Exhibit 4.2

 

Execution Version


 



 

SUMMIT MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS, LLC

 

SUMMIT MIDSTREAM FINANCE CORP.

 

As Issuers,

 

SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP,

 

As Parent Guarantor

 

AND

 

THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS NAMED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HEREOF

 




 

51⁄2% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2022

 




 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Dated as of July 15, 2014

 




 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

As Trustee


 



 











 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

	
Trust Indenture
    Act Section
    	
 
    	
Indenture
    Section
    
	
310(a)(1)
    	
 
    	
8.10
    
	
(a)(2)
    	
 
    	
8.10
    
	
(a)(3)
    	
 
    	
N/A
    
	
(a)(4)
    	
 
    	
N/A
    
	
(a)(5)
    	
 
    	
8.10
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
8.10
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
N/A
    
	
311(a)
    	
 
    	
8.11
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
8.11
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
N/A
    
	
312(a)
    	
 
    	
3.05
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
12.03
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
12.03
    
	
313(a)
    	
 
    	
8.06
    
	
(b)(1)
    	
 
    	
8.06
    
	
(b)(2)
    	
 
    	
8.06,   8.07
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
8.06,   12.02
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
8.06
    
	
314(a)
    	
 
    	
5.03,   5.04, 12.02
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
N/A
    
	
(c)(1)
    	
 
    	
12.04
    
	
(c)(2)
    	
 
    	
12.04
    
	
(c)(3)
    	
 
    	
N/A
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
N/A
    
	
(e)
    	
 
    	
12.05
    
	
(f)
    	
 
    	
N/A
    
	
315(a)
    	
 
    	
8.01
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
8.05,   12.02
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
8.01
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
8.01
    
	
(e)
    	
 
    	
7.11
    
	
316(a)(last   sentence)
    	
 
    	
3.08
    
	
(a)(1)(A)
    	
 
    	
7.05
    
	
(a)(1)(B)
    	
 
    	
7.04
    
	
(a)(2)
    	
 
    	
N/A
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
7.07
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
10.04
    
	
317(a)(1)
    	
 
    	
7.08
    
	
(a)(2)
    	
 
    	
7.09
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
3.04
    
	
318(a)
    	
 
    	
12.01
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
N/A
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
12.01
    


 




N/A means not applicable.

*This Cross-Reference Table is not part of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
ARTICLE 1
    	
 
    
	
APPLICATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL   INDENTURE
    	
 
    
	
AND CREATION OF THE INITIAL   NOTES
    	
2
    
	
Section 1.01.
    	
Application of this Supplemental Indenture
    	
2
    
	
Section 1.02.
    	
Effect of this Supplemental Indenture
    	
2
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 2
    	
 
    
	
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION 
    	
 
    
	
BY REFERENCE
    	
3
    
	
Section 2.01.
    	
Definitions.
    	
3
    
	
Section 2.02.
    	
Other Definitions.
    	
28
    
	
Section 2.03.
    	
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act
    	
28
    
	
Section 2.04.
    	
Rules of Construction
    	
29
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 3
    	
 
    
	
THE NOTES
    	
29
    
	
Section 3.01.
    	
Form and Dating
    	
29
    
	
Section 3.02.
    	
Execution and Authentication
    	
30
    
	
Section 3.03.
    	
Registrar and Paying Agent
    	
30
    
	
Section 3.04.
    	
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust
    	
31
    
	
Section 3.05.
    	
Holder Lists
    	
31
    
	
Section 3.06.
    	
Transfer and Exchange
    	
31
    
	
Section 3.07.
    	
Replacement Notes
    	
36
    
	
Section 3.08.
    	
Outstanding Notes
    	
37
    
	
Section 3.09.
    	
Temporary Notes
    	
37
    
	
Section 3.10.
    	
Cancellation
    	
37
    
	
Section 3.11.
    	
Defaulted Interest
    	
37
    
	
Section 3.12.
    	
CUSIP Numbers
    	
38
    
	
Section 3.13.
    	
Issuance of Additional Notes
    	
38
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 4
    	
 
    
	
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
    	
38
    
	
Section 4.01.
    	
Notices to Trustee
    	
38
    
	
Section 4.02.
    	
Selection of Notes to be Redeemed
    	
39
    
	
Section 4.03.
    	
Notice of Redemption
    	
39
    
	
Section 4.04.
    	
Effect of Notice of Redemption
    	
40
    
	
Section 4.05.
    	
Deposit of Redemption Price
    	
41
    
	
Section 4.06.
    	
Notes Redeemed in Part
    	
41
    
	
Section 4.07.
    	
Optional Redemption
    	
41
    
	
Section 4.08.
    	
Mandatory Redemption
    	
42
    
	
Section 4.09.
    	
Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds
    	
42
    
	
Section 4.10.
    	
Purchase of Notes
    	
44
    


 

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ARTICLE 5
    	
 
    
	
COVENANTS
    	
44
    
	
Section 5.01.
    	
Payment of Notes
    	
44
    
	
Section 5.02.
    	
Maintenance of Office or Agency
    	
45
    
	
Section 5.03.
    	
Reports
    	
45
    
	
Section 5.04.
    	
Compliance Certificate
    	
46
    
	
Section 5.05.
    	
Taxes
    	
47
    
	
Section 5.06.
    	
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws
    	
47
    
	
Section 5.07.
    	
Limitation on Restricted Payments
    	
47
    
	
Section 5.08.
    	
Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions   Affecting Subsidiaries
    	
51
    
	
Section 5.09.
    	
Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of   Preferred Stock
    	
53
    
	
Section 5.10.
    	
Limitation on Asset Sales
    	
56
    
	
Section 5.11.
    	
Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates
    	
58
    
	
Section 5.12.
    	
Limitation on Liens
    	
60
    
	
Section 5.13.
    	
Additional Subsidiary Guarantees
    	
60
    
	
Section 5.14.
    	
Corporate Existence
    	
60
    
	
Section 5.15.
    	
Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Trigger Event
    	
61
    
	
Section 5.16.
    	
No Inducements
    	
64
    
	
Section 5.17.
    	
Permitted Business Activities of Finance Corp
    	
64
    
	
Section 5.18.
    	
Sale and Leaseback Transactions
    	
64
    
	
Section 5.19.
    	
Covenant Termination
    	
64
    
	
Section 5.20.
    	
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries
    	
65
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 6
    	
 
    
	
SUCCESSORS
    	
65
    
	
Section 6.01.
    	
Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets
    	
65
    
	
Section 6.02.
    	
Successor Substituted
    	
67
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 7
    	
 
    
	
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
    	
67
    
	
Section 7.01.
    	
Events of Default
    	
67
    
	
Section 7.02.
    	
Acceleration
    	
69
    
	
Section 7.03.
    	
Other Remedies
    	
70
    
	
Section 7.04.
    	
Waiver of Past Defaults
    	
70
    
	
Section 7.05.
    	
Control by Majority
    	
70
    
	
Section 7.06.
    	
Limitation on Suits
    	
71
    
	
Section 7.07.
    	
Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment
    	
71
    
	
Section 7.08.
    	
Collection Suit by Trustee
    	
71
    
	
Section 7.09.
    	
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
    	
71
    
	
Section 7.10.
    	
Priorities
    	
72
    
	
Section 7.11.
    	
Undertaking for Costs
    	
72
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 8
    	
 
    
	
TRUSTEE  
    	
73
    
	
Section 8.01.
    	
Duties of Trustee
    	
73
    
	
Section 8.02.
    	
Rights of Trustee
    	
74
    


 

 

 

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Section 8.03.
    	
Individual Rights of Trustee
    	
75
    
	
Section 8.04.
    	
Trustee’s Disclaimer
    	
75
    
	
Section 8.05.
    	
Notice of Defaults
    	
75
    
	
Section 8.06.
    	
Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes
    	
75
    
	
Section 8.07.
    	
Compensation and Indemnity
    	
76
    
	
Section 8.08.
    	
Replacement of Trustee
    	
77
    
	
Section 8.09.
    	
Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
    	
78
    
	
Section 8.10.
    	
Eligibility; Disqualification
    	
78
    
	
Section 8.11.
    	
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers
    	
78
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 9
    	
 
    
	
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT   DEFEASANCE
    	
78
    
	
Section 9.01.
    	
Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
    	
78
    
	
Section 9.02.
    	
Legal Defeasance and Discharge
    	
78
    
	
Section 9.03.
    	
Covenant Defeasance
    	
79
    
	
Section 9.04.
    	
Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance
    	
79
    
	
Section 9.05.
    	
Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in   Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions
    	
81
    
	
Section 9.06.
    	
Repayment to Issuers
    	
81
    
	
Section 9.07.
    	
Reinstatement
    	
82
    
	
Section 9.08.
    	
Discharge
    	
82
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 10
    	
 
    
	
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
    	
83
    
	
Section 10.01.
    	
Without Consent of Holders of Notes
    	
83
    
	
Section 10.02.
    	
With Consent of Holders of Notes
    	
84
    
	
Section 10.03.
    	
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act
    	
85
    
	
Section 10.04.
    	
Effect of Consents
    	
86
    
	
Section 10.05.
    	
Notation on or Exchange of Notes
    	
86
    
	
Section 10.06.
    	
Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
    	
86
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 11
    	
 
    
	
GUARANTEES OF NOTES
    	
86
    
	
Section 11.01.
    	
Guarantees
    	
86
    
	
Section 11.02.
    	
Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on   Certain Terms
    	
87
    
	
Section 11.03.
    	
Releases of Subsidiary Guarantees
    	
88
    
	
Section 11.04.
    	
Limitation on Subsidiary Guarantor Liability
    	
88
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 12
    	
 
    
	
MISCELLANEOUS
    	
89
    
	
Section 12.01.
    	
Trust Indenture Act Controls
    	
89
    
	
Section 12.02.
    	
Notices
    	
89
    
	
Section 12.03.
    	
Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of   Notes
    	
90
    
	
Section 12.04.
    	
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent
    	
90
    
	
Section 12.05.
    	
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion
    	
90
    
	
Section 12.06.
    	
Rules by Trustee and Agents
    	
91
    
	
Section 12.07.
    	
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and   Unitholders
    	
91
    
	
Section 12.08.
    	
Business Days
    	
91
    


 

iv











 

	
Section 12.09.
    	
Governing Law
    	
91
    
	
Section 12.10.
    	
No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements
    	
91
    
	
Section 12.11.
    	
Successors
    	
92
    
	
Section 12.12.
    	
Severability
    	
92
    
	
Section 12.13.
    	
Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
    	
92
    
	
Section 12.14.
    	
Counterparts
    	
92
    
	
Section 12.15.
    	
Acts of Holders
    	
92
    
	
Section 12.16.
    	
Patriot Act
    	
94
    


 

v











 

EXHIBITS

 

	
EXHIBIT A
    	
Form of   Note
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
EXHIBIT B
    	
Form of   Supplemental Indenture
    


 

vi












 

This First Supplemental Indenture, dated as July 15, 2014 (the “Supplemental Indenture”), is among Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Summit Midstream Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”), Summit Midstream Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Parent”), the subsidiary guarantors listed on the signature pages hereof (each, a “Subsidiary Guarantor,” collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors” and together with the Parent, the “Guarantors”) and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as trustee under the Indenture, dated as of July 15, 2014, among the Issuers and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture” and, as amended and supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture in respect of the Notes, the “Indenture”).

 

The Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Issuers’ Initial Notes and Additional Notes:

 

RECITALS

 

The Issuers and the Guarantors have duly authorized, executed and delivered the Base Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Issuers’ debentures, notes or other debt instruments (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series, which Securities may be guaranteed by each of the Guarantors, as the Base Indenture provides.

 

Section 9.1(i) of the Base Indenture provides that the Issuers and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture, without the consent of any Holders of Securities, to establish the form or terms of any Security as permitted by the Base Indenture.

 

Pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the Base Indenture, the Issuers desire to execute this Supplemental Indenture to establish the form and terms, and to provide for the issuance, of a series of senior notes designated as 51⁄2% Senior Notes due 2022 in an initial aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000 (the “Initial Notes”).

 

From time to time subsequent to the Initial Issuance Date, the Issuers may, if permitted to do so pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Initial Notes and the terms of their other indebtedness existing on such future date, issue additional senior notes of the same series as the Initial Notes in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture (the “Additional Notes” and, together with the Initial Notes, the “Notes”), pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture.

 

The Issuers and the Guarantors are members of the same consolidated group of companies.  The Guarantors will derive direct and indirect economic benefit from the issuance of the Securities.  Accordingly, each Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture to provide for its full, unconditional and joint and several Guarantee of the Notes to the extent provided in or pursuant to the Indenture.

 

This Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required to be a part of this Supplemental Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

 

The Issuers and Guarantors have done all things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Issuers and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the Issuers, the valid obligations of the Issuers and to make the Guarantees thereof, when the Notes have been executed by the Issuers and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the 

 

1











 

Issuers, the valid obligations of the Guarantors.  The Issuers and Guarantors have done all things necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of each of the Issuers and the Guarantors, in accordance with its terms.

 

ARTICLE 1
 APPLICATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
 AND CREATION OF THE INITIAL NOTES

 

Section 1.01.                          Application of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, including as provided in Section 1.02 below, are expressly and solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes and the Note Guarantees and shall not apply to any other series of Securities that may be issued hereafter  under the Base Indenture.  The Notes constitute a series of Securities (as defined in the Base Indenture) as provided in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the Base Indenture.  Unless otherwise expressly specified, references in this Supplemental Indenture to specific Article numbers or Section numbers refer to Articles and Sections contained in this Supplemental Indenture, and not the Base Indenture or any other document.

 

Section 1.02.                          Effect of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

With respect to the Notes (and any notation of Note Guarantee endorsed thereon) only, the Base Indenture shall be supplemented and amended pursuant to Section 9.1 thereof to establish the form and terms of the Notes (and any notation of Note Guarantee endorsed thereon) as set forth in this Supplemental Indenture, including as follows:

 

(1)                                 Definitions.  The provisions of Article I of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article 2 of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(2)                                 Security Forms.  The provisions of Article II of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article 3 of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(3)                                 Redemption.  The provisions of Article III of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article 4 of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(4)                                 Covenants.  The provisions of Article IV of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article 5 of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(5)                                 Successors.  The provisions of Article V of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article 6 of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(6)                                 Defaults and Remedies.  The provisions of Article VI of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article 7 of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(7)                                 The Trustee.  The provisions of Article VII of the Base Indenture are deleted in their entirety by the provisions of Article 8 of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(8)                                 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance.  The provisions of Article VIII of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article 8 of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

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(9)                                 Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of Article IX of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article 10 of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(10)                          Guarantees.  Certain of the provisions relating to the Guarantees of the Notes are set forth in Article 11 of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

(11)                          Miscellaneous Provisions.  The provisions of Article X of the Base Indenture are deleted and replaced in their entirety by the provisions of Article 12 of this Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(12)                          Sinking Fund. The provisions of Article XI of the Base Indenture are deleted in their entirety.

 

To the extent that the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture (including those referred to in clauses (1) through (12) above) conflict with any provision of the Base Indenture, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall govern and be controlling, but solely with respect to the Notes (and any notation of Guarantee endorsed thereon).

 

ARTICLE 2
 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION 
 BY REFERENCE

 

Section 2.01.                          Definitions.

 

“Acquired Debt” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1)                                 Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person was merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person, but excluding Indebtedness which is extinguished, retired or repaid in connection with such Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person; and

 

(2)                                 Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

 

“Additional Notes” means, subject to the Company’s compliance with Section 5.09, 51⁄2% Senior Notes due 2022 issued from time to time after the Initial Issuance Date under the terms of this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 3.06, 3.07, 3.09 or 4.06 of this Indenture).

 

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person.  For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided, however, that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control by the other Person.  For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

 

3











 

“Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

 

“Agent Members” has the meaning provided in the Appendix.

 

“Applicable Law,” except as the context may otherwise require, means all applicable laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, judgments, decrees, injunctions, writs and orders of any court or governmental or congressional agency or authority and rules, regulations, orders, licenses and permits of any United States federal, state, municipal, regional, or other governmental body, instrumentality, agency or authority.

 

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in a Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer and exchange.

 

“Asset Sale” means:

 

(1)                                 the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any properties or assets (including by way of a sale and leaseback transaction); provided, however, that the disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of Section 5.15 and/or the provisions of Section 6.01 and not by the provisions of Section 5.10; and

 

(2)                                 the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Parent’s Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items will not be deemed to be Asset Sales:

 

(1)                                 any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves properties or assets having a fair market value of less than $25.0 million;

 

(2)                                 a transfer of properties or assets between or among any of the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries,

 

(3)                                 an issuance or sale of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent to the Parent or to another of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(4)                                 the sale, lease or other disposition of equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other properties or assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

(5)                                 the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents, Hedging Contracts or other financial instruments in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6)                                 a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 5.07 or a Permitted Investment;

 

(7)                                 the creation or perfection of a Lien that is not prohibited by Section 5.12;

 

(8)                                 dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;

 

4











 

(9)                                 surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

 

(10)                          the grant in the ordinary course of business of any non-exclusive license of patents, trademarks, registrations therefor and other similar intellectual property;

 

(11)                          the sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Parent; and

 

(12)                          an Asset Swap.

 

“Asset Swap” means any substantially contemporaneous (and in any event occurring within 180 days of each other) purchase and sale or exchange of any assets or properties (other than Capital Stock) used or useful in a Permitted Business between the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any cash received must be applied in accordance with Section 5.10 as if the Asset Swap were an Asset Sale.

 

“Attributable Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended.  Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP.  As used in the preceding sentence, the “net rental payments” under any lease for any such period shall mean the sum of rental and other payments required to be paid with respect to such period by the lessee thereunder, excluding any amounts required to be paid by such lessee on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges.  In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon payment of penalty, such net rental payment shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated.

 

“Available Cash” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

 

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, as may be amended from time to time, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

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

 

“Board of Directors” means:

 

(1)                                 with respect to Finance Corp., its board of directors;

 

5











 

(2)                                 with respect to the Company or the Parent, the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any authorized committee thereof; and

 

(3)                                 with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the applicable Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

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

 

“Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Capital Stock” means:

 

(1)                                 in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(2)                                 in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(3)                                 in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

 

(4)                                 any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person (excluding debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock).

 

“Cash Equivalents” means:

 

(1)                                 United States dollars;

 

(2)                                 securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition;

 

(3)                                 marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition thereof, having a credit rating of “A” or better from either S&P or Moody’s;

 

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(4)                                 certificates of deposit, demand deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

 

(5)                                 repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3) and (4) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;

 

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

 

(7)                                 money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition.

 

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

 

(1)                                 the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets (including Capital Stock of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Parent) of the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act);

 

(2)                                 the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Parent or the Company or removal of the General Partner by the limited partners of the Parent;

 

(3)                                 the consummation of any transaction (including any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), excluding the Qualifying Owners, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Parent or the General Partner, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like;

 

(4)                                 the consummation of any transaction (including any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), excluding the Qualifying Owners, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of Summit LLC, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like, at a time when Summit LLC Beneficially Owns a majority of the Voting Stock of the General Partner; or

 

(5)                                 the consummation of any transaction whereby the Parent ceases to own directly or indirectly 100% of the Capital Stock of the Company.

 

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Notwithstanding the preceding, a conversion of the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from a limited partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other form of entity to a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership or other form of entity or an exchange of all of the outstanding Equity Interests in one form of entity for Equity Interests in another form of entity shall not constitute a Change of Control, so long as following such conversion or exchange the “persons” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) who Beneficially Owned the Capital Stock of the Parent immediately prior to such transactions continue to Beneficially Own in the aggregate more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity, or continue to Beneficially Own sufficient Equity Interests in such entity to elect a majority of its directors, managers, trustees or other persons serving in a similar capacity for such entity or its general partner, as applicable, and, in either case no “person” Beneficially Owns more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity or its general partner, as applicable.

 

In addition, a Change of Control shall not occur as a result of (i) a merger between the Parent and the General Partner or (ii) any transaction in which the Company remains a Subsidiary of the Parent but one or more intermediate holding companies between the Company and the Parent are added, liquidated, merged or consolidated out of existence.

 

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control that is accompanied or followed by a downgrade by one or more gradations (including gradations within ratings categories as well as between ratings categories) or withdrawal of the rating of the Notes within the Ratings Decline Period by at least two of the Rating Agencies, as a result of which the rating of the notes on any day during such Ratings Decline Period is below the rating by such Rating Agency in effect immediately preceding the first public announcement of the Change of Control (or occurrence thereof if such Change of Control occurs prior to public announcement).

 

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, or any successor securities clearing agency.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

“Commission” or “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Company” means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture or any successor or assign pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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

 

(1)                                 an amount equal to any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(2)                                 provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

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(3)                                 consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts, to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(4)                                 depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period), impairment, non-cash equity based compensation expense and other non-cash items (excluding any such non-cash item to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation and amortization, impairment and other non-cash items that were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(5)                                 unrealized non-cash losses resulting from foreign currency balance sheet adjustments required by GAAP to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(6)                                 all extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items of gain or loss, or revenue or expense and, without duplication, Transaction Costs; plus

 

(7)                                 the amount of any minority interest expense deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(8)                                 any costs or expenses incurred by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity plan or option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Person or net cash proceeds of issuance of Equity Interests of the Person (other than Disqualified Stock); minus

 

(9)                                 non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than items that were accrued in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP, provided that:

 

(1)                                 the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included, 

 

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but only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;

 

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

 

(3)                                 the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded;

 

(4)                                 any gain (loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any property, plant or equipment of such Person or its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any sale and 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 or any Person will be excluded;

 

(5)                                 unrealized losses and gains under derivative instruments included in the determination of Consolidated Net Income, including those resulting from the application of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 815 will be excluded;

 

(6)                                 any nonrecurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write off of deferred finance costs or other charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be excluded; and

 

(7)                                 any increase or decrease in the amount of deferred revenue recorded on the Parent’s balance sheet for such period (as compared with the preceding period) will be included.

 

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, with respect to any Person at any date of determination, the aggregate amount of total assets included in such Person’s most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP less applicable reserves reflected in such balance sheet, after deducting the following amounts:  (a) all current liabilities reflected in such balance sheet, and (b) all goodwill, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discounts and expenses and other like intangibles reflected in such balance sheet.

 

“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” means the office of the Trustee in the City of Houston at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 5555 San Felipe, Suite 1150, Houston, Texas 77056, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuers, or the principal corporate trust office in the City of Houston of any successor Trustee (or such other address as a successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuers).

 

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“Credit Agreement” means that certain Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2013, among the Company and the other loan parties party thereto, The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time.

 

“Credit Facilities” means one or more debt facilities (including the Credit Agreement), indentures or commercial paper facilities, in each case, with banks or other institutional lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, capital market financings, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination nor otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

 

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

 

“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 3.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend set forth in Section 3.06(f) and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 3.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

 

“Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Parent) of non-cash consideration received by the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

 

“Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Parent to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such

 

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Capital Stock provide that the Parent may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 5.07.

 

“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

 

“Equity Offering” means (i) any public or private sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) made for cash on a primary basis by the Parent after the date of this Indenture or (ii) any contribution to capital of the Parent in respect of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, excluding in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) any sale to or contribution by any Subsidiary of the Parent.

 

“Euroclear” means the Euroclear System or any successor securities clearing agency.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Existing Indebtedness” means the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement which is considered incurred under the first paragraph of Section 5.09 and other than intercompany indebtedness) in existence on the date of this Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.

 

The term “fair market value” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Parent in the case of amounts of $50.0 million or more and otherwise by an Officer of the General Partner.

 

“FERC Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent that is subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (or any successor thereof).

 

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means with respect to any specified Person for any four-quarter reference period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period.  In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the applicable four-quarter reference period and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the beginning of such period.

 

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

 

(1)                                 acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers, consolidations or otherwise

 

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(including acquisitions of assets used in a Permitted Business), and including in each case any related financing transactions (including repayment of Indebtedness) during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period, including any Consolidated Cash Flow and any pro forma expense and cost reductions or operating improvements and synergies that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur within the next 12 months, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of such Person or of its general partner, if applicable (regardless of whether those cost savings or operating improvements could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the Commission related thereto);

 

(2)                                 the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded;

 

(3)                                 the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date; and

 

(4)                                 interest income reasonably anticipated by such Person to be received during the applicable four-quarter period from cash or Cash Equivalents held by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, which cash or Cash Equivalents exist on the Calculation Date or will exist as a result of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, will be included.

 

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

 

(1)                                 the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (including amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts; plus

 

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

 

(3)                                 any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such

 

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Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

 

(4)                                 all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Parent (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person,

 

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

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are in effect on the date of this Indenture.

 

“General Partner” means Summit Midstream GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of the Parent or as the business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of the Parent.

 

“Global Note” means a Note in global form registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, and that bears the Global Note Legend set forth in Section 3.06(f) and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, issued in accordance with Sections 3.01, 3.06(b), 3.06(c), 3.06(d) or 3.06(e) hereof.

 

“Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged.

 

“Guarantee” means the guarantees of the Notes by the Guarantors.

 

The term “guarantee” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including by way of a pledge of assets, acting as co-obligor or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness.  When used as a verb, “guarantee” has a correlative meaning.

 

“Guarantors” means the Parent and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

“Hedging Contracts” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1)                                 interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

 

(2)                                 foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency exchanges rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;

 

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(3)                                 any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of Hydrocarbons used, produced, processed or sold by that Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time; and

 

(4)                                 other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates.

 

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

 

“Hydrocarbons” means crude oil, natural gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all constituents, elements or compounds thereof and products refined or processed therefrom.

 

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

 

(1)                                 in respect of borrowed money;

 

(2)                                 evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments;

 

(3)                                 in respect of all outstanding letters of credit issued for the account of such Person that support obligations that constitute Indebtedness (provided that the amount of such letters of credit included in Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of the Indebtedness being supported) and, without duplication, the unreimbursed amount of all drafts drawn under letters of credit issued for the account of such Person;

 

(4)                                 in respect of bankers’ acceptances;

 

(5)                                 representing Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(6)                                 representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or

 

(7)                                 representing any obligations under Hedging Contracts,

 

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and obligations under Hedging Contracts) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.  In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person.  For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Indebtedness” excludes any obligation arising from any agreement providing for indemnities, purchase price adjustments, holdbacks, contingency payment obligations based on the performance of the acquired or disposed assets or similar obligations (other than guarantees of Indebtedness) incurred by the specified Person in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets.

 

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The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

 

(1)                                 the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;

 

(2)                                 in the case of obligations under any Hedging Contracts, the termination value of the agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligations that would be payable by such Person at such date; and

 

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

 

“Indenture” has the meaning attributed thereto in the first paragraph of this Supplemental Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

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

 

“Initial Issuance Date” means July 15, 2014.

 

“Initial Notes” means the $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.

 

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

 

“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding (1) commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business and (2) advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.  If the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent, the Parent will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 5.07.  The acquisition by the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment made by the Parent or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investment held by the acquired Person in such third Person on the date of any such acquisition in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 5.07.

 

“Joint Venture” means any Person that is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Parent in which the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries makes any Investment.

 

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“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under Applicable Law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction other than a precautionary financing statement respecting a lease not intended as a security agreement.

 

“Make Whole Premium” means, with respect to a Note at any time, the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such time of (i) the redemption price of such Note at August 15, 2017 set forth in the table in Section 4.07(a) plus (ii) any required interest payments due on such Note through August 15, 2017 (except for currently accrued and unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), over (b) the principal amount of such Note.

 

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

 

“Net Income” means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:

 

(1)                                 any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person; and

 

(2)                                 any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss).

 

“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:

 

(1)                                 the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, severance costs and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale,

 

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

 

(3)                                 amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the properties or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale, and

 

(4)                                 any amounts to be set aside in any reserve established in accordance with GAAP or any amount placed in escrow, in either case for adjustment in respect of the

 

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sale price of such properties or assets or for liabilities associated with such Asset Sale and retained by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries until such time as such reserve is reversed or such escrow arrangement is terminated, in which case Net Proceeds shall include only the amount of the reserve so reversed or the amount returned to the Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries from such escrow arrangement, as the case may be.

 

“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness:

 

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

 

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

 

(3)                                 as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the Capital Stock or assets of the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries except as contemplated by clause (9) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with Section 5.09, in the event that any Non-Recourse Debt of any of the Parent’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event will be deemed to constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent.

 

“Notes” has the meaning assigned to it in the Recitals to this Supplemental Indenture.  The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes.

 

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

 

“Obligations” means any principal, premium, if any, interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), penalties, fees, charges, expenses, indemnifications, reimbursement obligations, damages, guarantees, and other liabilities or amounts payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness or in respect thereto.

 

“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the General Counsel, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice President of such Person or, with respect to the Company, the General Partner, or, with respect to any other partnership, its general partner.

 

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“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of each of the Company and Finance Corp. by two of its Officers, one of whom, in the case of any Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.04, must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, or the principal accounting officer of the Company or Finance Corp., as the case may be, that, in each case, meets the requirements of Section 12.05 hereof.

 

“Operating Surplus” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 12.05 hereof.  The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.

 

“Parent” means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture or any successor or assign pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

“Pari Passu Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Excess Proceeds from Asset Sales, Indebtedness of an Issuer or any Guarantor that ranks equally in right of payment with the Notes or the Guarantees, as the case may be, and the terms of which require the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to apply such Excess Proceeds to offer to repurchase such Indebtedness.

 

“Participant” mean, with respect to the Depository, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to the DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).

 

“Partnership Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Parent dated as of October 3, 2012 as in effect on the date of the indenture and as such may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

 

“Permitted Business” means either (1) gathering, transporting, compressing, treating, processing, marketing, distributing, storing or otherwise handling Hydrocarbons, or activities or services reasonably related or ancillary thereto including entering into Hedging Contracts in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes to support these businesses and the development, manufacture and sale of equipment or technology related to these activities, or (2) any other business that generates gross income that constitutes “qualifying income” under Section 7704(d) of the Code.

 

“Permitted Business Investments” means Investments by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Parent or in any Joint Venture, provided that:

 

(1)                                 either (a) at the time of such Investment and immediately thereafter, the Parent could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 5.09 or (b) such Investment does not exceed the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds (as defined in Section 5.07) not previously expended at the time of making such Investment;

 

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(2)                                 if such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture has outstanding Indebtedness at the time of such Investment, either (a) all such Indebtedness is Non-Recourse Debt or (b) any such Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture that is recourse to the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (which shall include all Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture for which the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may be directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, obligated to pay, whether pursuant to the terms of such Indebtedness, by law or pursuant to any guarantee, including any “claw-back,” “make-well” or “keep-well” arrangement) could, at the time such Investment is made, be incurred at that time by the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 5.09; and

 

(3)                                 such Unrestricted Subsidiary’s or Joint Venture’s activities are not outside the scope of the Permitted Business.

 

“Permitted Investments” means:

 

(1)                                 any Investment in the Parent (including through purchases of Notes) or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent;

 

(2)                                 any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

 

(3)                                 any Investment by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:

 

(a)                                 such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent; or

 

(b)                                 such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its properties or assets to, or is liquidated into, the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent;

 

(4)                                 any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 5.10;

 

(5)                                 any Investment in any Person solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Parent; provided such Investment is not included in clause (b) of the definition of Incremental Funds in Section 5.07;

 

(6)                                 any Investments received in compromise of obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer, or as a result of a foreclosure by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

(7)                                 Hedging Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(8)                                 Permitted Business Investments; and

 

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(9)                                 other Investments in any Person having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at the time outstanding, do not exceed the greater of $100.0 million or 7.5% of the Parent’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

 

“Permitted Liens” means:

 

(1)                                 any Lien with respect to the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Facilities permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;

 

(2)                                 Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors;

 

(3)                                 Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof) other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Parent or the Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)                                 Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition;

 

(5)                                 any interest or title of a lessor to the property subject to a Capital Lease Obligation that was incurred pursuant to clause (4) of the definition of Permitted Debt;

 

(6)                                 Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or Capital Lease Obligations, purchase money obligations or other payments incurred to finance the acquisition, lease, improvement or construction of or repairs or additions to, 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 of the later of the acquisition, lease, completion of improvements, construction, repairs or additions or commencement of full operation of the assets or property subject to such Lien and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto;

 

(7)                                 Liens existing on the date of this Indenture;

 

(8)                                 Liens to secure the performance of tenders, bids, statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, trade contracts, government contracts, operating leases,

 

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performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(9)                                 Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Joint Venture owned by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt or other Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture;

 

(10)                          Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law;

 

(11)                          Liens arising under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farmout agreements, division orders, contracts for sale, transportation or exchange of crude oil and natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements arising in the ordinary course of business of the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are customary in the Permitted Business;

 

(12)                          Liens upon specific items of inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds of the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or receivables securitizations issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds and permitted by Section 5.09;

 

(13)                          Liens securing Obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes or the Guarantees, as the case may be;

 

(14)                          Liens securing any Indebtedness equally and ratably with all Obligations due under the Notes or any Guarantee pursuant to a contractual covenant that limits Liens in a manner substantially similar to Section 5.12;

 

(15)                          Liens to secure performance of Hedging Contracts of the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(16)                          Liens securing any insurance premium financing under customary terms and conditions, provided that no such Lien may extend to or cover any assets or property other than the insurance being acquired with such financing, the proceeds thereof and any unearned or refunded insurance premiums related thereto;

 

(17)                          other Liens incurred by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness then outstanding and secured by any Liens incurred pursuant to this clause (17) does not exceed the greater of $100.0 million or 7.5% of the Parent’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and

 

(18)                          any Lien renewing, extending, refinancing or refunding a Lien permitted by clauses (3) and (4) above, provided that (a) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien is not increased except by an amount equal to a reasonable

 

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premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection therewith and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (b) no assets encumbered by any such Lien other than the assets permitted to be encumbered immediately prior to such renewal, extension, refinance or refund are encumbered thereby (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof).

 

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

 

(1)                                 the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith);

 

(2)                                 such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;

 

(3)                                 if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantees on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and

 

(4)                                 such Indebtedness is not incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent (other than the Company, Finance Corp. or a Subsidiary Guarantor) if the Parent, the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor is the issuer or other primary obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, any Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Agreement pursuant to Section 5.09 shall be subject only to the refinancing provision in the definition of Credit Facilities and not pursuant to the requirements set forth in the definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

 

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

 

“Prospectus Supplement” means the Prospectus Supplement of the Issuers dated July 9, 2014 relating to the offering of the Initial Notes.

 

“Qualifying Owners” means the collective reference to (i) Energy Capital Partners II, LP, Energy Capital Partners II-A, L.P., Energy Capital Partners II-B IP, LP, Energy Capital Partners

 

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II-C (Summit IP), LP, Energy Capital Partners II (Summit Co-Invest), LP and each of their Affiliated funds and investment vehicles and any fund manager, general partner, managing member or principal of any of the foregoing; (ii) the officers, directors and management employees of Parent, the Company and the subsidiaries of Parent; and (iii) any Person controlled by any of the Persons described in any of the clauses (i) or (ii).

 

“Rating Agencies” means Moody’s and S&P or, if Moody’s or S&P or both shall not make a rating of the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company, which shall be substituted for Moody’s or S&P or both, as the case may be.

 

“Ratings Decline Period” means the period that (i) begins on the occurrence of a Change of Control and (ii) ends 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control.

 

“Remaining Present Value” means, as of any date with respect to any lease, the present value as of such date of the scheduled future lease payments with respect to such lease, determined with a discount rate equal to a market rate of interest for such lease reasonably determined at the time such lease was entered into.

 

“Reporting Default” means a Default described in Section 7.01(d).

 

“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee  having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

“Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.  Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, the Company and Finance Corp. shall at all times be Restricted Subsidiaries of the Parent.  Unless specified otherwise, references herein to a Restricted Subsidiary refer to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent.

 

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

 

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property owned by the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary on the Initial Issuance Date or thereafter acquired by the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person.

 

“SEC” or “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

“Senior Debt” means:

 

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(1)                                 all Indebtedness of the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding under the Credit Agreement and all obligations under Hedging Contracts with respect thereto;

 

(2)                                 any other Indebtedness of the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Guarantee; and

 

(3)                                 all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1) and (2).

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, Senior Debt will not include:

 

(a)                                 any intercompany Indebtedness of the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Parent or any of its Affiliates; or

 

(b)                                 any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, “Senior Debt” will not include any trade payables or taxes owed or owing by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(1)                                 any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

(2)                                 any partnership (whether general or limited) or limited liability company (a) the sole general partner or member of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, or (b) if there is more than a single general partner or member, either (x) the only managing general partners or managing members of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof) or (y) such Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a majority of the outstanding general partner interests,

 

25











 

member interests or other Voting Stock of such partnership or limited liability company, respectively.

 

“Subsidiary Guarantees” means the joint and several guarantees issued by all of the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to Article 11 hereof.

 

“Subsidiary Guarantors” means each of (a) the Subsidiaries of the Parent, other than the Company and Finance Corp., executing this Indenture as initial Subsidiary Guarantors, (b) any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent that executes a supplement to this Indenture in accordance with Section 5.13 or 11.02 hereof and (c) the respective successors and assigns of such Restricted Subsidiaries, as required under Article 11 hereof, in each case until such time as any such Restricted Subsidiary shall be released and relieved of its obligations pursuant to Section 9.02, 9.03 or 11.03 hereof.

 

“Summit LLC” means Summit Midstream Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) and the rules and regulations thereunder, as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA (except as provided in Section 10.01(i) and 10.03 hereof).

 

“Transaction Costs” means any legal, professional and advisory fees or other transaction costs and expenses paid (whether or not incurred) by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with (i) any acquisitions by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) any incurrence of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary or any refinancing thereof, or any issuance of other equity securities or (iii) any reorganization or recapitalization of the capital structure of the Parent, the Company or the General Partner or Subsidiaries thereof, in each case permitted under the indenture.

 

“Treasury Rate” means the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the date fixed for redemption (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to August 15, 2017; provided, however, that if such period is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Company shall obtain the Treasury Rate by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to August 15, 2017 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.  The Company will (a) calculate the Treasury Rate on the second Business Day preceding the applicable redemption date and (b) prior to such redemption date file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Make Whole Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

 

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“Trustee” means U.S. Bank National Association, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

 

“Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

 

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Parent (other than Finance Corp. or the Company) that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Parent as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

 

(1)                                 except to the extent permitted by subclause (2)(b) of the definition of “Permitted Business Investments,” has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt owing to any Person other than the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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

 

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

 

(4)                                 has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

All Subsidiaries of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall also be Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Parent as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 5.07.  If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 5.09, the Parent will be in default of such covenant.

 

“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

 

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(1)                                 the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

 

(2)                                 the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

 

Section 2.02.                          Other Definitions.

 

	
Term
    	
 
    	
Defined in Section
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Act”
    	
 
    	
12.14
    
	
“Affiliate   Transaction”
    	
 
    	
5.11
    
	
“Alternate   Offer”
    	
 
    	
5.15
    
	
“Asset   Sale Offer”
    	
 
    	
4.09
    
	
“Authentication   Order”
    	
 
    	
3.02
    
	
“Change   of Control Offer”
    	
 
    	
5.15
    
	
“Change   of Control Payment”
    	
 
    	
5.15
    
	
“Change   of Control Purchase Date”
    	
 
    	
5.15
    
	
“Change   of Control Settlement Date”
    	
 
    	
5.15
    
	
“Covenant   Defeasance”
    	
 
    	
9.03
    
	
“Discharge”
    	
 
    	
9.08
    
	
“DTC”
    	
 
    	
3.03
    
	
“Event   of Default”
    	
 
    	
7.01
    
	
“Excess   Proceeds”
    	
 
    	
5.10
    
	
“Incremental   Funds”
    	
 
    	
5.07
    
	
“incur”
    	
 
    	
5.09
    
	
“Legal   Defeasance”
    	
 
    	
9.02
    
	
“Offer   Amount”
    	
 
    	
4.09
    
	
“Offer   Period”
    	
 
    	
4.09
    
	
“Paying   Agent”
    	
 
    	
3.03
    
	
“Payment   Default”
    	
 
    	
7.01
    
	
“Permitted   Debt”
    	
 
    	
5.09
    
	
“Registrar”
    	
 
    	
3.03
    
	
“Restricted   Payments”
    	
 
    	
5.07
    
	
“Settlement   Date”
    	
 
    	
4.09
    
	
“Termination   Date”
    	
 
    	
4.09
    
	
“Trailing   Four Quarters”
    	
 
    	
5.07
    


 

Section 2.03.                          Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.  Any terms incorporated in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

 

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Section 2.04.                          Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

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

 

(3)                                 “or” is not exclusive;

 

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

 

(5)                                 the meanings of the words “will” and “shall” are the same when used to express an obligation;

 

(6)                                 references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time;

 

(7)                                 “including” shall be interpreted to mean “including, without limitation,” and the use of the word “including” followed by specific examples shall not be construed as limiting the meaning of the general wording preceding it; and

 

(8)                                 “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole (as amended or supplemented from time to time) and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

 

ARTICLE 3
 THE NOTES

 

Section 3.01.                          Form and Dating.

 

(a) General.  The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.  The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage.  Each Note will be dated the date of its authentication.  The Notes shall be in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Supplemental Indenture and the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.  However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

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(b) Global Notes.  Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto).  Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto).  Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will be specified therein and each represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.  Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 3.06 hereof.

 

Section 3.02.                          Execution and Authentication.

 

An Officer of the Company shall sign the Notes on behalf of each Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.

 

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

 

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.

 

On the Initial Issuance Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver $300.0 million of 51⁄2% Senior Notes due 2022 and, at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Notes for original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in such order, in each case upon a written order of the Issuers (the “Authentication Order”).  Such Authentication Order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and to whom the Notes shall be registered and delivered and, in the case of an issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 3.13 after the Initial Issuance Date, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 5.09.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Issuers to authenticate the Notes.  Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so.  Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent.  An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

 

Section 3.03.                          Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency in the United States where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency in New York, New York where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”).  The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange.  The Issuers may

 

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have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents.  The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

 

The Issuers shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA.  The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent.  The Issuers shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent.  If the Issuers fail to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 8.07.  The Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

The Issuers initially appoint The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.  The Issuers initially appoint the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Notes at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.  If the Trustee is no longer the Registrar and Paying Agent, the Issuers shall provide the Trustee with access to inspect the Note register at all times and with copies of the Note register.

 

Section 3.04.                          Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

Prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on each due date of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on any Note, an Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, and interest when so becoming due.  The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuers in making any such payment.  If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund.  The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent.  Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

 

Section 3.05.                          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 Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders and the principal amounts and number of Notes.

 

Section 3.06.                          Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a)                         Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.

 

A Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.  All beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be exchanged by the

 

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Issuers for Definitive Notes if:

 

(1)           the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;

 

(2)           the Issuers, at their option but subject to DTC’s requirements, determine that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and deliver a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; or

 

(3)           there has occurred and is continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Notes, and the Depositary notifies the Trustee of its decision to exchange the Global Notes for Definitive Notes.

 

Upon the occurrence of the preceding events in (1), (2) or (3) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee.  Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 3.07 and 3.09 hereof.  Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 3.06 or Section 3.07 or Section 3.09 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note.  A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 3.06(a); however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 3.06(b) hereof.

 

(b)                         Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes.

 

The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures.

 

(1)           Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note.  Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Global Note.  No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 3.06(b)(1).

 

(2)           All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 3.06(b)(1), the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

 

(A) both:

 

(i)                                     a written order from a Participant or an Indirect

 

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Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

 

(ii)                                  instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or

 

(B) both:

 

(i)                                     a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

 

(ii)                                  instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect such transfer or exchange.

 

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

 

If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.06(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 3.06(g) hereof, and the Issuers will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 3.06(c) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant.  The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.

 

(d)                         Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.

 

Other than following an exchange of beneficial interest in a Global Note for Definitive Notes as contemplated by Section 3.06(a)(2), a Holder of a Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note at any time.  Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Global Notes.

 

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(e)                          Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes.

 

Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.06(e), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes.  Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing.  A Holder of Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note.  Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Definitive Note pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

 

(f)                           Legends.

 

In addition to the legend appearing on the face of the form of the Notes in Exhibit A hereto relating to original issue discount, the following legend will appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

 

(1)           Global Note Legend.  Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.10 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUERS.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.  UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENTS FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY

 

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AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

 

(g)                          Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.

 

At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for beneficial interests in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 3.10 hereof.  At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

(h)                                 General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

 

(1)           To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 3.02 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.

 

(2)           No service charge will be made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 3.10, 4.06, 4.09, 5.10, 5.15 and 10.05 hereof).

 

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

 

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

 

(5)           Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers will be required:

 

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(A)              to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 4.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;

 

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

 

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

 

(6)       Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuers may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuers shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(7)       The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.02 hereof.

 

(8)       All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 3.06, or requested by the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.02, to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile or electronic image scan.

 

Section 3.07.                          Replacement Notes.

 

If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee.  If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Issuers and the Trustee to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced.  The Issuers and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note.  In the event any such Note shall have matured, instead of issuing a new Note, the Issuers may direct the Trustee to pay the same without surrender thereof upon the Holder furnishing the Issuers and the Trustee with indemnity satisfactory to them and complying with such other reasonable regulations as the Issuers may prescribe and paying such reasonable expenses as the Issuer and the Trustee may incur in connection therewith.

 

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuers.

 

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Section 3.08.                          Outstanding Notes.

 

Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.  Except as otherwise provided in TIA §316(a), a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

 

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 3.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee, any provider of an indemnity bond and the Issuers receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, by 11:00 a.m. New York time, on a redemption date or other maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

 

Section 3.09.                          Temporary Notes.

 

Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers 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 Issuers consider appropriate for temporary Notes.  Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes and deliver them in exchange for temporary Notes.

 

Section 3.10.                          Cancellation.

 

An Issuer 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 registration of transfer, exchange or payment.  The Trustee and no one else shall cancel (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation.  Upon written request, the Trustee will deliver a certificate of such cancellation to the Issuers unless the Issuers direct the Trustee to deliver canceled Notes to the Issuers instead.  The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes they have redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 3.11.                          Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Issuers shall pay defaulted interest (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner.  The Issuers may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date.  The Issuers shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail to each Holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

 

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Section 3.12.                          CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers and corresponding “ISINs” (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers and corresponding “ISINs” in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

 

Section 3.13.                          Issuance of Additional Notes.

 

The Issuers shall be entitled, subject to their compliance with Section 5.09, to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance, issue price and the date from which interest begins to accrue.  The Initial Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date, and any Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, consents, directions, declarations, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

 

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Issuers shall set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

 

(1)                                 the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture; and

 

(2)                                 the issue price, the issue date and the CUSIP number and any corresponding ISIN of such Additional Notes.

 

ARTICLE 4
 REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

Section 4.01.                          Notices to Trustee.

 

If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 4.07 hereof, they shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be agreeable to the Trustee) before the date of giving notice of the redemption pursuant to Section 4.03, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of Section 4.07 pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed, (iv) the redemption price or, if the redemption price is not then determinable, the manner in which it is to be determined, and (v) whether it requests the Trustee to give notice of such redemption.  Any such notice may be cancelled at any time prior to the mailing of notice of such redemption to any Holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.

 

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Section 4.02.                          Selection of Notes to be Redeemed.

 

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed among the Holders of the Notes as follows:  (1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed; or (2) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis (except that any Notes represented by a Global Note shall be selected by such method as the Depositary or its nominee or successor may require or, where such nominee or successor is the Trustee, a method that most nearly approximates pro rata selection as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate unless otherwise required by law).  In the event of partial redemption other than on a pro rata basis, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, not less than three (3) Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be agreeable to the Trustee) prior to the giving of notice of the redemption pursuant to Section 4.03, by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers and the Registrar in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.  Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not $2,000 or a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed.  Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs of this Section 4.02 shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a Global Note, whether such Global Note is to be redeemed in whole or in part.  In case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Global Note shall be in an authorized denomination.

 

Section 4.03.                          Notice of Redemption.

 

At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, except that redemption notices may be mailed, or with respect to Global Notes, delivered in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge, the Issuers shall mail or deliver or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, or delivered, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.

 

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

 

(a)                                 the redemption date;

 

(b)                                 the redemption price or, if the redemption price is not then determinable, the manner in which it is to be determined;

 

(c)                                  if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original Note;

 

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

 

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

 

(f)                                   that, unless the Issuers default in making such 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;

 

(g)                                  the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and

 

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

 

If any of the Notes to be redeemed is in the form of a Global Note, then the Issuers shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depositary applicable to redemption.

 

At the Issuers’ request, the Trustee shall give the notice of optional redemption in the Issuers’ names and at their expense; provided, however, that the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee, as provided in Section 4.01, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the second preceding paragraph.

 

Section 4.04.                          Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is delivered in accordance with Section 4.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price, subject to satisfaction of conditions permitted below.  Redemptions and notices of redemption may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be conditioned on one or more conditions precedent. The date of redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived, provided that in no event shall such date be delayed to a date later than 60 days after the date on which such notice was mailed. Such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the date of redemption or by the date of redemption as so delayed.  To effect a delay in the date of redemption or a rescission of redemption, the Issuers shall (i) furnish (within the time frames provided for in the next sentence) to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate identifying the redemption and notice of redemption being delayed or rescinded, as applicable, and setting forth the conditions precedent that were not satisfied or waived  and (ii) mail by first class mail or deliver, or cause to be mailed by first class mail or delivered, a notice of delay of redemption or a notice of rescission of redemption, as applicable, to each Holder whose Notes were to have been redeemed at its registered address.   If the Issuers will mail or deliver the notice of delay of redemption or the notice of rescission of redemption, as applicable, then the Officers’ Certificate shall be provided to the Trustee not less than one (1) Business Day prior to the date of redemption or delayed date of redemption, as applicable; if the Issuers request the Trustee to mail or deliver the notice of delay of redemption or the notice of rescission of

 

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redemption, as applicable, then the Officers’ Certificate shall be provided to the Trustee not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the date of redemption or delayed date of redemption, as applicable, and the Officers’  Certificate shall, in addition to the matters provided for in the preceding sentence, request that the Trustee give such notice and set forth the information to be stated in such notice.

 

If given in the manner provided for in Section 4.03, the notice of redemption shall be conclusively presumed to have been given whether or not a Holder receives such notice.  Failure to give timely notice or any defect in the notice shall not affect the validity of the redemption.

 

Section 4.05.                          Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

Prior to 11:00 a.m., Central time, on the redemption date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary thereof is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 4.04 hereof) money sufficient in same day funds to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed on that date.  The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Paying Agent by an Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed.

 

If the Issuers comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption whether or not such Notes are presented for payment, and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Notes shall be to receive payment of the redemption price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Notes redeemed.  If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of an Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful, on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 5.01 hereof.

 

Section 4.06.                          Notes Redeemed in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuers shall issue in the name of the Holder and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

 

Section 4.07.                          Optional Redemption.

 

(a)                                 On or after August 15, 2017, the Issuers may redeem all or a portion of the Notes at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed to, but not including, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on August 15 of the years indicated below:

 

	
YEAR
    	
 
    	
PERCENTAGE
    	
 
    
	
2017
    	
 
    	
104.125
    	
%
    
	
2018
    	
 
    	
102.750
    	
%
    


 

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2019
    	
 
    	
101.375
    	
%
    
	
2020 and thereafter
    	
 
    	
100.000
    	
%
    


 

(b)                                 At any time prior to August 15, 2017, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 105.500% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date), in an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings, provided that:

 

(1)                                 at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under this Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding any Notes held by the Parent and its Subsidiaries); and

 

(2)                                 the redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of each such Equity Offering.

 

(c)                                  Prior to August 15, 2017, the Issuers may redeem all or part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of:

 

(1)                                 the principal amount thereof, plus

 

(2)                                 the Make Whole Premium at the redemption date, plus

 

(3)                                 accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).

 

(d)                                 The Notes may also be redeemed, as a whole, following certain Change of Control Offers, at the redemption price and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5.15(6).

 

(e)                                  Any redemption pursuant to this Section 4.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.01 through Section 4.06 hereof.

 

Section 4.08.                          Mandatory Redemption.

 

Except as set forth under Sections 5.10 and 5.15 hereof, neither of the Issuers shall be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes or to repurchase the Notes at the option of the Holders.

 

Section 4.09.                          Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

 

In the event that, pursuant to Section 5.10 hereof, the Company shall be required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an “Asset Sale Offer”), it shall follow the procedures specified below.

 

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The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by Applicable Law (the “Offer Period”).  No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Settlement Date”), the Company shall purchase and pay for the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 5.10 hereof (the “Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn), all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) in response to the Asset Sale Offer.  Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the manner prescribed in the Notes.

 

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

 

(a)                                 that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.09 and Section 5.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain open, including the time and date the Asset Sale Offer will terminate (the “Termination Date”);

 

(b)                                 the Offer Amount and the purchase price;

 

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

 

(d)                                 that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrue interest on and after the Settlement Date;

 

(e)                                  that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may only elect to have all of such Note purchased and may not elect to have only a portion of such Note purchased;

 

(f)                                   that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer shall 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 Company or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice, before the Termination Date;

 

(g)                                  that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, prior to the Termination Date, an electronic image scan, facsimile transmission or letter 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;

 

(h)                                 that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders, and Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders or lenders, collectively, exceeds the amount the Company is required to repurchase, the Trustee shall select the Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis  (except that any Notes represented by a Global Note shall be selected by such method as the Depositary or its

 

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nominee or successor may require or, where such nominee or successor is the Trustee, a method that most nearly approximates pro rata selection as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate) on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustee so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, shall be purchased); and

 

(i)                                     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).

 

If any of the Notes subject to an Asset Sale Offer is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depositary applicable to repurchases.

 

Promptly after the Termination Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer in the aggregate principal amount required by Section 5.10 hereof, and prior to the Settlement Date it shall 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 4.09 and Section 5.10.  Prior to 11:00 a.m., Central time, on the Settlement Date, the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company shall issue a new Note, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered.  Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof.  The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or before the Settlement Date.

 

Section 4.10.                          Purchase of Notes.

 

The Company or any Affiliate of the Company may, subject to applicable law, at any time purchase or otherwise acquire Notes in the open market or by private agreement.  Any such acquisition shall not operate as or be deemed for any purpose to be a redemption of the indebtedness represented by such Notes.  Any Notes purchased or acquired by the Company may be delivered to the Trustee and, upon such delivery, the indebtedness represented thereby shall be deemed to be satisfied. Section 3.10 shall apply to all Notes so delivered.

 

ARTICLE 5
 COVENANTS

 

Section 5.01.                          Payment of Notes.

 

The Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes.  Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Parent or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 a.m., Central time, on the due date money deposited by an

 

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Issuer or a Guarantor in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

 

The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the rate equal to the interest rate then in effect on the Notes to the extent lawful; and they shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

Section 5.02.                          Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee) in New York, New York where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment and they shall maintain an office or agency in the United States (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served; provided, however, that the Company may, at its option, pay interest on the Notes by check mailed to Holders at their addresses as they appear in the Registrar’s books.  The Issuers 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 Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

The Issuers 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.  Further, if at any time there shall be no such office or agency in the City of New York where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, the Issuers shall forthwith designate and maintain such an office or agency in the City of New York, in order that the Notes shall at all times be payable in the City of New York.  The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

The Issuers hereby designate the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 3.03.  In addition, Notes may be presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange, and notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served, at the corporate trust office of the Trustee in Houston, Texas, which on the date of this Indenture is located at 5555 San Felipe, Suite 1150, Houston, Texas 77056.

 

Section 5.03.                          Reports.

 

(a)                                 Whether or not required by the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Parent will file with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations under the Exchange Act (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and will furnish to the Trustee and, upon its prior request, to any of the Holders or

 

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Beneficial Owners of the Notes, within five Business Days of filing, or attempting to file, the same with the SEC:

 

(1)                                 all quarterly and annual financial and other information with respect to the Parent and its Subsidiaries that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Parent were required to file such Forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual information only, a report on the annual financial statements by the Parent’s certified independent accountants; and

 

(2)                                 all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Parent were required to file such reports.

 

The availability of the foregoing information or reports on the Commission’s website will be deemed to satisfy the foregoing delivery requirements.

 

(b)                                 The Parent and the Guarantors shall furnish to the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Notes, prospective purchasers of the Notes and securities analysts, upon their request, the information, if any, required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

(c)                                  If the Parent has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then, to the extent material, the quarterly and annual financial information required by paragraph (a) of this Section 5.03 shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes to the financial statements and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

(d)                                 Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein.

 

Section 5.04.                          Compliance Certificate.

 

(a)                                 The Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after December 31, 2014, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Parent has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Parent has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

 

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(b)                                 The Issuers shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within ten Business Days of any Officer of the General Partner or Finance Corp. becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

Section 5.05.                          Taxes.

 

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

 

Section 5.06.                          Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

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

 

Section 5.07.                          Limitation on Restricted Payments.

 

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

 

(1)                                 declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Parent’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including  any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Parent’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Parent or payable to the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent);

 

(2)                                 purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Parent) any Equity Interests of the Parent or any direct or indirect parent of the Parent;

 

(3)                                 make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes or the Guarantees (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Parent and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), except a payment of interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof; or

 

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(4)                                 make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”),

 

unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, no Default (except a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment and either:

 

(1)                                 if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Parent’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (the “Trailing Four Quarters”) is not less than 1.75 to 1.0, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) of the next succeeding paragraph) with respect to the quarter for which such Restricted Payment is made, is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(a)                                 Available Cash from Operating Surplus with respect to the Parent’s preceding fiscal quarter, plus

 

(b)                                 100% of the aggregate net proceeds received by the Parent (including the fair market value of property or securities other than cash (including Capital Stock of Persons, other than the Parent or a Subsidiary of the Parent, engaged primarily in a Permitted Business) or long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business to the extent acquired in consideration of Equity Interests of the Parent (other than Disqualified Stock)) after June 17, 2013 as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Parent (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Parent that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent), plus

 

(c)                                  to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after June 17, 2013 is sold for cash or otherwise cancelled, liquidated or repaid for cash, the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any), plus

 

(d)                                 the net reduction in Restricted Investments resulting from dividends, repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of assets in each case to the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from any Person (including  Unrestricted Subsidiaries) or from redesignations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries, to the extent such amounts have not been included in Available Cash from Operating Surplus for any period commencing on or after June 17, 2013 (items (b), (c) and (d) being referred to as “Incremental Funds”), minus

 

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(e)                                  the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds previously expended pursuant to this clause (1) and clause (2) below; or

 

(2)                                 if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Trailing Four Quarters is less than 1.75 to 1.0, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) of the next succeeding paragraph) with respect to the quarter for which such Restricted Payment is made (such Restricted Payments for purposes of this clause (2) meaning only distributions on the Parent’s common units, subordinated units, or incentive distribution rights, plus the related distribution to the General Partner), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(a)                                 $150.0 million less the aggregate amount of all prior Restricted Payments made by the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause (2)(a) since June 17, 2013, plus

 

(b)                                 Incremental Funds to the extent not previously expended pursuant to this clause (2) or clause (1) above.

 

So long as no Default (except a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby (except with respect to clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) below under which the payment of a distribution or dividend is permitted), the preceding provisions will not prohibit:

 

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

 

(2)                                 the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of any subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor or of any Equity Interests of the Parent in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent (a) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent) to the equity capital of the Parent or (b) sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent) of, Equity Interests of the Parent (other than Disqualified Stock), with a sale being deemed substantially concurrent if such purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement occurs not more than 120 days after such sale; provided, however, that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement will be excluded (or deducted, if included) from the calculation of Available Cash from Operating Surplus and Incremental Funds;

 

(3)                                 the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of, or in exchange for, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(4)                                 the payment of any dividend or distribution by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

 

49











 

(5)                                 the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent pursuant to any director or employee equity subscription agreement or equity option agreement or other employee benefit plan or to satisfy obligations under any Equity Interests appreciation rights or option plan or similar arrangement; provided, however, that the aggregate price paid for all such purchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $5.0 million in any calendar year, with any portion of such $5.0 million amount that is unused in any calendar year to be carried forward to successive calendar years and added to such amount; provided, further, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

 

(A)                               the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Parent and, to the extent contributed to the Parent, Equity Interests of any of the Parent’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to members of management, directors, managers or consultants of the Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after June 17, 2013, plus

 

(B)                               the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Parent and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after June 17, 2013, less

 

(C)                               the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made pursuant to clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (5);

 

and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or Parent from members of management, directors, managers or consultants of the Company, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any of the Parent’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Parent or any of its direct or indirect parent companies will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 5.07 or any other provision of this Indenture;

 

(6)                                 the purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of unit options, warrants, incentives, rights to acquire Equity Interests or other convertible securities if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise or exchange price thereof, and any purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any exercise or exchange of unit options, warrants, incentives or rights to acquire Equity Interests;

 

(7)                                 the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to provisions similar to those described in Sections 4.09, 5.10 and 5.15; provided that prior to such repurchase, redemption or other acquisition the Company (or a third party to the extent permitted by this Indenture) shall have made a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be, with respect to the Notes and shall have repurchased all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn in connection with such Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer;

 

50











 

(8)                                 the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Parent or preferred securities of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in accordance with Section 5.09 to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of Fixed Charges; or

 

(9)                                 other Restricted Payments, taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (9), not to exceed $50.0 million.

 

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the Restricted Investment proposed to be made or the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment.  The fair market value of any Restricted Investment, assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant will be determined in the case of amounts over $50.0 million, by the Board of Directors of the Parent, whose determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution.  For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 5.07, if a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments described in the preceding clauses (1) through (9), the Company will be permitted to classify (or later classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Restricted Payment in any manner that complies with this Section 5.07.

 

Section 5.08.                          Limitation on Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

(1)                                 pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(2)                                 make loans or advances to the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

(3)                                 transfer any of its properties or assets to the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

However, the preceding restrictions of this Section 5.08 will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(1)                                 agreements as in effect on the date of this Indenture and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements or the Indebtedness to which they relate, provided that the amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend, distribution and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the date of this Indenture;

 

51











 

(2)                                 this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees;

 

(3)                                 Applicable Law;

 

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

 

(5)                                 customary non-assignment provisions in Hydrocarbon purchase and sale or exchange agreements or similar operational agreements or in licenses, easements or leases, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;

 

(6)                                 Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on that property of the nature described in clause (3) of the preceding paragraph;

 

(7)                                 any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition;

 

(8)                                 Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

 

(9)                                 Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 5.12 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

 

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

 

(11)                          any agreement or instrument relating to any property or assets acquired after the date of this Indenture, so long as such encumbrance or restriction relates only to the property or assets so acquired and is not and was not created in anticipation of such acquisitions;

 

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

 

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(13)                          any instrument governing Indebtedness of an FERC Subsidiary, provided that such Indebtedness was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

 

(14)                          the issuance of preferred securities by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent or the payment of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms thereof, provided that issuance of such preferred securities is permitted pursuant to Section 5.09 and the terms of such preferred securities do not expressly restrict the ability of such Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock (other than requirements to pay dividends or liquidation preferences on such preferred securities prior to paying any dividends or making any other distributions on such other Capital Stock); and

 

(15)                          any other agreement governing Indebtedness of the Parent, the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is permitted to be incurred by Section 5.09; provided, however, that such encumbrances or restrictions are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in this Indenture or the Credit Agreement as it exists on the date of this Indenture.

 

Section 5.09.                          Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.

 

The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and the Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, issue any Disqualified Stock, and the Parent will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any preferred securities; provided, however, that the Parent and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock or preferred securities, if, for the Parent’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred securities are issued, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or Disqualified Stock or preferred securities had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

 

The first paragraph of this Section 5.09 will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “Permitted Debt”) or the issuance of any preferred securities described in clause (11) below:

 

(1)                                 the incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness (including letters of credit) under one or more Credit Facilities, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Parent and its Subsidiaries thereunder) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $900.0

 

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million or (b) $500.0 million plus 30.0% of the Parent’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets;

 

(2)           the incurrence by the Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;

 

(3)           the incurrence by the Issuers and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes issued and sold on the Initial Issuance Date and the related Guarantees issued on the Initial Issuance Date;

 

(4)           the incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing (whether prior to or within 270 days after) all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), provided that after giving effect to any such incurrence, the principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $75.0 million or (b) 5.0% of the Parent’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at such time;

 

(5)           the incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to, extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund Indebtedness that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph of this Section 5.09 or clause (2), (3), (4) or (14) of this paragraph or this clause (5);

 

(6)           the incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Parent and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that:

 

(a)           if the Parent is the obligor on such Indebtedness and a Subsidiary Guarantor or an Issuer is not the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes, or if a Subsidiary Guarantor or an Issuer is the obligor on such Indebtedness and neither the Parent nor another Subsidiary Guarantor or an Issuer is the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Guarantor; and

 

(b)           (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is neither the Parent nor a Restricted Subsidiary will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Parent or

 

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such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6);

 

(7)           the incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under Hedging Contracts in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(8)           the guarantee by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 5.09;

 

(9)           the incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations relating to net Hydrocarbon balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

 

(10)         the incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of bid, performance, surety and similar bonds issued for the account of the Parent and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees and obligations of the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to letters of credit supporting such obligations (in each case other than an obligation for money borrowed);

 

(11)         the issuance by any of the Parent’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the Parent or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any preferred securities; provided, however, that:

 

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

 

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

 

shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred securities by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (11); and

 

(12)         the incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Acquired Debt in connection with a merger or consolidation meeting either one of the financial tests set forth in clause (d) of Section 6.01;

 

(13)         the incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of liability in respect of the Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Parent or any Joint Venture but only to the extent that such liability is the result of the Parent’s or any such Restricted Subsidiary’s being a general partner of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture and not as a guarantor of such Indebtedness and provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (13) and then outstanding does not exceed $25.0 million; and

 

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(14)         the incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (14), including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (14) outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $100.0 million or (b) 7.5% of the Parent’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 5.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (14) of this Section 5.09, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 5.09, the Parent will be permitted to classify (or later classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 5.09.  Any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement on the date of this Indenture shall be considered incurred under clause (i) of the second paragraph of this Section 5.09.

 

The accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this Section 5.09, provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Parent as accrued.  Further, the accounting reclassification of any obligation of the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as Indebtedness will not be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 5.09.

 

Section 5.10.         Limitation on Asset Sales.

 

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

 

(1)           the Parent (or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of;

 

(2)           the fair market value is determined by the Parent’s Board of Directors if the value is $50.0 million or more and evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors; and

 

(3)           at least 75% of the aggregate consideration received by the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Asset Sale is in the form of cash.  For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

 

(a)           any liabilities, as shown on the Parent’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet, of the Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of

 

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any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability;

 

(b)           any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from such transferee that are, within 180 days after the Asset Sale, converted by the Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;

 

(c)           any Capital Stock or assets of the kind referred to in clause (II) or (IV) of the next paragraph; and

 

(d)           any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Parent), taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (d), not to exceed the greater of (i) $75.0 million and (ii) 5.0% of the Parent’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).

 

Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may apply those Net Proceeds at its option to any combination of the following:

 

(I)            to repay Senior Debt;

 

(II)          to acquire all or substantially all of the properties or assets, or any of the Voting Stock, of a Person primarily engaged in a Permitted Business if, after giving effect to any such acquisition of Voting Stock, such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(III)        to make capital expenditures in respect of a Permitted Business; or

 

(IV)         to acquire other long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business.

 

The requirement of clause (II) or (IV) of the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to be satisfied if a bona fide binding contract committing to make the investment, acquisition or expenditure referred to therein is entered into by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with a Person other than an Affiliate of the Parent within the time period specified in the preceding paragraph and such Net Proceeds are subsequently applied in accordance with such contract within 180 days following the date such agreement is entered into.

 

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.  Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will constitute “Excess Proceeds.”

 

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On the 361st day after the Asset Sale (or, at the Company’s option, any earlier date) plus any additional period provided by any binding contract described in the second preceding paragraph (provided that such additional period will be in no event longer than 180 days until such Net Proceeds are required to be applied in accordance with such agreement), if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds then exceeds $25.0 million, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes, and to all holders of Pari Passu Indebtedness then outstanding, to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds.  The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the Settlement Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Settlement Date, and will be payable in cash.  If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture.  If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis as set forth in Section 4.09(h) of this Indenture.  Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

 

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 5.10, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions by virtue of such compliance.

 

Section 5.11.         Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates.

 

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

 

(1)           the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Parent or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person or, if in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Parent, no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Parent or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; and

 

(2)           the Parent delivers to the Trustee, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $50.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Parent set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this Section 5.11 and

 

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that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors.

 

The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph of this Section 5.11:

 

(1)           any transaction or series of related transactions involving aggregate consideration of less than $10.0 million;

 

(2)           any employment, equity award, equity option or equity appreciation agreement or plan entered into by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(3)           transactions between or among any of the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(4)           transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Parent) that is an Affiliate of the Parent solely because the Parent owns an Equity Interest in such Person;

 

(5)           transactions effected in accordance with the terms of agreements that are identified or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus Supplement, in each case as such agreements are in effect on the date of this Indenture, and any amendment or replacement of any of such agreements so long as such amendment or replacement agreement is no less advantageous to the Parent in any material respect than the agreement so amended or replaced;

 

(6)           customary compensation, indemnification and other benefits made available to officers, directors or employees of the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Parent, including reimbursement or advancement of out-of-pocket expenses and provisions of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance;

 

(7)           sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to Affiliates of the Parent;

 

(8)           Restricted Payments that are permitted by Section 5.07 or Permitted Investments;

 

(9)           payments to the General Partner with respect to reimbursement for expenses in accordance with the Partnership Agreement as in effect on the date of this Indenture and as it may be amended, provided that any such amendment is not less favorable to the Parent in any material respect than the agreement prior to such amendment;

 

(10)         transactions between the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any other Person, a director of which is also on the Board of Directors of the Parent or any direct or indirect parent company of the Parent, and such common director is the sole cause for such other Person to be deemed an Affiliate of the Parent or any of its

 

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Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that such director abstains from voting as a member of the Board of Directors of the Parent or any direct or indirect parent company of the Parent, as the case may be, on any transaction with such other Person;

 

(11)         leases entered into by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as lessor, and an Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture of the Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee, with respect to a pipeline or similar asset operated by such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture; provided that the Remaining Present Value of any such leases shall not exceed $30.0 million in the aggregate; and

 

(12)         in the case of contracts for gathering, transporting, treating, processing, marketing, distributing, storing or otherwise handling Hydrocarbons, or activities or services reasonably related or ancillary thereto, or other operational contracts, any such contracts are entered into in the ordinary course of business on terms substantially similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by the Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries and third parties, or if neither the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a similar contract with a third party, then the terms are no less favorable than those available from third parties on an arm’s-length basis.

 

Section 5.12.         Limitation on Liens.

 

The Parent will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) securing Indebtedness upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless the Notes or any Guarantee of the Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, is secured on an equal and ratable basis with (or on a senior basis to, in the case of obligations subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantee, as the case may be) the obligations so secured until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.

 

Section 5.13.         Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

If, after the date of this Indenture, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent that is not already a Guarantor guarantees any Indebtedness of either of the Issuers or any Guarantor under any Credit Facility, then that Subsidiary will become a Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto and delivering it to the Trustee within twenty Business Days of the date on which it guaranteed such Indebtedness, together with any Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel required by Section 8.06; provided, however, that the preceding shall not apply to Subsidiaries of the Parent that have properly been designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in accordance with this Indenture for so long as they continue to constitute Unrestricted Subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding the preceding, any Subsidiary Guarantee of a Restricted Subsidiary that was incurred pursuant to this Section 5.13 will be released in the circumstances described in Section 11.03.

 

Section 5.14.         Corporate Existence.

 

Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms hereof (including consolidation and merger permitted by Section 6.01), the Parent shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to

 

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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 (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Parent or any such Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Parent shall not be required to preserve the existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (except the Company or Finance Corp.) if the Parent shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 5.15.         Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

 

(1)           If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.07, the Company shall, within thirty (30) days following the Change of Control Triggering Event,  offer a cash payment (a “Change of Control Offer”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101% (or, at the Company’s election, a higher percentage) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of settlement (the “Change of Control Settlement Date”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date.  Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.07, the Company shall mail a notice of the Change of Control Offer to each Holder and the Trustee describing the transaction or transactions and identification of the ratings decline that together constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and stating:

 

(a)           that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 5.15 and that all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be accepted for payment;

 

(b)           the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days but no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Purchase Date”);

 

(c)           that the Change of Control Offer will expire as of the time specified in such notice on the Change of Control Purchase Date and that the Company shall pay the Change of Control Purchase Price for all Notes accepted for purchase as of the Change of Control Purchase Date promptly thereafter on the Change of Control Settlement Date;

 

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

 

(e)           that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of

 

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Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Settlement Date;

 

(f)            that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, properly endorsed for transfer, together with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes completed and such customary documents as the Company may reasonably request, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the termination of the Change of Control Offer on the Change of Control Purchase Date;

 

(g)           that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, prior to the termination of the Change of Control Offer, an electronic image scan, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have the Notes purchased; and

 

(h)           that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book entry transfer), which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

 

If any of the Notes subject to a Change of Control Offer is in the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depositary applicable to repurchases.  Further, the Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes as a result of a Change of Control.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 5.15, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions by virtue of such conflict.

 

(2)           Promptly following the expiration of the Change of Control Offer, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) properly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.  Promptly thereafter on the Change of Control Settlement Date the Company shall:

 

(a)           deposit with the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered (and not validly withdrawn); and

 

(b)           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.

 

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On the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Paying Agent shall mail to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes (or, if all the Notes are then in global form, make such payment through the facilities of the Depositary) and the Trustee shall 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, however, that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.  The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Settlement Date.

 

(3)           The Change of Control provisions of this Section 5.15 shall be applicable whether or nor any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable.

 

(4)           Prior to complying with any of the provisions of this Section 5.15, but in any event no later than the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Company or any Guarantor must either repay all of its other outstanding Senior Debt or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all agreements governing such Senior Debt to permit the repurchase of Notes required by this Section 5.15.

 

(5)           The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control Triggering Event if (a) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 5.15 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (b) in connection with, or in contemplation of any publicly announced Change of Control, the Company has made an offer to purchase (an “Alternate Offer”) any and all Notes validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Payment and has purchased all Notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of such Alternate Offer.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 5.15, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event, and conditioned upon the consummation of such Change of Control Triggering Event, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer is made.

 

(6)           In the event that, upon consummation of a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer, less than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) that were originally issued are held by Holders other than the Company or Affiliates thereof, the Company will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice as provided in Section 4.03, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer described above, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price in cash equal to the Change of Control Payment or Alternate Offer price, as applicable, plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment or Alternate Offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes that remain outstanding, if any, to, but not including, the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due  on interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).

 

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Section 5.16.         No Inducements.

 

Neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Beneficial Owner or Holder of any Notes for or as an inducement to any consent to any waiver, supplement or amendment of any terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes, unless such consideration is offered to be paid (or agreed to be paid) to all Beneficial Owners and Holders of the Notes which so consent in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent.

 

Section 5.17.         Permitted Business Activities of Finance Corp.

 

Finance Corp. shall not incur Indebtedness unless (1) the Company or the Parent is a co-obligor or guarantor of such Indebtedness or (2) the net proceeds of such Indebtedness are loaned to the Company or the Parent, used to acquire outstanding debt securities issued by the Company or the Parent or used to repay Indebtedness of the Company or the Parent as permitted under Section 5.09.  Finance Corp. shall not engage in any business not related directly or indirectly to obtaining money or arranging financing for the Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Section 5.18.         Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

 

The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction; provided, however, that the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into a Sale and Leaseback Transaction if:

 

(1)           the Parent or that Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, could have (a) incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test in the first paragraph of Section 5.09 and (b) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to Section 5.12;

 

(2)           the gross cash proceeds of that Sale and Leaseback Transaction are at least equal to the fair market value, as determined in accordance with the definition of that term in Section 2.01 and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, of the property that is the subject of that Sale and Leaseback Transaction; and

 

(3)           the transfer of assets in that Sale and Leaseback Transaction is permitted by, and the Parent applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with, Section 5.10.

 

Section 5.19.         Covenant Termination.

 

If at any time (a) the rating assigned to the Notes by both S&P and Moody’s is an Investment Grade Rating, (b) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture and (c) the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate certifying to the foregoing provisions of this sentence, the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject to the provisions of Sections 4.09, 5.07, 5.08, 5.09, 5.10, 5.11, 5.17, clauses (1)(a) and (3) of Section 5.18, and clause (d) of Section 6.01 of this Indenture.  However, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will remain subject to all of the other provisions of this Indenture.

 

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Section 5.20.         Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

The Board of Directors of the Parent may designate any Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default.  If a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary properly designated will be deemed to be either an Investment made as of the time of the designation that will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under the first paragraph of Section 5.07 or represent Permitted Investments, as determined by the Parent.  That designation shall only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Subsidiary so designated otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

The Board of Directors of the Parent may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 5.09, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period, and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

 

ARTICLE 6
 SUCCESSORS

 

Section 6.01.         Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.

 

None of the Issuers or the Parent may, directly or indirectly, (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not such Issuer or the Parent is the survivor), or (2) sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to another Person, unless:

 

(a)           either (1) such Issuer or the Parent, as applicable, is the survivor or (2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer or the Parent, as applicable) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; provided, however, that Finance Corp. may not consolidate or merge with or into any Person other than a corporation satisfying such requirement so long as the Company is not a corporation;

 

(b)           the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer or the Parent, as applicable) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of such Issuer or the Parent, as applicable, under the Notes, this Indenture and the Parent’s Guarantee of the Notes, if applicable, pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

(c)           immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists;

 

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(d)           in the case of a transaction involving the Parent, either;

 

(1)           the Parent or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Parent), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made will, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 5.09 hereof; or

 

(2)           immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the Parent’s most recently ended four full quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of the transactions, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Parent or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Parent), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made, will be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Parent immediately before such transactions; and

 

(e)           such Issuer or the Parent has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or disposition and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

 

The restrictions described in the foregoing clause (d) will not apply to (a) any consolidation or merger of the Parent with or into one of its Restricted Subsidiaries for any purpose or (b) any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of properties or assets of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Finance Corp.) to the Parent, the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Notwithstanding the first paragraph of this Section 6.01, the Parent and the Company are permitted to reorganize as any other form of entity in accordance with the following procedures provided that:

 

(1)           the reorganization involves the conversion (by merger, sale, contribution or exchange of assets or otherwise) of the Parent or the Company into a form of entity other than a limited partnership formed under Delaware law;

 

(2)           the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

(3)           the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization assumes all the obligations of the Parent under its Guarantee of the Notes or the Company under the Notes, as applicable, this Indenture and the applicable Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

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(4)           immediately after such reorganization no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(5)           such reorganization is not materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the Notes (for purposes of this clause (5) a reorganization will not be considered materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the Notes solely because the successor or survivor of such reorganization (a) is subject to federal or state income taxation as an entity or (b) is considered to be an “includible corporation” of an affiliated group of corporations within the meaning of Section 1504(b) of the Code or any similar state or local law).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company becomes a corporation or the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any consolidation or merger (permitted in accordance with this Indenture) is a corporation, Finance Corp. may be merged into the Company or it may be dissolved and cease to be an Issuer.

 

Section 6.02.         Successor Substituted.

 

Upon compliance with the requirements of Section 6.01 with respect to any consolidation or merger or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of an Issuer or the Parent in accordance with the foregoing in which such Issuer or Parent is not the surviving entity, the surviving Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which such Issuer or the Parent is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, such Issuer or the Parent, as applicable, under the indenture with the same effect as if such surviving Person had been named as such Issuer or the Parent in the indenture, and thereafter (except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of such Issuer’s properties or assets), such Issuer or the Parent, as applicable, will be relieved of all obligations and covenants under the indenture and the Notes or its Guarantee.  The Trustee shall enter into a supplemental indenture to evidence the succession and substitution of such successor and such discharge and release of such Issuer.

 

ARTICLE 7
 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 7.01.         Events of Default.

 

An “Event of Default” occurs if one of the following shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be involuntary or be effected by operation of law):

 

(a)           a default in the payment when due of interest with respect to the Notes, and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

 

(b)           a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;

 

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(c)           the Issuers or the Parent fail to comply with the provisions of Section 4.09, 5.10, 5.15 or 6.01 hereof;

 

(d)           the Parent fails to comply with the provisions of Section 5.03 for 180 days after notice to the Parent by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding of such failure;

 

(e)           the Issuers or the Parent fail to comply with any other covenant or other agreement in this Indenture or the Notes for 30 days after notice to the Parent by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding of such failure;

 

(f)            a default occurs 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 Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the date of this Indenture, if such default:

 

(1)           is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of any grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a “Payment Default”); or

 

(2)           results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity

 

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 $20.0 million or more; provided, however, that if, prior to any acceleration of the Notes, (i) any such Payment Default is cured or waived, (ii) any such acceleration is rescinded, or (iii) such Indebtedness is repaid during the 10 Business Day period commencing upon the end of any applicable grace period for such Payment Default or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, any Default or Event of Default (but not any acceleration of the Notes) caused by such Payment Default or acceleration shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment, decree or Applicable Law;

 

(g)           the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries fails to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $20.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;

 

(h)           except as permitted by this Indenture, any Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Guarantee; and

 

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(i)            the Company, Finance Corp., the Parent any of the Parent’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Parent or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Parent that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Parent pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

 

(1)           commences a voluntary case,

 

(2)           consents in writing to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

 

(3)           consents in writing to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

 

(4)           makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

 

(5)           admits in writing it generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or

 

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

 

(1)           is for relief against the Company, Finance Corp., the Parent, any of the Parent’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Parent or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Parent that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Parent in an involuntary case;

 

(2)           appoints a Custodian of the Company, Finance Corp., the Parent, any of the Parent’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Parent or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Parent that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Parent or for all or substantially all of the property of the Parent, Finance Corp., any of the Parent’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Parent or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Parent, that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Parent; or

 

(3)           orders the liquidation of the Parent , Finance Corp., the Parent, any of the Parent’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Parent  or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Parent that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Parent;

 

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

 

Section 7.02.         Acceleration.

 

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Issuers, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by notice to the Issuers and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.  Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately, together with all accrued

 

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and unpaid interest and premium, if any, thereon.  Notwithstanding the preceding, if an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (j) of Section 7.01 hereof occurs with respect to the Company, Finance Corp., the Parent, any of the Parent’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Parent or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Parent that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Parent, all outstanding Notes shall become due and payable without further action or notice, together with all accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, thereon.  The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except with respect to nonpayment of principal, interest or premium, if any, that have become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.

 

Section 7.03.         Other Remedies.

 

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of and premium, if any, and 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 Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default.  All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

Section 7.04.         Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes.  Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 7.05.         Control by Majority.

 

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it.  However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with applicable law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

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Section 7.06.         Limitation on Suits.

 

Subject to Section 7.07, a Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(d)           the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

 

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

 

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

 

Section 7.07.         Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), 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 such Holder.

 

Section 7.08.         Collection Suit by Trustee.

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers and the Guarantors for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, premium, if any, and interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

Section 7.09.         Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents

 

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and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes), their creditors or their property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 8.07 hereof.  To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 8.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.  Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 7.10.         Priorities.

 

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

 

First:  to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 8.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the Trustee’s costs and expenses of collection;

 

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

 

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

 

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 7.10.

 

Section 7.11.         Undertaking for Costs.

 

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

 

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by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

ARTICLE 8
 TRUSTEE

 

Section 8.01.         Duties of Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(2)           in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture.  However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

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

 

(1)           this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 8.01;

 

(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 7.05 hereof; and

 

(4)           no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(d)           Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 8.01.

 

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

 

Section 8.02.         Rights of Trustee.

 

(a)           The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person.  The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

 

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

 

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

 

(d)           The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

(g)           The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company’s covenants in Article 5 hereof.  In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except: (1) if and only if the Trustee is the Paying Agent, any Event of Default occurring pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or 7.01(b) hereof; or (2) any Default or Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer shall have received written notification or obtained actual knowledge.

 

(h)           The permissive right of the Trustee to act hereunder shall not be construed as a duty.

 

(i)            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 in its capacity as Trustee

 

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under any other agreement executed in connection with this Indenture to which the Trustee is a party.

 

Section 8.03.         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 Issuers, any Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.  However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the TIA) after a Default has occurred and is continuing, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee or resign.  Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties.  The Trustee is also subject to Sections 8.10 and 8.11 hereof.

 

Section 8.04.         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 either Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to an Issuer or upon either Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

 

Section 8.05.         Notice of Defaults.

 

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

 

Section 8.06.         Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

 

Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted).  The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b)(2) and § 313(b)(1).  The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).

 

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

 

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Section 8.07.         Compensation and Indemnity.

 

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

 

The Issuers and the Guarantors shall indemnify the Trustee, jointly and severally, against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuers and the Guarantors (including this Section 8.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by an Issuer, any Guarantor or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.  The Trustee shall notify the Issuers and the Guarantors promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.  Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers and the Guarantors shall not relieve the Issuers or the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder.  The Issuers and the Guarantors shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense.  The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers and the Guarantors shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel; provided that the Issuers and the Guarantors will not be required to pay such fees and expenses if they assume the Trustee’s defense with counsel acceptable to and approved by the Trustee (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) and there is no conflict of interest between the Issuers and the Trustee in connection with such defense.  The Issuers and the Guarantors need not pay for any settlement made without their consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.  Neither the Issuers nor the Guarantors need reimburse the Trustee for any expense or indemnity against any liability or loss of the Trustee to the extent such expense, liability or loss is attributable to the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Trustee.

 

The obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under this Section 8.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

To secure the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 8.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes.  Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(i) or (j) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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

 

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Section 8.08.         Replacement of Trustee.

 

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

 

The Trustee may resign in writing upon 30 days notice at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuers.  The Holders of Notes of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuers in writing and may appoint a successor trustee with the consent of the Issuers.  The Issuers may remove the Trustee if:

 

(a)           the Trustee fails to comply with Section 8.10 hereof;

 

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

 

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

 

(d)           the Trustee becomes otherwise incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.  Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuers.

 

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

 

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Note who has been a Holder of a Note for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 8.10 hereof, such Holder of a Note may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuers.  Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring or removed Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture.  The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of the Notes.  The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 8.07 hereof.  Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 8.08, the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under Section 8.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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Section 8.09.         Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee; provided, however, that in the case of a transfer of all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to another corporation, the transferee corporation expressly assumes all of the Trustee’s liabilities hereunder.  As soon as practicable, the successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the Issuers and the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 8.10.         Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5).  The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).

 

Section 8.11.         Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers.

 

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

 

ARTICLE 9
 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 9.01.         Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The Issuers may, at the option of their respective Boards of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, exercise their rights under either Section 9.02 or 9.03 hereof with respect to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 9.

 

Section 9.02.         Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 9.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 9.02, the Issuers shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 9.04 hereof, be deemed to have discharged their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes, and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have discharged its obligations with respect to its Guarantee, on the date the conditions set forth in Section 9.04 below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”).  For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged its Guarantee (which in each case shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 9.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below) and to have

 

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satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes or Subsidiary Guarantee and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 9.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 3.03, 3.04, 3.06, 3.07, 3.09 and 5.02 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith and (d) the Legal Defeasance provisions of this Article 9.  Subject to compliance with this Article 9, the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 9.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 9.03 hereof.

 

If the Issuers exercise their Legal Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee, and any security for the Notes (other than the trust) will be released.

 

Section 9.03.         Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 9.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 9.03, the Issuers shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 9.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Article 5 (other than those in Sections 5.01, 5.02, 5.06 and 5.14), in clause (d) of Section 6.01 hereof and in any covenant added to this Indenture subsequent to the date hereof pursuant to Section 10.01 hereof, on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder.  For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuers and any Guarantor may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 7.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby.  In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 9.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 9.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 9.04 hereof, Sections 7.01(f) through 7.01(h) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

 

If the Issuers exercise their Covenant Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and any security for the Notes (other than the trust) will be released.

 

Section 9.04.         Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

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(a)           the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, 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 date of fixed maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuers must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to the date of fixed maturity or to a particular redemption date; provided that if such redemption is made as provided in Section 4.07(c), (x) the amount of cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, that must be irrevocably deposited will be determined using an assumed Make Whole Premium calculated as of the date of such deposit (as determined in good faith by the Company) and (y) the depositor must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited additional money in trust on the redemption date as necessary to pay the Make Whole Premium as determined on such date;

 

(b)           in the case of an election under Section 9.02 hereof, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

 

(1)           the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

 

(2)           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;

 

(c)           in the case of an election under Section 9.03 hereof, the Issuers 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;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 9.05.         Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to Section 9.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 9.04 or 9.08 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 9.04 or 9.08 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

Anything in this Article 9 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the written request of the Issuers any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 9.04 or 9.08 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 9.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance or Discharge, as the case may be.

 

Section 9.06.         Repayment to Issuers.

 

Subject to applicable escheat and abandoned property laws, any money or non-callable Government Securities deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by an Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on their written request or (if then held by an Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured creditor, look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money or non-callable Government Securities, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the

 

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Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the written direction and expense of the Issuers cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuers.

 

Section 9.07.         Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 9.05 hereof, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 9.02 or 9.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 9.05 hereof; provided, however, that, if an Issuer makes any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, such Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

Section 9.08.         Discharge.

 

This Indenture shall be satisfied and discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder (except for (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in clause (b) of this Section 9.08, and as more fully set forth in such clause (b), payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 3.03, 3.04, 3.06, 3.07, 3.09 and 5.02 hereof and (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith), when:

 

(1)           either:

 

(a)           all Notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Issuers, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(b)           all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise, and the Issuers or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest to the date of fixed

 

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maturity or redemption; provided that if such redemption is made as provided in Section 4.07(c), (x) the amount of cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, that must be irrevocably deposited will be determined using an assumed Make Whole Premium calculated as of the date of such deposit (as determined in good faith by the Company) and (y) the depositor must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited additional money in trust on the redemption date as necessary to pay the Make Whole Premium as determined by such date;

 

(2)           no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit or will occur as a result of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit 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 Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

 

(3)           the Issuers or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture;

 

(4)           the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at fixed maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be; and

 

(5)           the Issuers have delivered an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture (“Discharge”) have been satisfied.

 

ARTICLE 10
 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 10.01.      Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

Notwithstanding Section 10.02 of this Indenture, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Holder of a Note:

 

(a)           to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

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

 

(c)           to provide for the assumption of an Issuer’s obligations to the Holders of Notes pursuant to Article 6 hereof;

 

(d)           to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder, provided that any change to conform this Indenture to the Prospectus

 

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Supplement shall be deemed to not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder;

 

(e)           to secure the Notes or the Guarantees pursuant to the requirements of Section 5.12 or otherwise;

 

(f)            to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture;

 

(g)           to add any additional Guarantor with respect to the Notes or to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with Article 11 hereof;

 

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

 

(i)            to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee.

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 10.06 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 10.02.      With Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

Except as provided above in Section 10.01 and below in this Section 10.02, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and, subject to Sections 7.04 and 7.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, tender offer or exchange offer for Notes).  However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

(a)           reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(b)           reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter any of the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the Notes (except as provided in Sections 4.09, 5.10 and 5.15 hereof);

 

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(c)           reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

 

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

 

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

 

(f)            make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or Events of Default or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (except as permitted in clause (g) below);

 

(g)           waive a redemption or repurchase payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Sections 4.09, 5.10 and 5.15 hereof);

 

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

 

(i)            make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions.

 

Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by Board Resolutions authorizing their execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 10.06 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture, unless such amended or supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 10.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

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

 

Section 10.03.      Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

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

 

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A consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver under this Indenture by any Holder given in connection with a purchase, tender or exchange of such Holder’s Notes shall not be rendered invalid by such purchase, tender or exchange.

 

Section 10.04.      Effect of Consents.

 

After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (a) through (i) of Section 10.02, 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 indebtedness as the consenting Holder’s Note.

 

Section 10.05.      Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

 

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated.  The Issuers, in exchange for all Notes, may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

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

 

Section 10.06.      Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

 

The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 10 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee.  In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 8.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all conditions precedent are satisfied.

 

ARTICLE 11
 GUARANTEES OF NOTES

 

Section 11.01.      Guarantees.

 

Subject to this Article 11, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guarantees, on a senior unsecured 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 held thereby and the Obligations of the Issuers hereunder and thereunder, that: (a) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, upon repurchase or redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium, if any (to the extent permitted by law) and interest on the Notes, and all other payment Obligations of the Issuers to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full and performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in

 

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accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, upon repurchase or redemption or otherwise.  Failing payment when so due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately.  An Event of Default under this Indenture or the Notes shall constitute an event of default under the Guarantees, and shall entitle the Holders to accelerate the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder in the same manner and to the same extent as the Obligations of the Issuers.

 

The Guarantors hereby agree that their 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 with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against an Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance (other than complete performance) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor.  Each Guarantor further, to the extent permitted by law, hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of an Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against an Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that its Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

 

If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to an Issuer, the Guarantors, or any Custodian, Trustee or other similar official acting in relation to any of the Issuers or the Guarantors, any amount paid by an Issuer or any Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, the Guarantees, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.  Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to, and hereby waives, any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Obligations guaranteed hereby.

 

Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (a) the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 7 hereof for the purposes of its Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby, and (b) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Obligations as provided in Article 7 hereof, such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purpose of its Guarantee.  The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantees.

 

Section 11.02.      Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

 

(a)           No Subsidiary Guarantor shall sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person), another Person (other than the Parent, the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor), unless, (i) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and (ii) either (1) the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) unconditionally

 

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assumes, pursuant to a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Notes, this Indenture and its Subsidiary Guarantee on terms set forth therein, or (2) such sale or other disposition does not violate Section 5.10.

 

(b)                                 In the case of any such consolidation or merger and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, of the Subsidiary Guarantee and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants of this Indenture to be performed by the Subsidiary Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Subsidiary Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Section 11.03.                   Releases of Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released:  (1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent, if the sale or other disposition does not violate Section 5.10; (2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent, if the sale or other disposition does not violate Section 5.10 and the Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent as a result of such sale or disposition; (3) if the Parent designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 5.20 of this Indenture; (4) upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance or Discharge in accordance with Article 9; or (5) at such time as such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to guarantee any Indebtedness of the Parent, either Issuer or any other Subsidiary Guarantor under any Credit Facility.

 

Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that any of the conditions described in the foregoing clauses (1) — (5) has occurred, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably requested by the Company in order to evidence the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee.  Any Subsidiary Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 11.

 

Section 11.04.                   Limitation on Subsidiary Guarantor Liability.

 

The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under 

 

88











 

federal or state law and not otherwise being void or voidable under any similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

ARTICLE 12
 MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01.                   Trust Indenture Act Controls.

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA §318(c), such TIA-imposed duties shall control.

 

Section 12.02.                   Notices.

 

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

 

If to any of the Issuers or the Guarantors:

 

Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC
 2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1250
 Dallas, Texas 75201
 Attention: Chief Financial Officer
 Telecopier No.: (214) 462-7716

 

with a copy (not constituting notice) to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP
 811 Main Street
 Houston, Texas 77002
 Attention:  Brett E. Braden, Esq.

David J. Miller, Esq.

Telecopier No.:  (713) 546-5401

 

If to the Trustee:

 

U.S. Bank National Association
 5555 San Felipe Street, Suite 1150
 Houston, Texas  77056
 Attention:  Corporate Trust Services
 Telecopier No.:  (713) 235-9213

 

An Issuer, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days 

 

89











 

after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery in each case to the address shown above.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 12.04.                   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by an Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, such Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

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

 

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

 

Section 12.05.                   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

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

 

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

 

90











 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 12.06.                   Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

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

 

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

 

None of the General Partner or any director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the General Partner, the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Guarantees or this Indenture, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.  Each Holder of Notes 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 12.08.                   Business Days.

 

If a scheduled payment date is not a Business Day at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

Section 12.09.                   Governing Law.

 

THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 12.10.                   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

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

 

91











 

Section 12.11.                   Successors.

 

All agreements of the Issuers and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors.  All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

 

Section 12.12.                   Severability.

 

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

 

Section 12.13.                   Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

 

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

 

Section 12.14.                   Counterparts.

 

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture, and each party hereto may sign any number of separate copies of this Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.  The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes.  Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

Section 12.15.                   Acts of Holders.

 

(a)                                 Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by the Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing, and may be given or obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, outstanding Notes; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company.  Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments.  Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuers if made in the manner provided in this Section 12.14.

 

(b)                                 The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to such witness, notary or officer the execution thereof.  Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than 

 

92











 

his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of authority.  The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 12.14, the principal amount and serial numbers of Notes held by any Holder, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the register of the Notes maintained by the Registrar as provided in Section 3.03.

 

(d)                                 If the Issuers shall solicit from the Holders of the Notes any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Issuers may, at their option, by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Issuers shall have no obligation to do so.  Notwithstanding TIA Section 316(c), such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith or the date of the most recent list of Holders forwarded to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 3.05 and not later than the date such solicitation is completed.  If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of the then outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the then outstanding Notes shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.

 

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

 

(f)                                   Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so itself with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

(g)                                  For purposes of this Indenture, any action by the Holders that may be taken in writing may be taken by electronic means or as otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

93











 

Section 12.16.                   Patriot Act.

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee.  The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information within their possession or control as it may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

94












 

SIGNATURES

 

	
 
    	
SUMMIT   MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
SUMMIT   MIDSTREAM FINANCE CORP.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GUARANTORS
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
SUMMIT   MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
SUMMIT MIDSTREAM GP, LLC,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
its general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
DFW   MIDSTREAM SERVICES LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
SUMMIT MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS, LLC,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
its managing member
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GRAND   RIVER GATHERING, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
    


 

Signature Page

First Supplemental Indenture

 











 

	
 
    	
BISON   MIDSTREAM, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
RED   ROCK GATHERING COMPANY, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
RIDGELINE   GATHERING COMPANY, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: Steven J. Newby
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
    


 

Signature Page

First Supplemental Indenture

 











 

	
 
    	
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
    
	
 
    	
as Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Steven A. Finklea
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   Steven A. Finklea, CCTS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: Vice President
    


 

Signature Page

First Supplemental Indenture

 











 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF NOTE

 

(Face of Note)

 

[THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.10 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUERS.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.  UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENTS FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.](1)

 




(1)  For Global Notes only.

 

Exhibit A - 1











 

SUMMIT MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS, LLC

 

SUMMIT MIDSTREAM FINANCE CORP.

 

	
No.
    	
$     
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
CUSIP   No.     
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ISIN   No.     
    	
 
    


 

51⁄2% Senior Note due 2022

 

Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Summit Midstream Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation, jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally promise to pay to                     , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                    Dollars [or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A hereto](2)  on August 15, 2022.

 

 

Interest Payment Dates:  February 15 and August 15.

 

Record Dates:  February 1 and August 1.

 

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been duly executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit of the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

	
 
    	
SUMMIT   MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS , LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
SUMMIT   MIDSTREAM FINANCE CORP.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    


 




(2)  For Global Notes only.

 

Exhibit A - 2











 

	
TRUSTEE’S   CERTIFICATE OF
    	
 
    
	
AUTHENTICATION
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
U.S.   Bank National Association,
    	
 
    
	
as   Trustee, certifies that
    	
 
    
	
this is   one of the Notes
    	
 
    
	
referred   to in the Indenture.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Authorized   Signatory
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    


 

Exhibit A - 3












 

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

 

51⁄2% Senior Note due 2022

 

Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

1.                                      Interest.  Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Summit Midstream Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”), jointly and severally promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 5.500% per annum until maturity.  The Issuers will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing February 15, 2015, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”).  Interest on the Notes 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 or Event of 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, except in the case of the original issuance of Notes, in which case interest shall accrue from the date of authentication.  The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is the rate then in effect on the Notes to the extent lawful; and they shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful.  Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

2.                                      Method of Payment.  The Issuers 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 February 1 or August 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 3.11 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest.  Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to collect payments of principal and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest due at maturity.  The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, interest at the office or agency of the Issuers maintained for such purpose within the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to any amounts due on all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuers or the Paying Agent.  Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3.                                      Paying Agent and Registrar.  Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder.  Summit Midstream Partners, LP (the “Parent”) or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

Exhibit A - 4











 

4.                                      Indenture.  The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of July 15, 2014 (the “Base Indenture”) among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture of even date therewith (the Base Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, being called the “Indenture”).  The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).  The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms.  The Notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Issuers initially limited to $300.0 million aggregate principal amount in the case of Notes issued on the Initial Issuance Date (as defined in the Indenture).  In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Note and the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall govern.

 

5.                                      Optional Redemption.

 

(a)                                 On or after August 15, 2017, the Issuers shall have the option to redeem all or a portion of the Notes at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed to, but not including, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on August 15 of the years indicated below:

 

	
YEAR
    	
 
    	
PERCENTAGE
    	
 
    
	
2017 
    	
 
    	
104.125
    	
%
    
	
2018 
    	
 
    	
102.750
    	
%
    
	
2019 
    	
 
    	
101.375
    	
%
    
	
2020 and thereafter 
    	
 
    	
100.000
    	
%
    


 

(b)                                 At any time prior to August 15, 2017, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture at a redemption price of 105.500% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date), in an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings by the Company; provided that (i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (excluding any Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) and (ii) each such redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of each such Equity Offering.

 

(c)                                  Prior to August 15, 2017, the Issuers may redeem all or part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of (1) the principal amount thereof, plus (2) the Make Whole Premium at the redemption date, plus (3) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the redemption date).

 

Exhibit A - 5











 

(d)                                 The Notes may also be redeemed, as a whole, following certain Change of Control Offers, at the redemption price and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5.15(6) of the Indenture.

 

6.                                      Mandatory Redemption.

 

Except as set forth in Paragraph 7 below, neither of the Issuers shall be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes or to repurchase the Notes at the option of the Holders.

 

7.                                      Repurchase at Option of Holder.

 

(a)                                 Within 30 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the Notes as described in paragraph 5 above, the Company shall offer a cash payment (a “Change of Control Offer”) to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% (or, at the Company’s election, a higher percentage) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of settlement (the “Change of Control Settlement Date”), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date.  Within 30 days following a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the Notes as described in paragraph 5 above, the Company shall mail a notice of the Change of Control Offer to each Holder and the Trustee describing the transaction or transactions and identification of the ratings decline that together constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by Section 5.15 of the Indenture.

 

(b)                                 On the 361st day after an Asset Sale (or, at the Company’s option, any earlier date) plus any additional period as provided in the Indenture, if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds then exceeds $25.0 million, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Indenture, and to all holders of any Pari Passu Indebtedness then outstanding, to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds.

 

8.                                      Notice of Redemption.  Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.  If mailed in the manner provided for in Section 4.03 of the Indenture, the notice of redemption shall be conclusively presumed to have been given whether or not a Holder receives such notice.  Failure to give timely notice or any defect in the notice shall not affect the validity of the redemption.  Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.  On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

Exhibit A - 6











 

9.                                      Guarantees.  The payment by the Issuers of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by each of the Guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

 

10.                               Denominations, Transfer, Exchange.  The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.  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 due on transfer or exchange.  The Issuers need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.  Also, they need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

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

 

12.                               Amendment, Supplement and Waiver.  Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.  Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented (1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, (2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, (3) to provide for the assumption of an Issuer’s obligations to Holders of the Notes pursuant to Article 6 of the Indenture, (4) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, provided that any change to conform the Indenture to the Prospectus Supplement shall be deemed to not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any Holder, (5) to secure the Notes or the Guarantees pursuant to Section 5.12 of the Indenture or otherwise, (6) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture, (7) to add any additional Guarantor with respect to the Notes or to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee, in each case as provided in the Indenture, (8) to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or (9) to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under the Indenture of a successor Trustee.

 

13.                               Defaults and Remedies.  The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 7.01 of the Indenture.

 

14.                               Defeasance and Discharge.  The Notes are subject to defeasance and discharge upon the terms and conditions specified in the Indenture.

 

15.                               No Recourse Against Others.  None of the General Partner or any past, present or future director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the General Partner, the Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any 

 

Exhibit A - 7











 

liability for any obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Guarantees or the Indenture, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.  Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

16.                               Authentication.  This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

17.                               Abbreviations.  Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

18.                               CUSIP Numbers.  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers and corresponding ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers and corresponding ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders.  No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of  redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

19.                               Governing Law.  THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

20.                               Successors.  In the event a successor assumes all the obligations of an Issuer under the Notes and the Indenture, pursuant to the terms thereof, such Issuer will be released from all such obligations.

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture.  Requests may be made to:

 

Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC
 2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1250
 Dallas, Texas 75201
 Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

Exhibit A - 8











 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

 

	
 
    
	
Print   or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
    


 

	
 
    
	
(Insert   assignee’s Soc. Sec. or tax I.D. No.)
    


 

and irrevocably appoint                                      agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers.  The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

	
Date:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Your   Signature:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Sign   exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
						


 

	
Signature   Guarantee:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
(Signature   must be guaranteed)
    	
 
    


 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exhibit A - 9











 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 5.10 or 5.15 of the Indenture, check the box below:

 

	
o
    	
 
    	
Section 5.10
    	
 
    	
o
    	
 
    	
Section 5.15
    


 

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 5.10 or Section 5.15 of the Indenture, state the amount (in minimum denomination of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) you elect to have purchased:  $

 

	
Date:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Your   Signature:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
(Sign   exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)
    
						


 


	
 
    	
Soc.   Sec. or Tax Identification No.:
    




 

	
Signature   Guarantee:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(Signature   must be guaranteed)
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    


 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exhibit A - 10











 

[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTE]

 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

 

The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

	
Date
    	
 
    	
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
   Notes Custodian
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    


 

Exhibit A - 11












 

Exhibit B

 


 



SUMMIT MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS, LLC

 

SUMMIT MIDSTREAM FINANCE CORP.

 

and

 

the Guarantors named herein

 




 

51⁄2% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2022

 




 

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
 AND AMENDMENT — SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE

 

DATED AS OF                              ,

 




 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

Trustee

 




 


 



Exibit B - 1











 

This SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of                            ,         , is among Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Summit Midstream Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Finance Corp.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”), each of the parties identified under the caption “Guarantors” on the signature page hereto (the “Guarantors”) and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Issuers, the initial Guarantors and the Trustee entered into an Indenture dated as of July 15, 2014 (the “Base Indenture”) among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture of even date therewith (the Base Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, being called the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Company has issued $                     in the aggregate principal amount of 51⁄2% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, Section 10.01(g) of the Indenture provides that the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture in order to comply with Section 5.13 or 11.02 thereof, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things prescribed by the Indenture, by law and by the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws (or comparable constituent documents) of the Issuers, of the Guarantors and of the Trustee necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument legally binding on the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee, in accordance with its terms, have been duly done and performed;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, to comply with the provisions of the Indenture and in consideration of the above premises, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders of the Notes as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

 

Section 1.01.         This Supplemental Indenture is supplemental to the Indenture and does and shall be deemed to form a part of, and shall be construed in connection with and as part of, the Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

Section 1.02.         This Supplemental Indenture shall become effective immediately upon its execution and delivery by each of the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE 2

 

From this date, in accordance with Section 5.13 or 11.02 and by executing this Supplemental Indenture, the Guarantors whose signatures appear below are subject to the provisions of the Indenture as Subsidiary Guarantors to the extent provided for in Article 11 thereunder.

 

Exibit B - 2











 

ARTICLE 3

 

Section 3.01.         Except as specifically modified herein, the Indenture and the Notes are in all respects ratified and confirmed (mutatis mutandis) and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms with all capitalized terms used herein without definition having the same respective meanings ascribed to them as in the Indenture.

 

Section 3.02.         Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties, responsibilities or liabilities are assumed, or shall be construed to be assumed, by the Trustee by reason of this Supplemental Indenture.  This Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustee subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture with the same force and effect as if those terms and conditions were repeated at length herein and made applicable to the Trustee with respect hereto.

 

Section 3.03.         THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 3.04.         The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of such executed copies together shall represent the same agreement.

 

[NEXT PAGE IS SIGNATURE PAGE]

 

Exibit B - 3











 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first written above.

 

	
 
    	
SUMMIT   MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
SUMMIT   MIDSTREAM FINANCE CORP.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GUARANTORS
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
SUMMIT   MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
SUMMIT MIDSTREAM GP, LLC,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
its general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[                                                            ]
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
U.S.   BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
    
	
 
    	
as   Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    


 

Exibit B - 4