under clause (iv)(A) of this paragraph to the extent it is already included in Consolidated Net Income.

 

The provisions of the preceding paragraph will not prohibit:

 

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

 

(2) if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the acquisition, retirement, defeasance or purchase of any shares of Capital Stock of the Company either (i) solely in exchange for shares of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or (ii) through the application of the net proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale for cash (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of shares of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) (provided that such net proceeds shall not be applied toward the Restricted Payments Basket);

 

(3) if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the acquisition, making of any principal payment, redemption, defeasance or other retirement of any Subordinated Obligations either (i) solely in exchange for shares of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), (ii) through the application of net proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale for cash (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of (a) shares of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) (provided that such net proceeds shall not be applied toward the Restricted Payments Basket) or (b) Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.10, (iii) upon a Change of Control or in connection with an Asset Disposition to the extent required by the agreement governing such Subordinated Obligations but only if the Company shall have complied with Sections 4.09 and 4.15, as applicable, and purchased all Notes validly tendered pursuant to the relevant offer prior to redeeming such Subordinated Obligations or (iv) to the extent such Subordinated Obligations constitutes

 

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Acquired Indebtedness not Incurred in connection with or in anticipation or contemplation of the underlying acquisition or merger;

 

(4) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, repurchases by the Company of Common Stock of the Company from officers, directors and employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or 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 $10.0 million in any calendar year;

 

(5) repurchases of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price thereof;

 

(6) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, payments to holders of the Company’s Capital Stock in lieu of issuance of fractional shares of its Capital Stock or to dissenting shareholders if required by applicable law;

 

(7) the distribution of Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company to holders of Capital Stock of the Company; and

 

(8) additional Restricted Payments not to exceed $150.0 million in the aggregate since the Issue Date.

 

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the Fair Market Value on the date of such Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be paid, transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment. If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary makes a Restricted Payment which, at the time of the making of such Restricted Payment, would in the good faith determination of the Company be permitted under the provisions of this Indenture, such Restricted Payment shall be deemed to have been made in compliance with this Indenture notwithstanding any subsequent adjustments or restatements made in good faith to the Company’s financial statements.

 

SECTION 4.13. Limitation on Liens.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur or suffer to exist any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) of any nature whatsoever against any assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (including Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries), whether owned on the date of this Indenture or acquired after that date, which Lien secures Indebtedness or trade payables, unless contemporaneously therewith:

 

(1) in the case of any Lien securing an obligation that ranks pari passu with the Notes or a Note Guarantee, effective provision is made to secure the Notes or such

 

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Note Guarantee, as the case may be, at least equally and ratably with or prior to such obligation with a Lien on the same collateral; and

 

(2) in the case of any Lien securing an obligation that is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or a Note Guarantee, effective provision is made to secure the Notes or such Note Guarantee, as the case may be, with a Lien on the same collateral that is prior to the Lien securing such subordinated obligation;

 

in each case, for so long as such obligation is secured by such Lien.

 

SECTION 4.14. Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on Common Stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock);

 

(2) make any loans or advances to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances); or

 

(3) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that such transfers shall not include any type of transfer described in clause (1) or (2) above).

 

The preceding provisions will not prohibit:

 

  (i) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to (x) an agreement in effect at or entered into on the date of this Indenture, including, without limitation, this Indenture and the Notes and Note Guarantees issued thereunder, the Senior Indenture and the Senior Notes and Senior Note Guarantees issued thereunder and the Senior Credit Facilities, in each case, as in effect on such date or (y) the Senior Credit Facilities in effect at the time of the closing of the Acquisition;

 

  (ii)

any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement relating to any Capital Stock or Indebtedness Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary on or before the date on which such

 

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Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Capital Stock or Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by the Company or in contemplation of the transaction) and outstanding on such date; provided that any such encumbrance or restriction shall not extend to any assets or property of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary other than the assets and property so acquired and property acquired by such Restricted Subsidiary after its date of acquisition;

 

  (iii) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement effecting an amendment, restatement, modification, renewal, increase, refunding, replacement or refinancing of an agreement referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph or this clause (iii); provided, however, that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such agreement, amendment, restatement, modification, renewal, increase, refunding, replacement or refinancing are not materially less favorable, taken as a whole, to the Holders of the Notes than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in such agreements referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph on the Issue Date or the date such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged into a Restricted Subsidiary, whichever is applicable;

 

  (iv) (a) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business, (b) Capitalized Lease Obligations permitted under this Indenture, (c) industrial revenue bonds or (d) operating leases, in each case, that impose encumbrances or restrictions of the nature described in clause (3) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.14 on the property so acquired;

 

  (v) any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary (or any of its property or assets) imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the direct or indirect sale or disposition of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary (or the property or assets that are subject to such restriction) pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

 

  (vi) customary non-assignment provisions in leases and other agreements entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (vii) encumbrances or restrictions arising or existing by reason of applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

 

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  (viii) customary encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of provisions in joint venture or similar agreements required in connection with the entering into of such transaction;

 

  (ix) customary restrictions imposed on the transfer and assignment of intellectual property;

 

  (x) restrictions relating to any Lien permitted under this Indenture imposed by the holder of such Lien;

 

  (xi) any other Indebtedness or contractual requirements Incurred with respect to a Qualified Receivables Transaction relating exclusively to the assets that are the subject of the Qualified Receivables Transaction;

 

  (xii) in the case of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors, restrictions imposed under instruments governing Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness”;

 

  (xiii) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, restrictions under the constitutive documents governing such Subsidiary: (A) with respect to existing Subsidiaries, existing on the date of this Indenture; and (B) with respect to Subsidiaries created or acquired after the date of this Indenture: (1) prohibiting such Subsidiary from guaranteeing Indebtedness of the Company or another Subsidiary; (2) on dividend payments and other distributions solely to permit pro rata dividends and other distributions in respect of any Capital Stock of such Subsidiary; (3) limiting transactions with the Company or another Subsidiary to those with terms that are fair and reasonable to such Subsidiary and no less favorable to such Subsidiary than could have been obtained in an arm’s-length transaction with an unrelated third party; and (4) limiting such Subsidiary’s ability to transfer assets or Incur Indebtedness without the consent of the holders of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary; and

 

  (xiv) any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any amendments or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (i) through (xiii) above; provided that such amendments or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors, no more materially restrictive with respect to such encumbrances and restrictions than those prior to such amendment or refinancing.

 

SECTION 4.15. Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Asset Disposition unless:

 

(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration (both cash and non-cash) equal to not less than the Fair Market Value (such

 

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Fair Market Value to be determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Asset Disposition) of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition;

 

(2) at least 75% of the consideration from such Asset Disposition received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents or Replacement Assets. For purposes of this clause (2), each of the following shall be deemed to be cash:

 

  (a) any liabilities (as shown on the face of the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s then most recent balance sheet), of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and Subordinated Obligations) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability; and

 

  (b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are contemporaneously (subject to ordinary settlement periods) converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received in that conversion); and

 

(3) an amount equal to 100% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition:

 

  (a) first, is applied by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be,

 

  (i) to the extent the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, elects (or is required by the terms of any Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness) to prepay, repay or purchase such Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) within 395 days from the date of such Asset Disposition (such period, the “Application Period”), unless to the extent such Net Available Cash is otherwise used in accordance with clause (ii); provided, however, that, in connection with any prepayment, repayment or purchase of any such Indebtedness pursuant to this clause (a), the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary will retire such Indebtedness and will cause the related commitment (if any) to be permanently reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so prepaid, repaid or purchased, or

 

  (ii) to the extent the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary elects, to invest in Replacement Assets within the applicable Application Period; and

 

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  (b) second, to the extent of the balance of the Net Available Cash after application in accordance with (a) above, is applied by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, toward an offer to purchase Notes as set forth in the next succeeding paragraph;

 

provided, however, that pending the final application of any such Net Available Cash in accordance with clause (a) or clause (b) above, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may temporarily reduce Indebtedness or otherwise invest such Net Available Cash in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture;

 

provided, further, that clauses (1) and (2) above shall not apply with respect to any Permitted Divestiture.

 

On the 396th day after an Asset Disposition (or such earlier date, if any, as the Board of Directors of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary determines that the Net Available Cash will not be applied in accordance with clause (3)(a) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.15), if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds not used to purchase Senior Notes and Senior Pari Passu Notes pursuant to a Senior Asset Disposition Offer (such balance, “Excess Proceeds”) exceeds $35.0 million, the Company will be required to make an offer (“Asset Disposition Offer”) to all Holders of Notes and, to the extent required by the terms of other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness, to all holders of other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness outstanding with similar provisions requiring the Company to make an offer to purchase such Senior Subordinated Indebtedness with the proceeds from any Asset Disposition (“Pari Passu Notes”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and any such Pari Passu Notes to which the Asset Disposition Offer applies that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes and Pari Passu Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth herein or the agreements governing the Pari Passu Notes, as applicable, in each case in integral multiples of $1,000. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to other covenants contained in this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof and other Pari Passu Notes surrendered by holders or lenders of such Pari Passu Notes, collectively, exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and Pari Passu Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered Notes and Pari Passu Notes. Upon completion of such Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

 

Each Asset Disposition Offer will remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Asset Disposition Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period (the “Asset Disposition Purchase Date”), the Company will purchase the principal amount of Notes and Pari Passu Notes required to be purchased pursuant to this Section 4.15 (the “Asset Disposition Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Asset

 

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Disposition Offer Amount has been so validly tendered, all Notes and Pari Passu Notes validly tendered in response to the Asset Disposition Offer.

 

Upon the commencement of an Asset Disposition Offer, the Company shall send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and to each Holder at its registered address. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holder to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer. Any Asset Disposition Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Disposition Offer, shall state:

 

(1) that the Asset Disposition Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15;

 

(2) the Asset Disposition Offer Amount and the Asset Disposition Purchase Date;

 

(3) that any Notes not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrete or accrue interest;

 

(4) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer shall cease to accrete or accrue interest after the Asset Disposition Purchase Date;

 

(5) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer may only elect to have all of such Note purchased and may not elect to have only a portion of such Note purchased;

 

(6) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Disposition Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, 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 depository, if appointed by the Company, or the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before the Asset Disposition Purchase Date;

 

(7) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the Depository or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the second business day prior to the Asset Disposition Purchase Date, a notice setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

 

(8) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the Asset Disposition Offer Amount, the Company shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples thereof, shall be purchased);

 

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

 

(10) all other procedures, if any, determined by the Company, consistent with this Indenture, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased in the Asset Disposition Offer.

 

If the Asset Disposition Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer.

 

On or before the Asset Disposition Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Asset Disposition Offer Amount of Notes and Pari Passu Notes or portions of such Notes and Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer, or if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount has been validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, all Notes and Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, in each case in integral multiples of $1,000. The Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.15 and, in addition, the Company will deliver all certificates and notes required, if any, by the agreements governing the Pari Passu Notes. The Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five Business Days after termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder of Notes or holder or lender of Pari Passu Notes, as the case may be, an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes or Pari Passu Notes so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn by such holder or lender, as the case may be, and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon delivery of an Officers’ Certificate from the Company, will authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered; provided that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. In addition, the Company will take any and all other actions required by the agreements governing the Pari Passu Notes. Any Note not so accepted will be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Disposition Offer on or promptly following the Asset Disposition Purchase Date.

 

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 Article 5, which transaction does not constitute a Change of Control, the successor company 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 4.15, and shall comply with the provisions of this Section 4.15 with respect to such deemed sale as if it were an Asset Disposition. In addition, the Fair Market Value of such properties and assets of the Company or its

 

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Restricted Subsidiaries deemed to be sold shall be deemed to be Net Available Cash for purposes of this Section 4.15.

 

The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section 4.15. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 4.15, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Indenture by virtue of any conflict.

 

SECTION 4.16. Limitation on Affiliate Transactions.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or conduct any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate of the Company (an “Affiliate Transaction”) unless:

 

(1) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction are no less favorable, taken as a whole, to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could be obtained in a comparable transaction at the time of such transaction in arm’s-length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate; and

 

(2) in the event such Affiliate Transaction involves an aggregate consideration in excess of $15.0 million, the terms of such transaction have been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company and by a majority of the members of such Board of Directors having no personal stake in such transaction, if any (and such majority or majorities, as the case may be, determines that such Affiliate Transaction satisfies the criteria in clause (1) above).

 

The preceding paragraph will not apply to:

 

(1) any Restricted Payment (other than a Restricted Investment) permitted to be made pursuant to Section 4.12;

 

(2) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment agreements and other compensation arrangements, options to purchase Capital Stock of the Company, stock purchase, ownership or option plans, long-term incentive plans, stock appreciation rights plans, participation plans or similar employee benefits plans provided on behalf of directors, officers, consultants and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case, as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company;

 

(3) loans or advances to employees, consultants, officers or directors in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including for travel, entertainment, moving or relocation) or Guarantees in respect thereof or otherwise made on their behalf (including payment on any such Guarantees) made in compliance with applicable law but in any event not to exceed $10.0 million in the

 

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aggregate outstanding (without giving effect to the forgiveness of any such loan) at any one time with respect to all loans or advances made since the Issue Date;

 

(4) any transaction between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries, and Guarantees issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary for the benefit of the Company, a Restricted Subsidiary and/or a Special Purpose Licensed Entity, as the case may be, in accordance with Sections 4.10 and 4.13;

 

(5) the payment of reasonable and customary fees to directors, and indemnity provided on behalf of, directors, officers, employees or consultants, of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and

 

(6) the performance of obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under the terms of any agreement to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party as of or on the Issue Date, as these agreements may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended or renewed from time to time; provided, however, that any future amendment, modification, supplement, extension or renewal entered into after the Issue Date will be permitted to the extent that its terms are not more materially disadvantageous, taken as a whole, to the Holders of the Notes than the terms of the agreements in effect on the Issue Date.

 

SECTION 4.17. Conduct of Business.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any other business that is not a Permitted Business.

 

SECTION 4.18. SEC Reports.

 

Notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to the extent permitted by the Exchange Act, the Company will file with the SEC, and make available to the Trustee and the registered Holders of the Notes, the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) that are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act within the time periods specified therein or in the relevant forms. In the event that the Company is not permitted to file such reports, documents and information with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, the Company will nevertheless make available such Exchange Act information to the Trustee and Holders of Notes as if the Company were subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act within the time periods specified therein.

 

If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by the preceding paragraph shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, (a) in the footnotes to the financial statements and (b) in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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In addition, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will make available to the Holders and to prospective investors, upon the request of such Holders, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act so long as the Notes are not freely transferable under the Securities Act. For purposes of this Section 4.18, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors will be deemed to have furnished the reports to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes as required by this Section 4.18 if they have filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system and such reports are publicly available.

 

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

 

SECTION 4.19. Future and Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

The Company will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to Guarantee the payment of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Indebtedness of any other Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Guarantee by a Foreign Subsidiary of Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary), unless such Restricted Subsidiary simultaneously executes and delivers a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary will unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other obligations under this Indenture on a senior subordinated basis; provided that, (A) if the Notes or, if the issuer of the Indebtedness being Guaranteed is a Subsidiary Guarantor, its Note Guarantee is subordinated in right of payment to such Indebtedness, the Note Guarantee to be issued shall be subordinated to such Restricted Subsidiary’s Guarantee with respect to such Indebtedness substantially to the same extent as the Notes or the Note Guarantees, as the case may be, is subordinated to such Indebtedness under this Indenture and (B) if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or a Note Guarantee, any Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Restricted Subsidiary’s Note Guarantee substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, as the case may be.

 

The obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under its Note Guarantee will be limited as necessary to prevent its Note Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law.

 

Thereafter, such Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of this Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, any Note Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor will provide by its terms that it will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged under the circumstances set forth in Section 11.05. The form of the Note Guarantee is attached hereto as Exhibit E.

 

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ARTICLE FIVE

 

MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION

 

SECTION 5.01. Merger and Consolidation.

 

The Company will not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless:

 

(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Company”) will be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State of the United States or the District of Columbia and the Successor Company (if not the Company) will expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any Subsidiary of the Successor Company as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and any related financing, the Successor Company would be able to Incur at least an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the Coverage Ratio Exception;

 

(4) each Subsidiary Guarantor (unless it is the other party to the transactions above, in which case clause (1) shall apply) shall have by supplemental indentures confirmed that its Note Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations in respect of this Indenture and the Notes and its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement shall continue to be in effect; and

 

(5) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures (if any) comply with this Indenture.

 

For purposes of this Section 5.01, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

 

The predecessor Company will be released from its obligations under this Indenture and the Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every

 

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right and power of, the Company under this Indenture, but, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets, the predecessor Company will not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding clause (3), (x) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company, (y) the Company may merge with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction and (z) the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

In addition, the Company will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to consolidate with or merge with or into any Person (other than another Subsidiary Guarantor or the Company) and will not permit the conveyance, transfer or lease of substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor to any Person (other than another Subsidiary Guarantor or the Company) unless:

 

(1) (a) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person will be a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State of the United States or the District of Columbia and such Person (if not such Subsidiary Guarantor) will expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Note Guarantee; (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the resulting, surviving or transferee Person or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by such Person or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default of Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (c) the Company will have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures comply with this Indenture; or

 

(2) the transaction is made in compliance with Section 4.15.

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default.

 

Each of the following is an Event of Default (each an “Event of Default”):

 

(1) default in any payment of interest on any Note when due, continued for 30 days, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions described under Article Ten;

 

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(2) default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase or redemption, upon declaration or otherwise, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions described under Article Ten;

 

(3) failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to comply with its obligations under Article Five;

 

(4) failure by the Company to comply for 30 days after written notice with any of its obligations under the covenants described under Sections 4.09 through 4.19 (in each case, other than a failure to purchase Notes, which will constitute an Event of Default under clause (2) above);

 

(5) failure by the Company to comply for 60 days after written notice with its other agreements contained in this Indenture;

 

(6) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is Guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists or is created after the date of this Indenture, which default:

 

(a) is caused by a failure to pay principal at final maturity of such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness (“payment default”); or

 

(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its maturity (the “cross-acceleration provision”);

 

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $50.0 million or more;

 

(7) (a) the Company or a Significant Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;

 

(ii) consents to the entry of judgment, decree or order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding;

 

(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property;

 

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

 

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(v) consents to or acquiesces in the institution of a bankruptcy or an insolvency proceeding against it;

 

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

 

(vii) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency; or

 

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

 

(i) is for relief in an involuntary case against the Company or a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(ii) appoints a Custodian for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law; or

 

(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or a Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law;

 

and in the case of each of (i), (ii) and (iii) such order, decree or relief remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days;

 

(8) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to pay the uninsured portion of final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days (the “judgment default provision”);

 

(9) any Note Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms of this Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or group of Subsidiary Guarantors that taken together as of the latest audited consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would constitute a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or its Note Guarantee.

 

However, a default under clauses (4) and (5) of this paragraph will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Company of the default and the Company does not cure such default within the time specified in clauses (4) and (5) of this paragraph after receipt of such notice.

 

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The foregoing shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

 

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration.

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to the Company of the type described in clause (7) of Section 6.01) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders shall, declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal, premium and accrued and unpaid interest will be due and payable immediately.

 

In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes because an Event of Default described in clause (6) of Section 6.01 has occurred and is continuing, the declaration of acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically annulled if the event of default or payment default triggering such Event of Default pursuant to clause (6) of Section 6.01 shall be remedied or cured by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or waived by the holders of the relevant Indebtedness within 60 days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto and if (1) the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) all existing Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal, premium or interest on the Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Notes, have been cured or waived.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to the Company described in clause (7) of Section 6.01 occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.

 

SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies.

 

If a Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

 

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Noteholder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon a Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available 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 outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may (a) waive, by their consent (including, without limitation, consents obtained

 

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in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences, except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on a Note, and (b) rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences if (1) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived. When a Default or Event of Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any consequent right.

 

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority.

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may 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 it. Subject to Section 7.01, however, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with any law or this Indenture, that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another Noteholder, or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

In the event the Trustee takes any action or follows any direction pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification against any loss or expense caused by taking such action or following such direction.

 

SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits.

 

Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

 

(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

 

(2) Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(3) such Holders have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

 

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

 

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A Noteholder may not use this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of another Noteholder or to obtain a preference or priority over such other Noteholder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Noteholders).

 

SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders To Receive Payment.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on a Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.

 

SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.

 

If a Default in payment of principal or interest specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company or any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount of principal and accrued interest and fees remaining unpaid, together with interest on overdue principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest, in each case at the rate per annum borne by the Notes and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

The Trustee may 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 compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Noteholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relating to the Company, its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceedings is hereby authorized by each Noteholder 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 Noteholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agent 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 Noteholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Noteholder in any such proceeding. The Trustee shall be entitled to participate as a member of any official committee of creditors in the matters as it deems necessary or advisable.

 

SECTION 6.10. Priorities.

 

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

 

First: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

 

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

 

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

 

Fourth: to the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors, as their respective interests may appear.

 

The Trustee, upon prior notice to the Company, may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Noteholders pursuant to this Section 6.10.

 

SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in 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 and expenses, 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 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by a Holder or Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

(1) The Trustee need perform only those duties as are specifically set forth herein or in the TIA and no duties, covenants, responsibilities or obligations shall be implied in this Indenture against the Trustee.

 

(2) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein,

 

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upon certificates (including Officers’ Certificates) or opinions (including Opinions of Counsel) furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(d) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or to take or omit to take any action under this Indenture or take any action at the request or direction of Holders if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds is not assured to it.

 

(e) 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.

 

(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.

 

(g) In the absence of bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee shall not be responsible for the application of any money by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee.

 

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee.

 

Subject to Section 7.01:

 

(a) The Trustee may rely conclusively on 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.

 

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(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of Section 12.05. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion.

 

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

 

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it reasonably believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.

 

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

 

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

 

(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate (including any Officers’ Certificate), statement, instrument, opinion (including any Opinion of Counsel), notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

 

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

 

(i) The permissive rights of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as duties.

 

(j) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

(m) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate, the form of which is included in Exhibit F hereto, setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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, its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with 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 or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture or any document issued in connection with the sale of Notes or any statement in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. The Trustee makes no representations with respect to the effectiveness or adequacy of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Default.

 

If a Default occurs and is continuing and the Trustee receives actual notice of such Default, the Trustee shall mail to each Noteholder notice of the uncured Default within 90 days after such Default occurs. Except in the case of a Default in payment of principal of, or interest on, any Note, including an accelerated payment and the failure to make payment on the Change of Control Payment Date pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or the Asset Disposition Purchase Date pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the Board of Directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers, of the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Noteholders.

 

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders.

 

Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with May 15, 2005, the Trustee shall, to the extent that any of the events described in TIA § 313(a) occurred within the previous twelve months, but not otherwise, mail to each Noteholder a brief report dated as of such date that complies with TIA § 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA §§ 313(b), 313(c) and 313(d).

 

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A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Noteholders shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed.

 

The Company shall notify the Trustee if the Notes become listed on any securities exchange or of any delisting thereof and the Trustee shall comply with TIA § 313(d).

 

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.

 

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing for its services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable disbursements, expenses and advances (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services, except any such disbursements, expenses and advances as may be attributable to the Trustee’s negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. Such expenses shall include the reasonable fees and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and its agents, employees, officers, stockholders and directors for, and hold them harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee), liability or expense incurred by them except for such actions to the extent caused by any negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on their part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending themselves against or investigating any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Trustee’s rights, powers or duties hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim asserted against the Trustee or any of its agents, employees, officers, stockholders and directors for which it may seek indemnity. The Company may, subject to the approval of the Trustee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee and its agents, employees, officers, stockholders and directors subject to the claim may have one firm of separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to pay such fees and expenses if, subject to the approval of the Trustee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), it assumes the Trustee’s defense and there is no conflict of interest between the Company and the Trustee and its agents, employees, officers, stockholders and directors subject to the claim in connection with such defense as reasonably determined by the Trustee. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its written consent. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability to the extent incurred by the Trustee through its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

 

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a senior claim prior to the Notes against all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, in its capacity as Trustee. The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section shall not be subordinated to the payment of Senior Indebtedness pursuant to Article

 

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Ten or Section 11.02 except assets or money held in trust to pay principal of or interest on particular Notes.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after a Default specified in Section 6.01(7) occurs, such expenses and the compensation for such services shall be paid to the extent allowed under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.

 

The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company in writing. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Company and the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

 

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

 

(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent;

 

(3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(4) 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 notify each Holder of such event and shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

 

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer, after payment of all sums then owing to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.07, all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided in Section 7.07, 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. A successor Trustee shall mail notice of its succession to each Noteholder.

 

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee at the expense of the Company.

 

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If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Noteholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

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 with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall, if such resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or national association is otherwise eligible hereunder, be the successor Trustee; provided that such corporation or national association shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article Seven.

 

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirement of TIA §§ 310(a)(1), 310(a)(2) and 310(a)(5). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. In addition, if the Trustee is a corporation included in a bank holding company system, the Trustee, independently of the bank holding company, shall meet the capital requirements of TIA § 310(a)(2). The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA § 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities, or certificates of interest or participation in other securities, of the Company are outstanding, if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA § 310(b)(1) are met. The provisions of TIA § 310 shall apply to the Company and any other obligor of the Notes.

 

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company.

 

The Trustee, in its capacity as Trustee hereunder, shall comply with TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 8.01. Termination of the Company’s Obligations.

 

This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, which shall survive until all Notes have been cancelled) as to all outstanding Notes when either:

 

(1) all the Notes that have been authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment U.S. Legal Tender has been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from this trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or

 

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(2) (a) all Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation otherwise (i) have become due and payable, (ii) will become due and payable, or may be called for redemption, within one year or (iii) have been called for redemption pursuant to the redemption provisions of this Indenture and the Notes and, in any case, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds, in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, U.S. Legal Tender, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient (without consideration of any reinvestment of interest) to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness (including all principal and accrued interest) on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,

 

(b) the Company has paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture,

 

(c) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or on the date of redemption, as the case may be, and

 

(d) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent providing for or relating to the termination of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture have been complied with. Such Opinion of Counsel shall also state that such satisfaction and discharge does not result in a default under the Senior Credit Agreement or any other material instrument then known to such counsel that binds the Company or any Significant Subsidiary.

 

Subject to the next sentence and notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03 (with respect to the Company only), 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive until the Notes are no longer outstanding pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 2.08. After the Notes are no longer outstanding, the Company’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive.

 

After such delivery or irrevocable deposit, the Trustee upon request shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture except for those surviving obligations specified above.

 

SECTION 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.

 

(a) The Company may, at its option by Board Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, at any time, elect to have either the Legal Defeasance option or the Covenant Defeasance option in paragraph (b) below be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 8.03.

 

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(b) Subject to Sections 8.02(c) and 8.03, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors at any time may terminate (i) all their obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (“Legal Defeasance”), and after giving effect to such Legal Defeasance, any omission to comply with such obligations shall no longer constitute a Default or Event of Default or (ii) their obligations under Sections 4.09 through 4.19 and clause (3) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01, and 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 with such covenants shall no longer constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Sections 6.01 (6), (7) (with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries), (8) and (9) and the limitations contained in clause (3) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01 and the events specified in such Sections shall no longer constitute an Event of Default (clause (ii) being referred to as “Covenant Defeasance”), but except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and the Notes shall be unaffected thereby. The Company may exercise its Legal Defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its Covenant Defeasance option.

 

If the Company exercises its Legal Defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default and the Note Guarantees in effect at such time shall terminate. If the Company exercises its Covenant Defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified under Sections 6.01(4), (5), (6), (7) (with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries), (8) or (9) or because of failure to comply with clause (3) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01.

 

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Company, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Company terminates.

 

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 8.01(a) and (b), the Company’s obligations under Sections 2.02 through 2.11, 4.01 through 4.04, 4.06, 4.08, 6.07, 7.07 and 7.08 and in this Article Eight shall survive until the Notes have been paid in full. After the Notes have been paid in full, the Company’s obligations under Sections 7.07, 8.04 and 8.05 shall survive.

 

SECTION 8.03. Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to the application of either the Legal Defeasance option as the Covenant Defeasance option hereof to the outstanding Notes:

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. Legal Tender, 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 on the outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity or on the

 

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applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;

 

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

 

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

 

(4) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing either: (a) on the date of such deposit (other than a Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit), or (b) insofar as 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 deposit; provided that such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have occurred on the date of such deposit, subject to an Event of Default from bankruptcy or insolvency within such 91-day period;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 8.04. Application of Trust Money.

 

The Trustee or Paying Agent shall hold in trust U.S. Legal Tender and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article Eight, and shall apply the deposited

 

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U.S. Legal Tender and the money from U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to invest said U.S. Legal Tender and U.S. Government Obligations except as it may agree with the Company.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Legal Tender and U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.03 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 Eight to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the Company’s request any U.S. Legal Tender and U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 8.03 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

SECTION 8.05. Repayment to the Company.

 

Subject to this Article Eight, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon request any excess U.S. Legal Tender and U.S. Government Obligations held by them at any time and thereupon shall be relieved from all liability with respect to such money. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years; provided that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any payment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of New York or mail to each Holder entitled to such money notice that such money remains unclaimed and that after a date specified therein which shall be at least 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable law designates another Person.

 

SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. Legal Tender and U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article Eight by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article Eight until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such U.S. Legal Tender and U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article Eight; provided that if the Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Notes because of 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 U.S. Legal Tender and U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

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ARTICLE NINE

 

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders.

 

Subject to Section 9.03, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, together, may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees without notice to or consent of any Noteholder:

 

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

 

(2) provide for the assumption by a successor corporation of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture or the assumption by a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company of the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture;

 

(3) provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes (provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f) (2) (B) of the Code);

 

(4) add Guarantees with respect to the Notes or release a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

 

(5) secure the Notes;

 

(6) add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company;

 

(7) make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Holder;

 

(8) comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(9) provide for the issuance of exchange securities which shall have terms substantially identical in all respects to the Notes (except that the transfer restrictions contained in the Notes shall be modified or eliminated as appropriate) and which shall be treated, together with any outstanding Notes, as a single class of securities;

 

(10) release a Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee or this Indenture in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

 

(11) make any change in the subordination provision of this Indenture or the Notes that would limit or terminate the benefits available to any holder of Senior Indebtedness

 

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of the Company or a holder of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (or any Representative thereof) under such subordination provisions; or

 

(12) provide for the appointment of a successor trustee; provided that such successor trustee is otherwise qualified and eligible to act as such under the terms of this Indenture;

 

provided that the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate, each stating that such amendment or supplement complies with the provisions of this Section 9.01.

 

SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders.

 

(a) Subject to Sections 6.07 and 9.03, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, together, with the written consent of the Holder or Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes, may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees, without notice to any other Noteholders. Subject to Sections 6.07 and 9.03, the Holder or Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may waive compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees without notice to any other Noteholders.

 

(b) Notwithstanding Section 9.02(a), without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected, no amendment, supplement or waiver may, among other things:

 

(1) reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment;

 

(2) reduce the stated rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any Note;

 

(3) reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Note;

 

(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time at which any Note may be redeemed as described in Section 5 or Section 6 of the Notes, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise;

 

(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Note;

 

(6) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

 

(7) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each Holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions;

 

(8) make any change to Article Ten or Section 11.02 or the ranking of Notes or the Note Guarantees that adversely affects the rights of any Holder of Notes;

 

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(9) release any Subsidiary Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee, except as permitted by this Indenture; or

 

(10) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.

 

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

 

(d) After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders 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 amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

SECTION 9.03. Effect on Senior Indebtedness.

 

No amendment may be made to the subordination provisions of this Indenture or the Notes that adversely affects the rights of any holder of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness then outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (or any group or representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consent to such change.

 

SECTION 9.04. Compliance with TIA.

 

From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, every amendment, waiver or supplement of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

 

SECTION 9.05. Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

Until an amendment, waiver or supplement becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Note or portion of his Note by notice to the Trustee or the Company received before the date on which such amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with the terms thereof (or if silent as to effectiveness, on the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate certifying that the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented (and not theretofore revoked such consent) to such amendment, supplement or waiver ) and thereafter binds every Holder.

 

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver which record date shall be at least 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, those

 

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Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date. The Company shall inform the Trustee in writing of the fixed record date if applicable.

 

After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Noteholder, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1) through (11) of Section 9.02(b), in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind only each Holder of a Note who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note; provided that any such waiver shall not impair or affect the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on a Note, on or after the respective due dates therefor, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates without the consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 9.06. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

 

If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Company may require the Holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Company shall provide the Trustee with an appropriate notation on the Note about the changed terms and cause the Trustee to return it to the Holder at the Company’s expense. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. 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 9.07. Trustee To Sign Amendments, Etc.

 

The Trustee shall execute any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article Nine; provided that the Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, execute any such amendment, supplement or waiver which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture. The Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate each stating that the execution of any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article Nine is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and constituted the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms. Such Opinion of Counsel shall be at the expense of the Company.

 

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ARTICLE TEN

 

SUBORDINATION OF NOTES

 

SECTION 10.01. Notes Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness.

 

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company, for itself and its successors, and each Holder, by his or her acceptance of Notes, agrees that the payment of all Obligations owing to the Holders in respect of the Notes is subordinated, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article Ten, to the prior payment in full in cash or Cash Equivalents, or such payment duly provided for to the satisfaction of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, of all Obligations due in respect of Senior Indebtedness (including the Obligations with respect to the Senior Credit Facilities and the Senior Notes, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article Ten to the contrary, payments and distributions (A) of Permitted Junior Securities and (B) made relating to the Notes from the trust established pursuant to Article Eight shall not be so subordinated in right of payment, so long as, with respect to (B), (i) the conditions specified in Article Eight (without any waiver or modification of the requirement that the deposits pursuant thereto do not conflict with the terms of the Senior Credit Facilities and the Senior Notes or any other Senior Indebtedness) are satisfied on the date of any deposit pursuant to said trust and (ii) such payments and distributions did not violate the provisions of this Article Ten or Section 11.02 of this Indenture when made.

 

This Article Ten shall constitute a continuing offer to all Persons who become holders of, or continue to hold, Senior Indebtedness, and such provisions are made for the benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness and such holders are made obligees hereunder and any one or more of them may enforce such provisions.

 

SECTION 10.02. Suspension of Payment When Senior Indebtedness Is in Default.

 

(a) If any default occurs and is continuing in the payment when due, whether at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise, of any principal of, interest on, unpaid drawings for letters of credit issued in respect of, or fees with respect to, any Senior Indebtedness (a “Payment Default”), then no payment or distribution of any kind or character shall be made by or on behalf of the Company or any other Person on its or their behalf with respect to any Obligations on or relating to the Notes or to acquire any of the Notes for cash or assets or otherwise.

 

(b) If any other event of default (other than a Payment Default) occurs and is continuing with respect to any Designated Senior Indebtedness (as such event of default is defined in the instrument creating or evidencing such Designated Senior Indebtedness) permitting the holders of such Designated Senior Indebtedness then outstanding to accelerate the maturity thereof (a “Non-payment Default”) and if the Representative for the respective issue of Designated Senior Indebtedness gives notice of the Non-Payment Default to the Trustee stating that such notice is a payment blockage notice (a “Payment Blockage Notice”), then during the period (the “Payment Blockage Period”) beginning upon the delivery of such Payment Blockage Notice and ending on the earlier of (1) 179 days after the date on which the applicable Payment

 

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Blockage Notice is received, (2) the date on which all such Non-Payment Defaults have been cured or waived or cease to exist and (3) the date on which the Trustee receives notice thereof from the Representative for the respective issue of Designated Senior Indebtedness terminating the Payment Blockage Period, neither the Company nor any other Person on its behalf shall (x) make any payment of any kind or character with respect to any Obligations on or with respect to the Notes or (y) acquire any of the Notes for cash or assets or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, there shall be a period of at least 181 consecutive days in each 360-day period when no Payment Blockage Notice is in effect. For all purposes of this Section 10.02(b), no Non-Payment Default which existed or was continuing on the date of the commencement of any Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Indebtedness shall be, or be made, the basis for the commencement of a second Payment Blockage Period by the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such Non-Payment Default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days. Any subsequent action, or any breach of any financial covenants for a period ending after the date of delivery of such Payment Blockage Notice that, in either case, would give rise to a Non-Payment Default pursuant to any provisions under which a Non-Payment Default previously existed or was continuing shall constitute a new Non-Payment Default for this purpose.

 

(c) The foregoing Sections 10.02(a) and (b) shall not apply to payments and distributions (A) of Permitted Junior Securities and (B) made relating to the Notes from the trust established pursuant to Article Eight, so long as, with respect to (B), (i) the conditions specified in Article Eight (without any waiver or modification of the requirement that the deposits pursuant thereto do not conflict with the terms of the Senior Credit Facilities, Senior Notes or any other Senior Indebtedness) are satisfied on the date of any deposit pursuant to said trust and (ii) such payments and distributions did not violate the provisions of this Article Ten when made.

 

(d) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder when such payment is prohibited by the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.02, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective Representatives, as their respective interests may appear. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on information regarding amounts outstanding on the Senior Indebtedness, if any, received from the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their Representatives).

 

Nothing contained in this Article Ten shall limit the right of the Trustee or the Holders of Notes to take any action to accelerate the maturity of the Notes pursuant to Section 6.02 or to pursue any rights or remedies hereunder; provided that all Senior Indebtedness thereafter due or declared to be due shall first be paid in full in cash or Cash Equivalents, or such payment duly provided for to the satisfaction of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before the Holders are entitled to receive any payment of any kind or character with respect to Obligations on the Notes.

 

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SECTION 10.03. Notes Subordinated to Prior Payment of All Senior Indebtedness on Dissolution, Liquidation or Reorganization of the Company.

 

(a) Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, assets or securities, to creditors upon any total or partial liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors or marshaling of assets and liabilities of the Company or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding relating to the Company or its assets, whether voluntary or involuntary, all Obligations due or to become due upon all Senior Indebtedness shall first be paid in full in cash or Cash Equivalents, or such payment duly provided for to the satisfaction of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution of any kind or character is made on account of any Obligations on or relating to the Notes, or for the acquisition of any of the Notes for cash or assets or otherwise. Upon any such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization, receivership or similar proceeding, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, assets or securities, to which the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee under this Indenture would be entitled, except for the provisions hereof, shall be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective Representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash or Cash Equivalents, or such payment duly provided for to the satisfaction of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

 

(b) To the extent any payment of Senior Indebtedness (whether by or on behalf of the Company, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then, if such payment is recovered by, or paid over to, such receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person, the Senior Indebtedness or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.

 

It is further agreed that any diminution (whether pursuant to court decree or otherwise, including without limitation for any of the reasons described in the preceding sentence) of the Company’s obligation to make any distribution or payment pursuant to any Senior Indebtedness, except to the extent such diminution occurs by reason of the repayment (which has not been disgorged or returned) of such Senior Indebtedness in cash or Cash Equivalents, or such payment duly provided for to the satisfaction of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, shall have no force or effect for purposes of the subordination provisions contained in this Article Ten, with any turnover of payments as otherwise calculated pursuant to this Article Ten to be made as if no such diminution had occurred.

 

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(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, assets or securities, shall be received by any Holder when such payment or distribution is prohibited by this Section 10.03, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective Representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash or Cash Equivalents, or such payment duly provided for to the satisfaction of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

(d) The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company with or into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, to another Person upon the terms and conditions provided in Article Five hereof and as long as permitted under the terms of the Senior Indebtedness shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section if such other Person shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, assume the Company’s obligations hereunder in accordance with Article Five hereof.

 

SECTION 10.04. Payments May Be Made Prior to Dissolution.

 

Nothing contained in this Article Ten or elsewhere in this Indenture shall prevent (i) the Company, except under the conditions described in Sections 10.02 and 10.03, from making payments at any time for the purpose of making payments of principal of and interest on the Notes, or from depositing with the Trustee any moneys for such payments, or (ii) in the absence of actual knowledge by the Trustee that a given payment would be prohibited by Section 10.02 or 10.03, the application by the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it for the purpose of making such payments of principal of, and interest on, the Notes to the Holders entitled thereto unless at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which such payment would otherwise become due and payable a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actually received the written notice provided for in the first sentence of Section 10.02(b) or in Section 10.07 (provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holders receiving any payments made in contravention of Section 10.02 and/or 10.03 (and the respective such payments) shall otherwise be subject to the provisions of Section 10.02 and Section 10.03). The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, although any delay or failure to give any such notice shall have no effect on the subordination provisions contained herein.

 

SECTION 10.05. Holders To Be Subrogated to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness.

 

Subject to the payment in full in cash or Cash Equivalents, or such payment duly provided for to the satisfaction of holders of such Senior Indebtedness, of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Notes shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness

 

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to receive payments or distributions of cash, assets or securities of the Company applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until the Notes shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no such payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness by or on behalf of the Company, or by or on behalf of the Holders by virtue of this Article Ten, which otherwise would have been made to the Holders shall, as between the Company and the Holders, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the provisions of this Article Ten are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and the holders of Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

 

SECTION 10.06. Obligations of the Company Unconditional.

 

Nothing contained in this Article Ten or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Notes is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders the principal of and any interest on the Notes as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders and creditors of the Company other than the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Holder of any Note or the Trustee on its behalf from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, in respect of cash, assets or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

 

SECTION 10.07. Notice to Trustee.

 

The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Article Ten, although any delay or failure to give any such notice shall have no effect on the subordination provisions contained herein. Regardless of anything to the contrary contained in this Article Ten or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any default or event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness or of any other facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee shall have received notice in writing from the Company, or from a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a Representative therefor and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled to assume (in the absence of actual knowledge to the contrary) that no such facts exist. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of any notice pursuant to this Section 10.07 to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee thereof).

 

In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that any evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Ten, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Ten, and if such evidence is not furnished the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

 

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SECTION 10.08. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Ten, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Seven hereof, and the Holders of the Notes shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or similar case or proceeding is pending, or upon a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other Indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Ten.

 

SECTION 10.09. Trustee’s Relation to Senior Indebtedness.

 

The Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Ten with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it in its individual or any other capacity to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any such agent of any of its rights as such holder.

 

With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Ten, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

 

Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders or owners of Senior Indebtedness, the distribution may be made and the notice may be given to their Representative, if any.

 

SECTION 10.10. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Indebtedness.

 

No right of any present or future holders of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as provided herein shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.

 

Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee, without incurring responsibility to the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Ten or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of the Notes to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, do any one or

 

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more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner Senior Indebtedness, or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the payment or collection of Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

 

SECTION 10.11. Noteholders Authorize Trustee To Effectuate Subordination of Notes.

 

Each Holder of Notes by its acceptance of them authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on its behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, as between the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of Notes, the subordination provided in this Article Ten, and appoints the Trustee its attorney-in-fact for such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization or similar proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of credits or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the business and assets of the Company, the filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of its Notes and accrued interest in the form required in those proceedings.

 

If the Trustee does not file a proper claim or proof of debt in the form required in such proceeding prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim or claims, then the holders of the Senior Indebtedness or their Representative are or is hereby authorized to have the right to file and are or is hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders of said Notes. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee or the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their Representative 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 thereof, or to authorize the Trustee or the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their Representative to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

SECTION 10.12. This Article Ten Not To Prevent Events of Default.

 

The failure to make a payment on account of principal of or interest on the Notes by reason of any provision of this Article Ten will not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default.

 

SECTION 10.13. Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced.

 

Nothing in this Article Ten will apply to amounts due to the Trustee (other than payments of Obligations owing to Holders in respect of Notes) pursuant to other sections of this Indenture.

 

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ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

NOTE GUARANTEE

 

SECTION 11.01. Unconditional Guarantee.

 

Subject to the provisions of this Article Eleven, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, on a senior subordinated basis to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company or any other Guarantors to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder: (a) (x) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption or repurchase, by acceleration or otherwise, (y) the due and punctual payment of interest on the overdue principal and (to the extent permitted by law) interest, if any, on the Notes and (z) the due and punctual payment and performance of all other obligations of the Company and all other obligations of the other Guarantors (including under the Note Guarantees), in each case, to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder (including amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof), all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof (collectively, the “Guarantee Obligations”); and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, the due and punctual payment and performance of Guarantee Obligations in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at maturity, upon redemption or repurchase, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed, or failing performance of any other obligation of the Company to the Holders under this Indenture or under the Notes, for whatever reason, each Guarantor shall be obligated to pay, or to perform or cause the performance of, the same immediately. A Default under this Indenture or the Notes shall constitute an event of default under the Note Guarantees, and shall entitle the Holders of Notes to accelerate the obligations of the Guarantors thereunder in the same manner and to the same extent as the obligations of the Company.

 

Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that (to the fullest extent permitted by law) 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, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, any release of any other Guarantor, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same, whether or not a Note Guarantee is affixed to any particular Note, or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. Each of the Guarantors hereby waives (to the fullest extent permitted by law) the benefit of diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes, this Indenture and this Note Guarantee. This Note Guarantee is a guarantee of payment and not of collection. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company or to any Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar

 

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official acting in relation to the Company or such Guarantor, any amount paid by the Company or such Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor further agrees (to the fullest extent permitted by law) that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders of Notes and the Trustee, on the other hand, (a) subject to this Article Eleven, the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Six for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (b) in the event of any acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article Six hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee.

 

SECTION 11.02. Subordination of Note Guarantee.

 

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee pursuant to this Article Eleven shall be junior and subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash or Cash Equivalents, or such payment duly provided for to the satisfaction of the holders of such Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, of the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor on the same basis as the Notes are junior and subordinated to Senior Indebtedness of the Company. For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Trustee and the Holders shall have the right to receive and/or retain payments by any of the Guarantors only at such times as they may receive and/or retain payments in respect of the Notes pursuant to this Indenture, including Article Ten hereof.

 

SECTION 11.03. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

 

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee and this Article Eleven shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article Eleven, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

SECTION 11.04. Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee.

 

To further evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto, shall be endorsed on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee. Such Note Guarantee shall be executed on behalf of each Guarantor by either manual or facsimile signature of one Officer or other person duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of each Guarantor who shall have been duly authorized to so execute by all requisite corporate action. The

 

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validity and enforceability of any Note Guarantee shall not be affected by the fact that it is not affixed to any particular Note.

 

Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.

 

If an Officer of a Guarantor whose signature is on this Indenture or a Note Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which such Note Guarantee is endorsed or at any time thereafter, such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee of such Note shall nevertheless be valid.

 

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

 

SECTION 11.05. Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

A Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee and its obligations under this Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement:

 

(1) in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all of the equity interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor then held by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(2) if such Subsidiary Guarantor is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or otherwise ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, upon effectiveness of such designation or when it first ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, respectively; or

 

(3) if such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer Guarantees any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than if such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer Guarantees any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of payment under any Guarantee of any such Indebtedness by any Subsidiary Guarantor); provided that a Subsidiary Guarantor shall not be permitted to be released from its Note Guarantee if it is an obligor with respect to Indebtedness that would not, under the Section 4.10, be permitted to be Incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

provided, however, in either case that any such termination shall occur only to the extent that all obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under all of its Guarantees of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Indebtedness of any other Guarantor shall also terminate upon such release and none of its Equity Interests are pledged for the benefit of any holder of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

 

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The Trustee shall execute an appropriate instrument prepared by the Company evidencing the release of a Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee upon receipt of a request by the Company or such Guarantor accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel certifying as to the compliance with this Section 11.05; provided, however, that the legal counsel delivering such Opinion of Counsel may rely as to matters of fact on one or more Officers’ Certificates of the Company.

 

Except as set forth in Articles Four and Five and this Section 11.05, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or another Guarantor.

 

SECTION 11.06. Waiver of Subrogation.

 

Until this Indenture is discharged and all of the Notes are discharged and paid in full, each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives and agrees not to exercise any claim or other rights which it may now or hereafter acquire against the Company that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of the Company’s obligations under the Notes or this Indenture and such Guarantor’s obligations under this Note Guarantee and this Indenture, in any such instance including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification, and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of the Holders 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 indirectly, in cash or other assets 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 any amounts owing to the Trustee or the Holders of Notes under the Notes, this Indenture, or any other document or instrument delivered under or in connection with such agreements or instruments, 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 Trustee or the Holders and shall forthwith be paid to the Trustee for the benefit of itself or such Holders to be credited and applied to the obligations in favor of the Trustee or the Holders, as the case may be, 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 11.06 is knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

 

SECTION 11.07. Immediate Payment.

 

Each Guarantor agrees to make immediate payment to the Trustee on behalf of the Holders of all Guarantee Obligations owing or payable to the respective Holders upon receipt of a demand for payment therefor by the Trustee to such Guarantor in writing.

 

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SECTION 11.08. No Set-Off.

 

Each payment to be made by a Guarantor hereunder in respect of the Guarantee Obligations shall be payable in the currency or currencies in which such Guarantee Obligations are denominated, and shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

 

SECTION 11.09. Guarantee Obligations Absolute.

 

The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are and shall be absolute and unconditional and any monies or amounts expressed to be owing or payable by each Guarantor hereunder which may not be recoverable from such Guarantor on the basis of a Guarantee shall be recoverable from such Guarantor as a primary obligor and principal debtor in respect thereof.

 

SECTION 11.10. Guarantee Obligations Continuing.

 

The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall be continuing and shall remain in full force and effect until all such obligations have been paid and satisfied in full. Each Guarantor agrees with the Trustee that it will from time to time deliver to the Trustee suitable acknowledgments of this continued liability hereunder and under any other instrument or instruments in such form as counsel to the Trustee may reasonably request and as will prevent any action brought against it in respect of any default hereunder being barred by any statute of limitations now or hereafter in force and, in the event of the failure of a Guarantor so to do, it hereby irrevocably appoints the Trustee the attorney and agent of such Guarantor to make, execute and deliver such written acknowledgment or acknowledgments or other instruments as may from time to time become necessary or reasonably advisable, in the judgment of the Trustee on the advice of counsel, to fully maintain and keep in force the liability of such Guarantor hereunder.

 

SECTION 11.11. Guarantee Obligations Not Reduced.

 

The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be satisfied, reduced or discharged solely by the payment of such principal, premium, if any, interest, fees and other monies or amounts as may at any time prior to discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article Eight be or become owing or payable under or by virtue of or otherwise in connection with the Notes or this Indenture.

 

SECTION 11.12. Guarantee Obligations Reinstated.

 

The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment which would otherwise have reduced the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder (whether such payment shall have been made by or on behalf of the Company or by or on behalf of a Guarantor) is rescinded or reclaimed from any of the Holders upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Company or any Guarantor or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. If demand for, or acceleration of the time for, payment by the Company or any other Guarantor is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Company or such

 

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Guarantor, all such Indebtedness otherwise subject to demand for payment or acceleration shall nonetheless be payable by each Guarantor as provided herein.

 

SECTION 11.13. Guarantee Obligations Not Affected.

 

Subject to Section 11.05, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected, impaired or diminished in any way by any act, omission, matter or thing whatsoever, occurring before, upon or after any demand for payment hereunder (and whether or not known or consented to by any Guarantor or any of the Holders) which, but for this provision, might constitute a whole or partial defense to a claim against any Guarantor hereunder or might operate to release or otherwise exonerate any Guarantor from any of its obligations hereunder or otherwise affect such obligations, whether occasioned by default of any of the Holders or otherwise, including, without limitation:

 

(a) any limitation of status or power, disability, incapacity or other circumstance relating to the Company or any other Person, including any insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization, readjustment, composition, dissolution, winding-up or other proceeding involving or affecting the Company or any other Person;

 

(b) any irregularity, defect, unenforceability or invalidity in respect of any indebtedness or other obligation of the Company or any other Person under this Indenture, the Notes or any other document or instrument;

 

(c) any failure of the Company or any other Guarantor, whether or not without fault on its part, to perform or comply with any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or any Note Guarantee, or to give notice thereof to a Guarantor;

 

(d) the taking or enforcing or exercising or the refusal or neglect to take or enforce or exercise any right or remedy from or against the Company or any other Person or their respective assets or the release or discharge of any such right or remedy;

 

(e) the granting of time, renewals, extensions, compromises, concessions, waivers, releases, discharges and other indulgences to the Company or any other Person;

 

(f) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, any of the Notes, or any other amendment, variation, supplement, replacement or waiver of, or any consent to departure from, any of the Notes or this Indenture, including, without limitation, any increase or decrease in the principal amount of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Notes;

 

(g) any change in the ownership, control, name, objects, businesses, assets, capital structure or constitution of the Company or a Guarantor;

 

(h) any merger or amalgamation of the Company or a Guarantor with any Person or Persons;

 

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(i) the occurrence of any change in the laws, rules, regulations or ordinances of any jurisdiction by any present or future action of any governmental authority or court amending, varying, reducing or otherwise affecting, or purporting to amend, vary, reduce or otherwise affect, any of the Guarantee Obligations or the obligations of a Guarantor under its Note Guarantee; and

 

(j) any other circumstance, including release of a Guarantor pursuant to Section 11.05 (other than by complete, irrevocable payment) that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of the Company under this Indenture or the Notes or of a Guarantor in respect of its Note Guarantee hereunder.

 

SECTION 11.14. Waiver.

 

Without in any way limiting the provisions of Section 11.01, each Guarantor hereby waives (to the fullest extent permitted by law) notice of acceptance hereof, notice of any liability of any Guarantor hereunder, notice or proof of reliance by the Holders upon the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder, and diligence, presentment, demand for payment on the Company, protest, notice of dishonor or non-payment of any of the Guarantee Obligations, or other notice or formalities to the Company or any Guarantor of any kind whatsoever.

 

SECTION 11.15. No Obligation To Take Action Against the Company.

 

Neither the Trustee nor any other Person shall have any obligation to enforce or exhaust any rights or remedies against the Company or any other Person or any property of the Company or any other Person before the Trustee is entitled to demand payment and performance by any or all Guarantors of their liabilities and obligations under their Note Guarantees or under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 11.16. Dealing with the Company and Others.

 

The Holders, without releasing, discharging, limiting or otherwise affecting in whole or in part the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor hereunder and without the consent of or notice to any Guarantor, may

 

(a) grant time, renewals, extensions, compromises, concessions, waivers, releases, discharges and other indulgences to the Company or any other Person;

 

(b) take or abstain from taking security or collateral from the Company or from perfecting security or collateral of the Company;

 

(c) release, discharge, compromise, realize, enforce or otherwise deal with or do any act or thing in respect of (with or without consideration) any and all collateral, mortgages or other security given by the Company or any third party with respect to the obligations or matters contemplated by this Indenture or the Notes;

 

(d) accept compromises or arrangements from the Company;

 

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(e) apply all monies at any time received from the Company or from any security upon such part of the Guarantee Obligations as the Holders may see fit or change any such application in whole or in part from time to time as the Holders may see fit; and

 

(f) otherwise deal with, or waive or modify their right to deal with, the Company and all other Persons and any security as the Holders or the Trustee may see fit.

 

SECTION 11.17. Default and Enforcement.

 

If any Guarantor fails to pay in accordance with Section 11.07 hereof, the Trustee may proceed in its name as trustee hereunder in the enforcement of the Note Guarantee of any such Guarantor and such Guarantor’s obligations thereunder and hereunder by any remedy provided by law, whether by legal proceedings or otherwise, and to recover from such Guarantor the obligations.

 

SECTION 11.18. Amendment, Etc.

 

No amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Indenture relating to any Guarantor or consent to any departure by any Guarantor or any other Person from any such provision will in any event be effective unless it is signed by such Guarantor and the Trustee.

 

SECTION 11.19. Acknowledgment.

 

Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges communication of the terms of this Indenture and the Notes and consents to and approves of the same.

 

SECTION 11.20. Costs and Expenses.

 

Each Guarantor shall pay on demand by the Trustee any and all costs, fees and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees) incurred by the Trustee, its agents, advisors and counsel or any of the Holders in enforcing any of their rights under any Note Guarantee.

 

SECTION 11.21. No Merger or Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

 

No Note Guarantee shall operate by way of merger of any of the obligations of a Guarantor under any other agreement, including, without limitation, this Indenture. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Trustee or the Holders, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under this Indenture or the Notes, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under this Indenture or the Notes preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges in the Note Guarantee and under this Indenture, the Notes and any other document or instrument between a Guarantor and/or the Company and the Trustee are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privilege provided by law.

 

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SECTION 11.22. Survival of Guarantee Obligations.

 

Subject to Section 11.05, without prejudice to the survival of any of the other obligations of each Guarantor hereunder, the obligations of each Guarantor under Section 11.01 shall survive the payment in full of the Guarantee Obligations and shall be enforceable against such Guarantor without regard to and without giving effect to any defense, right of offset or counterclaim available to or which may be asserted by the Company or any Guarantor.

 

SECTION 11.23. Guarantee in Addition to Other Guarantee Obligations.

 

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee and this Indenture are in addition to and not in substitution for any other obligations to the Trustee or to any of the Holders in relation to this Indenture or the Notes and any guarantees or security at any time held by or for the benefit of any of them.

 

SECTION 11.24. Severability.

 

Any provision of this Article Eleven which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate the remaining provisions and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction unless its removal would substantially defeat the basic intent, spirit and purpose of this Indenture and this Article Eleven.

 

SECTION 11.25. Successors and Assigns.

 

Each Note Guarantee shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each Guarantor and the Trustee and the other Holders and their respective successors and permitted assigns, except that no Guarantor may assign any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 12.01. TIA Controls.

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed 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 excluded, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 12.02. Notices.

 

Any notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be sufficiently given if made by hand delivery, by telex, by nationally

 

-110-


recognized overnight courier service, by telecopier or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

 

if to the Company or a Guarantor:

 

DaVita Inc.

601 Hawaii Street

El Segundo, CA 90245

Attention: Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

Telephone: (310) 536-2420

Facsimile:  (866) 891-9866

 

with a copy to:

 

Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP

Bank One Plaza

Chicago, IL 60603

Attention: John M. O’Hare, Esq.

 

Telephone: (312) 853-7454

Facsimile:  (312) 853-7036

 

if to the Trustee:

 

The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.

700 South Flower Street

5th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

 

Telephone: (213) 630-6258

Facsimile:  (213) 630-6298

 

with a copy to:

 

Emmet, Marvin & Martin, LLP

120 Broadway

New York, New York 10271

Attention: Irving C. Apar, Esq.

 

Telephone: (212) 238-3023

Facsimile:  (212) 238-3100

 

Each of the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee by written notice to each other such Person may designate additional or different addresses for notices to such Person. Any notice or communication to the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, shall be deemed

 

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to have been given or made as of the date so delivered if personally delivered; when answered back; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; five (5) calendar days after mailing if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (except that a notice of change of address shall not be deemed to have been given until actually received by the addressee); and next Business Day if by nationally recognized overnight courier service.

 

Any notice or communication mailed to a Noteholder shall be mailed to him by first class mail or other equivalent means at his address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given to him if so mailed within the time prescribed.

 

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Noteholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Noteholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

SECTION 12.03. Communications by Holders with Other Holders.

 

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

 

SECTION 12.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

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

 

(1) an Officers’ Certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent to be performed or effected by the Company, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

 

(2) if requested by the Trustee, an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, any and all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

 

SECTION 12.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture, other than the Officers’ Certificate required by Section 4.06, shall include:

 

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

 

(2) 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;

 

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(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he 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 complied with or satisfied; and

 

(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate or certificates of public officials.

 

SECTION 12.06. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar.

 

The Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar may make reasonable rules for its functions.

 

SECTION 12.07. Legal Holidays.

 

If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day.

 

SECTION 12.08. Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

This Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, as applied to contracts made and performed within the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.

 

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

SECTION 12.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

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

 

SECTION 12.10. No Recourse Against Others.

 

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or of any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Guarantors’ Note Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

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SECTION 12.11. Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company and the Guarantors in this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

 

SECTION 12.12. Duplicate Originals.

 

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

 

SECTION 12.13. Severability.

 

In case any one or more of the provisions in this Indenture, in the Notes or in the Note Guarantees shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, it being intended that all of the provisions hereof shall be enforceable to the full extent permitted by law.

 

SECTION 12.14. Force Majeure.

 

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

 

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SIGNATURES

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the date first written above.

 

DAVITA INC.,

as Issuer

By:

  /s/    JOSEPH SCHOHL        

Name:

  Joseph Schohl

Title:

  Vice President, Secretary and
    General Counsel

 

S-1


GUARANTORS

 

    

Astro, Hobby, West Mt. Renal Care Limited Partnership

Bay Area Dialysis Partnership

Beverly Hills Dialysis Partnership

Carroll County Dialysis Facility, Inc.

Continental Dialysis Center of Springfield-Fairfax, Inc.

Continental Dialysis Centers, Inc.

DaVita Nephrology Associates of Utah, L.L.C.

DaVita – West, LLC

Dialysis Specialists of Dallas, Inc.

Downriver Centers, Inc.

East End Dialysis Center, Inc.

Eastmont Dialysis Partnership

Elberton Dialysis Facility, Inc.

Flamingo Park Kidney Center, Inc.

Houston Kidney Center/Total Renal Care Integrated Service

Network Limited Partnership

Kidney Care Rx, Inc. (fka Total Renal Support Services, Inc.)

Kidney Care Services, LLC

Lincoln Park Dialysis Services, Inc.

Mason-Dixon Dialysis Facilities, Inc.

Nephrology Medical Associates of Georgia, LLC

Open Access Sonography, Inc.

Orange Dialysis, LLC

Pacific Coast Dialysis Center

PDI Holdings, Inc.

PDI Supply, Inc.

Peninsula Dialysis Center, Inc.

Physicians Dialysis Acquisitions, Inc.

Physicians Dialysis Ventures, Inc.

Physicians Dialysis, Inc.

Renal Treatment Centers – California, Inc.

Renal Treatment Centers – Hawaii, Inc.

Renal Treatment Centers – Illinois, Inc.

Renal Treatment Centers – Mid-Atlantic, Inc.

Renal Treatment Centers – Northeast, Inc.

Renal Treatment Centers – Southeast, LP

Renal Treatment Centers – West, Inc.

Renal Treatment Centers, Inc.

RMS DM, LLC

RTC - Texas Acquisition, Inc.

RTC Holdings, Inc.

RTC TN, Inc.

Sierra Rose Dialysis Center, LLC

Southwest Atlanta Dialysis Centers, LLC

 

S-2


    

Total Acute Kidney Care, Inc.

Total Renal Care / Eaton Canyon Dialysis Center Partnership

Total Renal Care of Colorado, Inc.

Total Renal Care of Utah, L.L.C.

Total Renal Care Texas Limited Partnership

Total Renal Care, Inc.

Total Renal Care/Peralta Renal Center Partnership

Total Renal Care/Piedmont Dialysis Partnership

Total Renal Laboratories, Inc.

Total Renal Research, Inc.

TRC – Indiana, LLC

TRC of New York, Inc.

TRC West, Inc.

Tri-City Dialysis Center, Inc.

 

By:    /s/    H.W. GUY SEAY        
    H.W. Guy Seay, Authorized Signatory

 

S-3


THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST

COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

By:

  /s/    SANDEÉ PARKS        
   

Name:

  Sandeé Parks
   

Title:

  Vice President

 

S-4


 

EXHIBIT A

 

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

 

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

 

DAVITA INC.

7 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015

 

     CUSIP No.

No.

   $

 

DAVITA INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for value received promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or its registered assigns, the principal sum of on March 15, 2015.

 

Interest Payment Dates: March 15 and September 15, commencing September 15, 2005.

 

Record Dates: March 1 and September 1.

 

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

A-1


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

 

DAVITA INC.

By:

   
   

Name:

   

Title:

By:

   
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

A-2


This is one of the 71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated:

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Trustee

By:

   
   

Authorized Signatory

 

A-3


(Reverse of Note)

 

7 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015

 

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

 

SECTION 1. Interest. DaVita Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 71/4% per annum from March 22, 2005 until maturity. The Company will pay interest semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing September 15, 2005. Interest on the Notes 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. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand to the extent lawful at the interest rate applicable to the Notes; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and, to the extent such payments are lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest, without regard to any applicable grace periods, at the rate of 2.0% per annum in excess of the interest rate applicable to the Notes from time to time. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

SECTION 2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the March 1 or September 1 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 issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. The Company shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes 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 (“U.S. Legal Tender”). Principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders of the Notes at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders of Notes; provided that all payments of principal, premium and interest with respect to Notes the Holders of which have given wire transfer instructions to the Company prior to the Record Date will be required to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holders thereof. Until otherwise designated by the Company, the Company’s office or agency in New York will be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose.

 

SECTION 3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.

 

A-4


The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

SECTION 4. Indenture and Subordination. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of March 22, 2005 (“Indenture”) by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “TIA”). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The payment of the Notes will, to the extent set forth in the Indenture, be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash or cash equivalents of all Senior Indebtedness.

 

SECTION 5. Optional Redemption. Except as described below, the Notes are not redeemable at the Company’s option until March 15, 2010. On and after March 15, 2010, the Company may at its option redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes, if any, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on March 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year


   Percentage

 

2010

   103.625 %

2011

   102.417 %

2012

   101.208 %

2013 and thereafter

   100.000 %

 

SECTION 6. From and after the Issue Date, prior to March 15, 2008, the Company may, on any one or more occasions, redeem up to 35% of the principal amount of Notes (including Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture with the Net Cash Proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) of 107.250% plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date; provided that

 

  (1) at least 65% of the principal amount of the Notes issued under the Indenture (including any Additional Notes) remains outstanding after each such redemption; and

 

  (2) the redemption date occurs within 90 days after the closing of such Equity Offering.

 

SECTION 7. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be mailed by first class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of

 

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redemption that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

SECTION 8. Mandatory Redemption. For the avoidance of doubt, an offer to purchase pursuant to Section 9 hereof shall not be deemed a redemption. The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.

 

SECTION 9. Repurchase at Option of Holder. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, and subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Company will be required to offer to purchase all of the outstanding Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the date of repurchase.

 

The Company is, subject to certain conditions and exceptions, obligated to make an offer to purchase Notes at 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to the date of repurchase, with certain net cash proceeds of certain sales or other dispositions of assets in accordance with the Indenture.

 

SECTION 10. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $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 or the Registrar is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption. Also, the Company or the Registrar is not required to transfer or exchange any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

SECTION 11. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

SECTION 12. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and any existing Default or compliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture and the Notes to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture, provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to certificated Notes, comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, or make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of a Note.

 

SECTION 13. Defaults and Remedies. If a Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes generally may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing,

 

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in the case of a Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency as set forth in the Indenture, with respect to the Company, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default (except a Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, or the premium on, the Notes.

 

SECTION 14. Restrictive Covenants. The Indenture contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to make restricted payments, to incur indebtedness, to create liens, to sell assets, to permit restrictions on dividends and other payments by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of its assets or to engage in transactions with affiliates. Certain of the restrictive covenants will not be applicable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during any period that the Notes receive and investment grade rating from both Standard & Poors Ratings Group and Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. and certain other conditions are satisfied. The covenants are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions. The Company must annually report to the Trustee on compliance with such covenants.

 

SECTION 15. No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Guarantors’ Note Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

SECTION 16. Note Guarantees. This Note will be entitled to the benefits of certain Note Guarantees made for the benefit of the Holders. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and obligations thereunder of the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders.

 

SECTION 17. Trustee Dealings with the Company. The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.

 

SECTION 18. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

SECTION 19. 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 entirety), 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).

 

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SECTION 20. Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes. Pursuant to, but subject to the exceptions in, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors will be obligated to consummate an exchange offer pursuant to which the Holder of this Note shall have the right to exchange this Note for a 71/4% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015 of the Company which shall have been registered under the Securities Act, in like principal amount and having terms identical in all material respects to this Note (except that such note shall not be entitled to Liquidated Damages). The Holders shall be entitled to receive certain Liquidated Damages in the event such exchange offer is not consummated or the Notes are not offered for resale and upon certain other conditions, all pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.1

 

SECTION 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 as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

SECTION 22. Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of laws to the extent that the application of the laws of another jurisdiction would be required thereby.

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture.


1 This Section not to appear on Exchange Notes or on Notes otherwise registered pursuant to the Securities Act.

 

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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE2

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note, or exchanges in part of another other Restricted Global Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange


 

Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount of this
Global Note


 

Amount of increase in
Principal Amount of this
Global Note


   Principal Amount of this
Global Note following
such decrease (or
increase)


   Signature of authorized
officer of Trustee or
Custodian


                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   

2 To be included only if the Note is issued in Global Form.

 

A-9


ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

 


 


(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee or transferee)

 


(Insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee or transferee)

 

and irrevocably appoint                                                               agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Dated:                                          

     

Signed: 

   
                (Sign exactly as name appears on the other side of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee:

       
            Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee)

 

In connection with any transfer of this Note occurring prior to the date which is the earlier of (i) the date of the declaration by the SEC of the effectiveness of a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), covering resales of this Note (which effectiveness shall not have been suspended or terminated at the date of the transfer) and (ii) the date following the second anniversary of the original issuance of this Note, the undersigned confirms that it has not utilized any general solicitation or general advertising in connection with the transfer:

 

[Check One]

 

(1) ¨  to the Company or a subsidiary thereof; or

 

(2) ¨  pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or

 

(3) ¨  to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements (the form of which letter can be obtained from the Trustee); or

 

(4) ¨  outside the United States to a “foreign purchaser” in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or

 

A-10


(5) ¨  pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

(6) ¨  pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or

 

(7) ¨  pursuant to another available exemption from the registration statement requirements of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

and unless the box below is checked, the undersigned confirms that such Note is not being transferred to an “affiliate” of the Company as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (an “Affiliate”):

 

¨  The transferee is an Affiliate of the Company.

 

Unless one of the items is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if item (3), (4), (5) or (7) is checked, the Company or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, in their sole discretion, such written legal opinions, certifications (including an investment letter in the case of box (3) or (4)) and other information as the Trustee or the Company has reasonably requested 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.

 

If none of the foregoing items are checked, the Trustee or Registrar shall not be obligated to register this Note in the name of any person other than the Holder hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in Section 2.16 of the Indenture shall have been satisfied.

 

Dated:                                          

     

Signed: 

   
                (Sign exactly as name appears on the other side of this Note)
Signature Guarantee:                

 

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (2) ABOVE IS CHECKED

 

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated:                                          

           
                NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

A-11


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box:

 

Section 4.09 ¨                     Section 4.15 ¨

 

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount: $                    

 

Dated:                                          

     

Signed: 

   
                (Sign exactly as name appears on the other side of this Note)
             

 

Signature Guarantee:

          Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee)

 

A-12


EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF LEGENDS

 

Each Global Note and Physical Note that constitutes a Restricted Security or is sold in compliance with Regulation S shall bear the following legend (the “Private Placement Legend”) on the face thereof until after the second anniversary of the Issue Date, unless otherwise agreed by the Company and the Holder thereof:

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY 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, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: TWO YEARS IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS] AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT 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 THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE SECURITIES OF $250,000, 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, SUBJECT TO

 

B-1


THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S 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. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

 

Each Global Note authenticated and delivered hereunder shall also bear the following legend:

 

THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITORY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY) 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 DAVITA INC. 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.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF CEDE & CO. OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN SECTIONS 2.15 AND 2.16 OF THE INDENTURE.

 

B-2


EXHIBIT C

 

Form of Certificate To Be

Delivered in Connection with

Transfers to Non-QIB Accredited Investors

 

[                    ], [        ]

 

The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.

700 South Flower Street

5th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

In connection with our proposed purchase of 71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 (the “Notes”) of DAVITA INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), we confirm that:

 

1. We have received a copy of the Offering Memorandum (the “Offering Memorandum”), dated March 15, 2005, relating to the Notes and such other information as we deem necessary in order to make our investment decision. We acknowledge that we have read and agreed to the matters stated in the section entitled “Notice to Investors” of such Offering Memorandum, including the restrictions on duplication and circulation of the Offering Memorandum.

 

2. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture relating to the Notes (the “Indenture”) as described in the Offering Memorandum 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 all applicable State securities laws.

 

3. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell any Notes, we will do so only (i) to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) inside the United States in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), (iii) inside the United States to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to the Trustee (as defined in the Indenture) a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements relating to the restrictions on transfer of the Notes (the form of which letter can be obtained

 

C-1


from the Trustee), (iv) outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act to non-U.S. persons, (v) pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act (if available), (vi) in accordance with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (and based upon an opinion of counsel if the Company so requests) or (vii) 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.

 

4. We are not acquiring the Notes for or on behalf of, and will not transfer the Notes to, any pension or welfare plan (as defined in Section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) or plan (as defined in Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), except as permitted in the section entitled “Notice to Investors” of the Offering Memorandum.

 

5. We understand that, on any proposed resale of any Notes, we will be required to furnish to the Trustee and the Company such certification, legal opinions and other information as the Trustee and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

 

6. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) purchasing at least $250,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or their investment, as the case may be.

 

7. We are acquiring the Notes purchased by us for our 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.

 

C-2


You, the Company, the Trustee and others 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 proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

Very truly yours,

[Name of Transferee]
By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

C-3


 

EXHIBIT D

 

Form of Certificate To Be Delivered

in Connection with Transfers

Pursuant to Regulation S

 

[                    ], [        ]

 

The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.

700 South Flower Street

5th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

 

  Re: DaVita Inc. (the “Company”) 71/4% Senior
       Subordinated Notes due 2015 (the “Notes”)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

In connection with our proposed sale of $[            ] aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:

 

(1) the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;

 

(2) either (a) at the time the buy offer 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, or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States;

 

(3) no directed selling efforts have been made 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 Securities Act; and

 

(5) we have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes.

 

You, the Company and counsel for 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

 

D-1


any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.

 

Very truly yours,

[Name of Transferor]
By:    
   

Authorized Signature

 

D-2


 

EXHIBIT E

 

NOTE GUARANTEE

 

For value received, each of the undersigned hereby unconditionally guarantees, as principal obligor and not only as a surety, to the Holder of this Note the cash payment in United States dollars of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Note in the amounts and at the times when due and interest on the overdue principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, of this Note, if lawful, and the payment or performance of all other obligations of the Company under the Indenture (as defined below) or the Notes, to the Holder of this Note and the Trustee, all in accordance with and subject to the terms and limitations of this Note, Article Eleven of the Indenture and this Note Guarantee. This Note Guarantee will become effective in accordance with Article Eleven of the Indenture and its terms shall be evidenced therein. The validity and enforceability of any Note Guarantee shall not be affected by the fact that it is not affixed to any particular Note.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture dated as of March 22, 2005, among DaVita Inc., a Delaware corporation, as issuer (the “Company”), the Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended or supplemented (the “Indenture”).

 

The obligations of the undersigned to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to this Note Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Eleven of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Note Guarantee and all of the other provisions of the Indenture to which this Note Guarantee relates.

 

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Guarantors under the Guarantors’ Note Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.

 

This Note Guarantee is subordinated in right of payment, in the manner and to the extent set forth in Article Eleven of the Indenture, to the prior payment in full in cash or cash equivalents of all Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantors, whether outstanding on the date of the Indenture or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed.

 

This Note Guarantee shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. The undersigned Guarantor hereby agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note Guarantee.

 

This Note Guarantee is subject to release upon the terms set forth in the Indenture.

 

E-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Subsidiary Guarantor has caused its Note Guarantee to be duly executed.

 

Date:

 

[                                             ]
By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

E-2


 

EXHIBIT F

 

INCUMBENCY CERTIFICATE

 

The undersigned, [                             ], being the [                            ] of [                            ] (the “Company”) does hereby certify that the individuals listed below are qualified and acting officers of the Company as set forth in the right column opposite their respective names and the signatures appearing in the extreme right column opposite the name of each such officer is a true specimen of the genuine signature of such officer and such individuals have the authority to execute documents to be delivered to, or upon the request of, The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee under the Indenture dated as of March 22, 2005, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.

 

Name


  

Title


  

Signature


___________

  

___________

  

___________

___________

  

___________

  

___________

___________

  

___________

  

___________

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this Certificate as of the [    ] day of [            ], 20[    ].

 

By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

F-1