Document:

Exhibit 4.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

WALTER ENERGY, INC.

 

AND EACH OF THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO

 

8.500% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2021

 

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of March 27, 2013

 

 

Union Bank, N.A.

 

Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

	
Trust Indenture
   Act Section
    	
 
    	
Indenture Section
    
	
310(a)(1)
    	
 
    	
7.10
    
	
(a)(2)
    	
 
    	
7.10
    
	
(a)(3)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(a)(4)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(a)(5)
    	
 
    	
7.10
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
7.10
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
311(a)
    	
 
    	
7.11
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
7.11
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
312(a)
    	
 
    	
2.05
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
12.03
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
12.03
    
	
313(a)
    	
 
    	
7.06
    
	
(b)(2)
    	
 
    	
7.06; 7.07
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
7.06; 12.02
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
7.06
    
	
314(a)(4)
    	
 
    	
12.05
    
	
(e)
    	
 
    	
12.05
    
	
318(a)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
N.A.
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
12.01
    

 

N.A. means not applicable.

* This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
ARTICLE 1
    
	
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
    
	
BY REFERENCE
    
	
 
    
	
Section 1.01
    	
Definitions
    	
1
    
	
Section 1.02
    	
Other Definitions
    	
26
    
	
Section 1.03
    	
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act
    	
27
    
	
Section 1.04
    	
Rules of Construction
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 2
    
	
THE NOTES
    
	
 
    
	
Section 2.01
    	
Form and Dating
    	
27
    
	
Section 2.02
    	
Execution and Authentication
    	
28
    
	
Section 2.03
    	
Registrar and Paying Agent
    	
28
    
	
Section 2.04
    	
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust
    	
29
    
	
Section 2.05
    	
Holder Lists
    	
29
    
	
Section 2.06
    	
Transfer and Exchange
    	
29
    
	
Section 2.07
    	
Replacement Notes
    	
41
    
	
Section 2.08
    	
Outstanding Notes
    	
41
    
	
Section 2.09
    	
Treasury Notes
    	
42
    
	
Section 2.10
    	
Temporary Notes
    	
42
    
	
Section 2.11
    	
Cancellation
    	
42
    
	
Section 2.12
    	
Defaulted Interest
    	
42
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 3
    
	
REDEMPTION   AND PREPAYMENT
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 3.01
    	
Notices to Trustee
    	
43
    
	
Section 3.02
    	
Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased
    	
43
    
	
Section 3.03
    	
Notice of Redemption
    	
43
    
	
Section 3.04
    	
Effect of Notice of Redemption
    	
44
    
	
Section 3.05
    	
Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price
    	
44
    
	
Section 3.06
    	
Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part
    	
45
    
	
Section 3.07
    	
Optional Redemption
    	
45
    
	
Section 3.08
    	
Mandatory Redemption
    	
46
    
	
Section 3.09
    	
Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds
    	
46
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 4
    
	
COVENANTS
    
	
 
    
	
Section 4.01
    	
Payment of Notes
    	
47
    
	
Section 4.02
    	
Maintenance of Office or Agency
    	
48
    
	
Section 4.03
    	
Reports
    	
48
    
	
Section 4.04
    	
Compliance Certificate
    	
49
    
	
Section 4.05
    	
Taxes
    	
50
    
	
Section 4.06
    	
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws
    	
50
    
	
Section 4.07
    	
Restricted Payments
    	
50
    
	
Section 4.08
    	
Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting   Restricted Subsidiaries
    	
54
    
	
Section 4.09
    	
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Equity
    	
55
    
	
Section 4.10
    	
Asset Sales
    	
59
    

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 4.11
    	
Transactions with Affiliates
    	
61
    
	
Section 4.12
    	
Liens
    	
63
    
	
Section 4.13
    	
Corporate Existence
    	
63
    
	
Section 4.14
    	
Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control
    	
63
    
	
Section 4.15
    	
Payments for Consent
    	
65
    
	
Section 4.16
    	
Additional Note Guarantees
    	
65
    
	
Section 4.17
    	
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries
    	
65
    
	
Section 4.18
    	
Covenant Termination
    	
66
    
	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 5
    
	
SUCCESSORS
    
	
 
    
	
Section 5.01
    	
Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets
    	
66
    
	
Section 5.02
    	
Successor Substituted
    	
67
    
	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 6
    
	
DEFAULTS   AND REMEDIES
    
	
 
    
	
Section 6.01
    	
Events of Default
    	
67
    
	
Section 6.02
    	
Acceleration
    	
69
    
	
Section 6.03
    	
Other Remedies
    	
70
    
	
Section 6.04
    	
Waiver of Past Defaults
    	
70
    
	
Section 6.05
    	
Control by Majority
    	
70
    
	
Section 6.06
    	
Limitation on Suits
    	
70
    
	
Section 6.07
    	
Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment
    	
71
    
	
Section 6.08
    	
Collection Suit by Trustee
    	
71
    
	
Section 6.09
    	
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
    	
71
    
	
Section 6.10
    	
Priorities
    	
71
    
	
Section 6.11
    	
Undertaking for Costs
    	
72
    
	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 7
    
	
TRUSTEE
    
	
 
    
	
Section 7.01
    	
Duties of Trustee
    	
72
    
	
Section 7.02
    	
Rights of Trustee
    	
73
    
	
Section 7.03
    	
Individual Rights of Trustee
    	
74
    
	
Section 7.04
    	
Trustee’s Disclaimer
    	
74
    
	
Section 7.05
    	
Notice of Defaults
    	
74
    
	
Section 7.06
    	
Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes
    	
74
    
	
Section 7.07
    	
Compensation and Indemnity
    	
74
    
	
Section 7.08
    	
Replacement of Trustee
    	
75
    
	
Section 7.09
    	
Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
    	
76
    
	
Section 7.10
    	
Eligibility; Disqualification
    	
76
    
	
Section 7.11
    	
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer
    	
76
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 8
    
	
LEGAL   DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
    
	
 
    
	
Section 8.01
    	
Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
    	
77
    
	
Section 8.02
    	
Legal Defeasance and Discharge
    	
77
    
	
Section 8.03
    	
Covenant Defeasance
    	
77
    
	
Section 8.04
    	
Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance
    	
78
    
	
Section 8.05
    	
Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in   Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions
    	
79
    
	
Section 8.06
    	
Repayment to Issuer
    	
79
    

 

ii

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 8.07
    	
Reinstatement
    	
80
    
	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 9
    
	
AMENDMENT,   SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
    
	
 
    
	
Section 9.01
    	
Without Consent of Holders of Notes
    	
80
    
	
Section 9.02
    	
With Consent of Holders of Notes
    	
81
    
	
Section 9.03
    	
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act
    	
82
    
	
Section 9.04
    	
Revocation and Effect of Consents
    	
82
    
	
Section 9.05
    	
Notation on or Exchange of Notes
    	
82
    
	
Section 9.06
    	
Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
    	
83
    
	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 10
    
	
NOTE   GUARANTEES
    
	
 
    
	
Section 10.01
    	
Guarantee
    	
83
    
	
Section 10.02
    	
Limitation on Guarantor Liability
    	
84
    
	
Section 10.03
    	
Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee
    	
84
    
	
Section 10.04
    	
Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain   Terms
    	
85
    
	
Section 10.05
    	
Releases
    	
85
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 11
    
	
SATISFACTION   AND DISCHARGE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 11.01
    	
Satisfaction and Discharge
    	
86
    
	
Section 11.02
    	
Application of Trust Money
    	
87
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 12
    
	
MISCELLANEOUS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 12.01
    	
Trust Indenture Act Controls
    	
87
    
	
Section 12.02
    	
Notices
    	
87
    
	
Section 12.03
    	
Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of   Notes
    	
88
    
	
Section 12.04
    	
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent
    	
89
    
	
Section 12.05
    	
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion
    	
89
    
	
Section 12.06
    	
Rules by Trustee and Agents
    	
89
    
	
Section 12.07
    	
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees,   Stockholders and Members
    	
89
    
	
Section 12.08
    	
Governing Law
    	
90
    
	
Section 12.09
    	
No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements
    	
90
    
	
Section 12.10
    	
Successors
    	
90
    
	
Section 12.11
    	
Severability
    	
90
    
	
Section 12.12
    	
Counterpart Originals
    	
90
    
	
Section 12.13
    	
Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
    	
90
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
EXHIBITS
    
	
Exhibit A
    	
FORM OF   NOTE
    	
 
    
	
Exhibit B
    	
FORM OF   CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
    	
 
    
	
Exhibit C
    	
FORM OF   CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
    	
 
    
	
Exhibit D
    	
FORM OF   CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
    	
 
    
	
Exhibit E
    	
FORM OF   SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
    	
 
    
				

 

iii

 

INDENTURE dated as of March 27, 2013 among Walter Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Guarantors (as defined herein) and Union Bank, N.A., as trustee.

 

The Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee (as defined herein) agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) of the  8.500% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “Notes”) and the Exchange Notes (as defined herein) that may be issued in exchange for the Initial Notes or Additional Notes in an Exchange Offer (each as defined herein):

 

ARTICLE 1
 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
 BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.01 Definitions.

 

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

 

“2020 Notes” means the Issuer’s 9.875% Senior Notes due 2020.

 

“2020 Notes Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2012, among the Issuer, the guarantors party thereto and Union Bank, N.A., as trustee.

 

“2020 Notes Issue Date” means November 21, 2012.

 

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

 

(1)           Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Restricted 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 Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and

 

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

 

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

 

“Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.02 and 4.09 hereof, as part of the same series as the Notes, issued as Initial Notes.

 

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, 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. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under  common control with” have correlative meanings.

 

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

 

1

 

‘‘Applicable Premium’’ means, with respect to any Note on any redemption date, the greater of:

 

(1)           1.0% of the principal amount of the Note; or

 

(2)           the excess of:

 

(a)           the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Note at April 15, 2017 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 3.07(d) hereof), plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through April 15, 2017 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the applicable redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over

 

(b)           the principal amount of the Note.

 

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

 

“Asset Acquisition” means:

 

(1)           an Investment by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in any other Person pursuant to which such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, or shall be merged with or into or consolidated with the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; or

 

(2)           the acquisition by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprise any division or line of business of such Person or any other properties or assets of such Person other than in the ordinary course of business.

 

“Asset Sale” means any sale, transfer or other disposition by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to any person other than the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary of any asset or group of related assets, including Equity Interests of any Subsidiary, in one or a series of related transactions, the gross proceeds from which exceed $50 million; provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of Sections 4.14 and/or 5.01 hereof and not by the provisions of Section 4.10 hereof.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale:

 

(1)           any sale, transfer or other disposition of inventory, surplus, obsolete or worn-out equipment, assets determined by management of the Issuer to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, Permitted Investments or any other asset, all in the ordinary course of business;

 

(2)           any sale, transfer or other disposition of any assets of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary;

 

2

 

(3)           any sale, transfer or other disposition of unrestricted cash, Cash Equivalents or Permitted Investments of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(4)           a sale leaseback transaction so long as at the time the lease in connection therewith is entered into, and after giving effect to the entering into of such lease (a) no Event of Default is continuing or would result therefrom and (b) any such sale leaseback transaction shall be consummated for Fair Market Value as determined at the time of consummation in good faith as determined by the Issuer;

 

(5)           the sale or other transfer (including by capital contribution) of assets pursuant to Qualified Receivables Financings;

 

(6)           the sale of defaulted receivables in the ordinary course of business and not as part of an accounts receivables financing transaction;

 

(7)           licensing, sublicensing and cross-licensing arrangements involving any technology or other intellectual property of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(8)           any exchange of assets related to a Permitted Business for assets of comparable market value related to a Permitted Business, as determined in good faith by the Issuer;

 

(9)           Liens permitted under Section 4.12 hereof; Restricted Payments permitted under Section 4.07 hereof and Permitted Investments permitted under this Indenture;

 

(10)         any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

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

 

(12)         the sale or discounting of accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business;

 

(13)         any sale of assets received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries upon the foreclosure of a Lien; and

 

(14)         the  sale  or  other  disposition  (whether  or  not  in the  ordinary  course  of business) of coal properties, provided at the time of such sale or other disposition such  properties  do  not  have associated  with them  any proved  reserves.

 

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code 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 after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.

 

“Board of Directors” means:

 

3

 

(1)           with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

 

(2)           with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors or other governing body of the general partner of the partnership;

 

(3)           with respect to a limited liability company, the Board of Directors or other governing body, and in the absence of same, the manager or board of managers or the managing member or members or any controlling committee thereof; and

 

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

 

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York State.

 

“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 (excluding the footnotes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP and  the  Stated  Maturity  thereof shall be the date  of the last payment  of rent  or any other  amount  due under  such lease prior  to the first date  upon  which such lease may be prepaid  by the lessee without  payment  of a penalty.

 

“Capital Stock” means:

 

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

 

(2)           in the case of an association or business entity that is not a corporation, 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, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

“Cash Equivalents” means:

 

(1)           United States dollars or any other currencies held from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

 

(2)           securities issued by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government having maturities of not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

 

(3)           certificates of deposit, time deposits, money market deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities of two years or less and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any lender

 

4

 

party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500 million;

 

(4)           repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3) and (6) of this definition entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

 

(5)           commercial paper rated at least P-2 by Moody’s or at least A-2 by S&P and, in each case, maturing within two years after the date of acquisition;

 

(6)           securities issued or fully guaranteed by any state or commonwealth of the United States, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least Baa3 by Moody’s or BBB- by S&P and, in each case, maturing within two years after the date of acquisition;

 

(7)           mutual funds whose investment guidelines restrict 90% of such funds’ investments to those satisfying the provisions of clauses (1) through (6) above;

 

(8)           money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $500 million;

 

(9)           time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits in an aggregate face amount not in excess of 1⁄2 of 1% of the total assets of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, as of the end of the Issuer’s most recently completed fiscal year; and

 

(10)         Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons rated at least A-2 by Moody’s or A by S&P.

 

“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 of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act);

 

(2)           the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer; or

 

(3)           the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Issuer measured by voting power rather than number of shares.

 

“Consolidated Cash Flow” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period (A) plus, without duplication, to the extent the same was deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income:

 

(1)           provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including without limitation state, franchise and similar taxes (such as West Virginia franchise tax), of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; plus

 

5

 

 

(2)                                 the Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; plus

 

(3)                                 depreciation, depletion, amortization (including amortization of intangibles, deferred financing fees and any amortization included in pension, OPEB or other employee benefit expenses, but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (including without limitation write-downs and impairment of property, plant, equipment and intangibles and other long-lived assets and the impact of purchase accounting, but excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; plus

 

(4)                                 the amount of any unusual or non-recurring losses or charges, business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include retention, severance, systems establishment cost or excess pension, OPEB, black lung settlement, curtailment or other excess charges and fees, expenses, charges or premiums related to any offering or modification of Indebtedness of such person permitted to be incurred); plus

 

(5)                                 the noncash portion of “straight-line” rent expense; plus

 

(6)                                 the income attributable to the minority equity interests of third parties in any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary in such period or any prior period, except to the extent of dividends declared or paid on Equity Interests held by third parties; plus

 

(7)                                 any net loss (or minus any net gain) attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, including, without  limitation,  any premiums  or similar charges related  to any refinancing  transaction or any amendment or modification  of any Indebtedness; plus

 

(8)                                 accretion of asset retirement obligations in accordance with Accounting Standards Codifications (“ASC”) 410 Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations, and any similar accounting in prior periods; minus

 

(B)                               (1) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than any items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated charges in any prior period where such accrual or reserve is no longer required, (2) the losses attributable to the minority equity interests of third parties in any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary, in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP and (3) the cash portion of “straight line” rent expense which exceeds the amount expensed in respect of such rent expense.

 

“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)                                 any net after-tax extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring gains or losses or income or expense or charges (including, without limitation, income, expenses and charges from litigation and arbitration settlements, severance, retention, relocation and other restructuring costs), less all fees and expenses relating thereto, shall be excluded;

 

(2)                                 fees, expenses or charges related to any Asset Sale, any Asset Acquisition (or any similar transaction or transactions), any incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, including any

 

6

 

refinancing transaction or any amendment or modification of any Indebtedness, or the issuance of any Equity Interests and including any such transaction occurring on, prior to or after the Issue Date (in each case, whether or not successful) shall be excluded;

 

(3)                                 any net after-tax income or loss from discontinued operations and any net after-tax gain or loss on disposal of discontinued operations shall be excluded;

 

(4)                                 any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer) shall be excluded;

 

(5)                                 any net after-tax income or loss (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness, Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

 

(6)                                 (A) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting (including the JV Subsidiary), shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments in respect of equity that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) by the referent Person to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period and (B) the Net Income for such period shall include any dividend, distribution or other payments in respect of equity paid in cash by such Person to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in excess of the amount included in clause (A);

 

(7)                                 any increase in depreciation, depletion or amortization or any one-time non-cash charges (such as purchased in-process research and development or capitalized manufacturing profit in inventory) resulting from purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition that is consummated prior to or after the Issue Date shall be excluded;

 

(8)                                 any non-cash impairment charges resulting from the application of ASC 350 Intangibles—Goodwill and Other and ASC 360 Property, Plant and Equipment and the amortization of intangibles pursuant to ASC 805 Business Combinations shall be excluded;

 

(9)                                 any long-term incentive plan accruals and any non-cash compensation expense realized from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be excluded;

 

(10)                          (A) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from obligations under any Hedging Obligations and the application of ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging and (B) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses shall be excluded;

 

(11)                          solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a)(C)(i), the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor will be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted

 

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Subsidiary or its stockholders or members, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived; provided that Consolidated Net Income of such Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) by such Person to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

 

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

 

(13)                          any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such gain or loss, realized in connection with (a) any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions) or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries shall be excluded; and

 

(14)                          the Consolidated Net Income of the JV Subsidiary shall be excluded except as provided  in clause (6) above.

 

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

 

“Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement among the Issuer, as U.S. Borrower, Western  Coal Corp and Walter Energy Canada Holdings, Inc., as Canadian Borrowers and various other parties thereto, dated as of April 1, 2011, and any amendments thereto, as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

“Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities, including the Credit Agreement, or other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables), letters of credit or other long term Indebtedness, including any notes, bonds, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings, replacements (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinancing thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities or debt securities that replace, refund or refinance any part of the Indebtedness or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

 

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

 

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

 

“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

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“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all  successors  thereto  appointed  as  depositary  hereunder  and  having  become  such  pursuant  to  the applicable provision of this Indenture.

 

“Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as “Designated Non-cash Consideration” pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation.

 

“Designated Preferred Stock” means preferred stock of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, on the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.07(a)(C)(ii) hereof.

 

“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, (x) any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Issuer or the Subsidiary that issued such Capital Stock to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock, (y) any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely as a result of any redemption feature that is conditioned upon, and subject to, compliance with Section 4.07 hereof will not constitute Disqualified Stock and (z) any Capital Stock issued to any plan for the benefit of employees will not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer or the Subsidiary that issued such Capital Stock in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations. The amount of Disqualified Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of this Indenture will be the maximum amount that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock, exclusive of accrued dividends.

 

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.

 

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

 

“Equity Offering” means a public or private offering of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer (other than a registration statement on Form S-8 or otherwise relating to equity securities issuable under any employee benefit plan of the Issuer).

 

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

 

“Exchange Notes” means the senior notes of the Issuer that may be issued in exchange for the Initial Notes or Additional Notes in an Exchange Offer.

 

“Exchange Offer” means the offer that may be made by the Issuer pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement to exchange the Notes for Exchange Notes.

 

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“Exchange Registration Statement” means a registration statement relating to an Exchange Offer.

 

“Excluded Contributions” means the net cash proceeds received by the Issuer after the Issue Date from:

 

(1)                                 contributions to its common equity capital, and

 

(2)                                 the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer,

 

in each case designated as “Excluded Contributions” pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate executed by an Officer of the Issuer, the net cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.07(a)(C)(ii) hereof.

 

“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 (i) the principal financial officer of the Issuer for transactions less than $50.0 million and (ii) the Board of Directors of the Issuer (unless otherwise provided in this Indenture) for transactions valued at, or in excess of, $50.0 million.

 

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means with respect to any specified Person for any 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, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness (other than (i) ordinary working capital borrowings and (ii) in the case of revolving credit borrowings or revolving advances under any Qualified Receivables Financing, in which case interest expense will be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred equity or Disqualified Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred equity or Disqualified Stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.

 

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Asset Acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), and any related financing transactions, that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has made after the Issue Date and during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Asset Acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and discontinued operations (and the change of any associated Fixed Charges and the change in Consolidated Cash Flow resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period, including any pro forma expense and cost reductions and other operating improvements that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial officer of the Issuer (regardless of whether these 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 SEC related thereto). Any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such four-quarter period, and if, since the beginning of the four-quarter reference period, any Person that

 

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subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any of its other Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any acquisition, Investment, disposition, merger, consolidation or discontinued operation, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be adjusted giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Asset Acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger or consolidation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period. Any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during such four-quarter period.

 

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest on a Capital Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capital Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Issuer may designate. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable determination of the Issuer as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, to reflect operating expense reductions reasonably expected to result from any acquisition or merger.

 

“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, excluding amortization of debt issuance costs, deferred financing fees, the expensing of any bridge or other financing fees, any non-cash interest payments attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP and any non-cash interest expense imputed on any convertible debt securities in accordance with FASB APB 14-1, but including original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations (classified as Indebtedness under this Indenture), the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations in respect of interest rates; plus

 

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

 

(3)                                 all cash dividend payments or other cash distributions on any series of preferred equity of such Person and all other dividend payments or other distributions on the Disqualified Stock of such Person.

 

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is incorporated or organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

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“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the 2020 Notes Issue Date.

 

“Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(2) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

 

“Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(3), 2.06(b)(4), 2.06(d) or 2.06(f) hereof.

 

“Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.

 

“Guarantee” means a guarantee, other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner, including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise).

 

“Guarantors” means each of:

 

(1)                                 the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that execute this Indenture on the Issue Date; and

 

(2)                                 any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that executes a supplemental indenture in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture,

 

and their respective successors and assigns, in each case, until the Note Guarantee of such Person has been released in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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

 

(1)                                 interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements or other similar agreements or arrangements;

 

(2)                                 any commodity forward contract, commodity swap agreement, commodity option agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement;

 

(3)                                 any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures contract, option agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement; or

 

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

 

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

 

“IAI Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes transferred to Institutional Accredited Investors in compliance with the Securities Act.

 

“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 evidencing obligations for borrowed money or letters of credit;

 

(3)                                 representing Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(4)                                 representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services due more than one year after such property is acquired or such services are completed (except trade accounts payable and accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business);

 

(5)                                 representing the net obligations under any Hedging Obligations in the event of an early termination; or

 

(6)                                 to the extent not otherwise included, with respect to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, the amount then outstanding (i.e., advanced, and received by, and available for use by, the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) under any Receivables Financing (as set forth in the books and records of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and confirmed by the agent, trustee or other representative of the institution or group providing such Receivables Financing),

 

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes (i) 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); provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness shall be the lesser of (x) the Fair Market Value of such asset as such date of determination and (y) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person; and (ii) to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person. “Indebtedness” shall not include (a) with respect to any equity-linked security, the equity credit reflected on the most recent balance sheet of the Issuer, (b) obligations not incurred in connection with borrowed money, except to the extent expressly provided above, and without limitation shall not include (i) bid bonds, performance bonds, completion bonds, surety bonds, appeal bonds and other similar bonds, guarantees or obligations, (ii) purchase price adjustments, earn outs or similar obligations incurred in connection with the disposition of any assets, (iii) reimbursement obligations, (iv) indemnification obligations, (v) letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments to secure any of the foregoing, to the extent such letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments have not been drawn upon or, if drawn upon, not reimbursed thereafter within sixty (60) days or (vi) obligations

 

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resulting from cash management services and (c) any liabilities of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary

 

“Indenture” means this 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 Notes” means the first $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.

 

“Initial Purchasers” means Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Natixis Securities Americas LLC, BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC, Comerica Securities, Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., ING Financial Markets LLC, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc., Mizuho Securities USA Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Regions Securities LLC and TD Securities (USA) LLC.

 

“Institutional Accredited Investor” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act, who is not also a QIB.

 

“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 accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary of the Issuer, the Issuer will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Issuer’s Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in Section 4.07(c) hereof. The outstanding amount of any Investment shall be the original cost thereof, reduced by all returns on such Investment (including dividends, interest, distributions and returns of principal).

 

“Issue Date” means March 27, 2013.

 

“Issuer” means Walter Energy, Inc. and all successors thereto.

 

“JV Subsidiary” means Belcourt Saxon Coal, L.P., a British Columbia Limited Partnership.

 

“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, except in connection with any Qualified Receivables Financing.

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors and assigns.

 

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

 

“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale and any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but excluding the assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness relating to the disposed assets or other consideration received in any non-cash form), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, including, without limitation, title and recording tax expenses, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale or 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, and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under a Credit Facility, secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP) including without limitation, pension and post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

 

“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness:

 

(1)                                 as to which neither the Issuer nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness) other than a pledge of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise) other than by virtue of a pledge of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, or (c) constitutes the lender; and

 

(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) would permit, upon notice, lapse of time or both, any holder of any other Indebtedness (other than the Notes) of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of such other Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity.

 

“Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.

 

“Note Guarantee” means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

 

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

 

“Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

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“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by two Officers of the Issuer (or on behalf of a Guarantor by two Officers of such Guarantor, as the case may be).

 

“Opinion of Counsel”  means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel who may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or a Guarantor or who may be other counsel satisfactory to the Trustee.

 

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

 

“Permitted Business” means any business or business activity conducted by the Issuer or its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date and any business or business activities incidental or related thereto, or any business or activity that is reasonably similar thereto (including extraction, processing and marketing of any types of fuels or minerals or coal brokering, coal transportation and handling, power marketing, electricity generation, power/energy sales and trading), or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof or ancillary or complementary thereto.

 

“Permitted Investments” means:

 

(1)                                 any Investment in the Issuer or in any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

 

(2)                                 any Investment in cash or Cash Equivalents;

 

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

 

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

 

(b)                                 such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

 

(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 4.10 hereof;

 

(5)                                 any acquisition of assets or Capital Stock solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer;

 

(6)                                 any Investments received (a) in compromise, settlement or resolution of (i) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer; or (ii) litigation, arbitration or other disputes; or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

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(7)                                 Investments represented by Hedging Obligations entered into not for speculative purposes;

 

(8)                                 loans or advances to officers, directors and employees made in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

 

(9)                                 repurchases of the Notes;

 

(10)                          Investments in Permitted Businesses having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $375 million and (y) 7.5% of Total Tangible Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (10) is made in a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (10) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(11)                          any Investment in a Receivables Subsidiary or any Investment by a Receivables Subsidiary in any other Person in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, including Investments of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Financing or any related Indebtedness; provided, however, that any Investment in a Receivables Subsidiary is in the form of a Purchase Money Note, contribution of additional receivables or an equity interest;

 

(12)                          Investments in joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries, or entities that become joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries as a result of such Investments, having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (12) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $500 million and (y) 10% of Total Tangible Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (12) is made in a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (12) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(13)                          any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with Section 4.11(b) hereof (except for transactions described in Sections 4.11(b)(7), (9) and (12) hereof);

 

(14)                          Guarantees of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in accordance with Sections 4.09 and 4.16 hereof;

 

(15)                          any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to a binding commitment existing on, the 2020 Notes Issue Date and any Investment that extends, modifies, renews, replaces, refinances or refunds an existing Investment; provided that the new Investment is in an amount that does not exceed the amount extended, modified, renewed, replaced, refinanced or refunded,

 

17

 

and is made in the same Person as the Investment so extended, modified, renewed, replaced, refinanced or refunded;

 

(16)                          Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(17)                          additional Investments by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (17) that are at the time outstanding (measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), not to exceed the greater of (x) $500 million and (y) 10% of Total Tangible Assets as of the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available; provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (17) is made in a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (17) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(18)                          Investments of any Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of a corporation merged into or consolidated with the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, to the extent such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

 

(19)                          accounts receivable, advances and prepayments and other trade credits made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(20)                          Investments resulting from pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(21)                          Investments in the Equity Interests of the Issuer in connection with the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests held by then present or former directors, consultants, officers or employees of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries or by any employee pension benefit plan;

 

provided, however, that with respect to any Investment, the Issuer may, in its sole discretion, allocate all or any portion of any Investment to one or more of the above clauses (1) through (21) so that the entire Investment would be a Permitted Investment.

 

“Permitted Liens” means:

 

(1)                                 Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations under Credit Facilities incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(1) hereof and/or securing Hedging Obligations related thereto;

 

(2)                                 Liens in favor of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(3)                                 Liens on property or assets of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into, or consolidated with or acquired by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer and Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(11) hereof, plus renewals and extensions of such Liens; provided that such Liens were not incurred in contemplation of such merger or consolidation  and do not apply to any assets of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries

 

18

 

other than (a) assets securing such Indebtedness at the date of the acquisition of such assets, (b) assets whose acquisition is financed or refinanced by such Indebtedness or (c) after-acquired assets subjected to such Liens;

 

(4)                                 Liens on property or assets (including Capital Stock) existing at the time of acquisition of such property or assets by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to such acquisition and not incurred in contemplation of, such acquisition;

 

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

 

(6)                                 Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(4) hereof covering only the assets acquired, constructed or improved with or financed by such Indebtedness, and additions, accessions, improvements and replacements and customary deposits in connection therewith; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;

 

(7)                                 Liens existing on the 2020 Notes Issue Date, plus renewals and extensions of such Liens;

 

(8)                                 Liens created for the benefit of (or to secure) the Notes (or the Note Guarantees);

 

(9)                                 Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture; provided, however, that:

 

(a)                                 the new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Indebtedness (plus improvements and accessions to, such property or proceeds or distributions thereof); and

 

(b)                                 the Indebtedness secured by the new Lien is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, committed amount, of the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and (y) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such renewal, refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or discharge;

 

(10)                          Liens securing Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount outstanding not to exceed, at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness or if later, at the time of the incurrence of the Lien, the greater of (x) $300 million and (y) 6% of Total Tangible Assets as of the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available;

 

(11)                          Liens on Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(12)                          Liens on accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” incurred in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing;

 

19

 

(13)                          Liens to secure a defeasance or satisfaction and discharge trust;

 

(14)                          Liens securing Indebtedness supported by a letter of credit issued under a Credit Facility;

 

(15)                          Liens securing insurance premium financing arrangements otherwise permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;

 

(16)                          Liens securing Capital Lease Obligations incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any sale leaseback transaction otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

 

(17)                          Liens on the assets of any Foreign Subsidiary securing Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries;

 

(18)                          Liens securing Guarantees incurred under Section 4.09(b)(10) hereof to the extent the Indebtedness subject to such Guarantee is secured;

 

(19)                          Liens securing the aggregate amount of Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) incurred in connection with (or at any time following the consummation of) an Asset Acquisition made in accordance with this Indenture equal to, at the time of incurrence, the net increase in inventory, accounts receivable and net property, reserves, plant and equipment attributable to such Asset Acquisition from the amounts reflected on the Issuer’s historical consolidated balance sheet as of the end of the full fiscal quarter ending on or prior to the date of such Asset Acquisition, calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Asset Acquisition (which amount may, but need not, be incurred in whole or in part under the Credit Agreement) less the amount of Indebtedness incurred in connection with such Asset Acquisition secured by Liens pursuant to clauses (4) or (6) above;

 

(20)                          Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on the property of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary if the same shall not at the time be delinquent or thereafter can be paid without penalty, or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision that shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor;

 

(21)                          Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens and other similar Liens, on the property of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary arising in the ordinary course of business and securing payment of obligations that are not more than 60 days past due or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;

 

(22)                          Liens on the property of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business to secure performance of obligations with respect to statutory or regulatory requirements, performance or return-of-money bonds, surety bonds or other obligations of a like nature and incurred in a manner consistent with industry practice, in each case which are not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or credit or the payment of the deferred purchase price of property and which do not in the aggregate impair in any material respect the use of property in the operation of the business of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

(23)                          pledges or deposits by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary under workers’ compensation laws, unemployment-insurance laws, old-age pensions or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of

 

20

 

Indebtedness) or leases to which the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary is party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of the Issuer, or deposits for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(24)                          utility easements, building restrictions and such other encumbrances or charges against real property as are of a nature generally existing with respect to properties of a similar character;

 

(25)                          judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default, that are being contested in good faith by appropriate legal proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

 

(26)                          rights of banks to set off deposits against debts owed to said bank;

 

(27)                          contract mining agreements and leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

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

 

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

 

(1)                                 the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness extended, renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged (plus any unpaid accrued interest and premium required to be paid on the Indebtedness being so extended, renewed, refunded, replaced, defeased or discharged, plus the amount of all fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith);

 

(2)                                 such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged; provided that this clause (2) shall not apply to debt under a Credit Facility;

 

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

 

(4)                                 Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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

 

21

 

“Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(1) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

 

“Purchase Money Note” means a promissory note of a Receivables Subsidiary evidencing a line of credit, which may be irrevocable, from the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer to a Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, which note is intended to finance that portion of the purchase price that is not paid by cash or a contribution of equity.

 

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

 

“Qualified Receivables Financing” means any Receivables Financing of a Receivables Subsidiary that meets the following conditions:

 

(1)                                 the Board of Directors of the Issuer will have determined in good faith that such Qualified Receivables Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Issuer and the Receivables Subsidiary,

 

(2)                                 all sales of accounts receivable and related assets to the Receivables Subsidiary are made at Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), and

 

(3)                                 the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof will be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

 

The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) to secure a Credit Facility will not be deemed a Qualified Receivables Financing.

 

“Ratings Event” means the Notes are assigned a credit rating of at least BBB- (stable) from S&P and of at least Baa3 (stable) from Moody’s.

 

“Receivables Financing” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to (a) a Receivables Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries), and (b) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Receivables Subsidiary), or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, or any interest therein, and any assets related thereto, including, without limitation, all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, proceeds of such accounts receivable and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving accounts receivable and any Hedging Obligations entered into by the Issuer or any such Subsidiary in connection with such accounts receivable.

 

“Receivables Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller of receivables in a Qualified Receivables Financing to repurchase receivables arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

 

22

 

“Receivables Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Issuer (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in a Qualified Receivables Financing with the Issuer in which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer makes an Investment and to which the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable, and in business related or ancillary thereto, of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and which is designated by the Board of Directors of the Issuer (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary and:

 

(1)                                 no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

 

(2)                                 with which neither the Issuer nor any other Subsidiary of the Issuer has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Issuer reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Issuer or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Issuer; and

 

(3)                                 to which neither the Issuer nor any other Subsidiary of the Issuer has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

 

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall be evidenced to the trustee by filing with the trustee a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Issuer giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

 

“Registration Rights Agreement” means (i) with respect to the Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Registration Rights Agreement, to be dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time and (ii) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the initial purchasers under the related purchase agreement, in each case as the same may be amended or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

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

 

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

 

“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of  the  Trustee  customarily  performing  functions  similar  to  those  performed  by  any  of  the  above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any

 

23

 

other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

 

“Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

 

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

 

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

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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

 

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

 

“Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

“Rule 904” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and its successors and assigns.

 

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

“Shelf Registration Statement” means a shelf registration statement filed in accordance with the provisions of a Registration Rights Agreement.

 

“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 Issue Date.

 

“Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer which the Issuer has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing including, without limitation, those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Receivables Subsidiary, it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.

 

“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 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 (herein referred to as the “parent”), any corporation, partnership, association or other business entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or

 

24

 

more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, at the time any determination is being made, directly or indirectly, owned, controlled or held by the parent, or (b) whose accounts are consolidated with the accounts of the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent in such parent’s or subsidiaries’ SEC filings. Unless the context otherwise requires, Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary of the Issuer. In addition the JV Subsidiary shall be treated as a Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture.

 

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).

 

“Total Tangible Assets” means the total consolidated tangible assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Issuer for which internal financial statements are available.

 

“Treasury Rate” means, as of any redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two business days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to April 15, 2017; provided that, if the period from the redemption date to April 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 will be used.

 

“Trustee” means Union Bank, N.A. until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

 

“Unrestricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

“Unrestricted Global Note” means a Global Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary of the Issuer that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors, (b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or (c) any Receivables Subsidiary; provided that any such Receivables Subsidiary of the Issuer that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall, upon the termination of any such Qualified Receivables Financing (other than as a result of an event of default thereunder unless and until the obligations thereunder are repaid in full), cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and provided that such Subsidiary:

 

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

 

(2)                                 is a Person with respect to which neither the Issuer 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

 

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

 

As of the Issue Date, Black Warrior Methane Corp. and Black Warrior Transmission Corp. will be Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

25

 

“U.S. Person” means a U.S. Person as defined in Rule 902(k) promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

“Voting Stock” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

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

 

(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.

 

“Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary” of any specified Person means a Domestic Subsidiary that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary and whose shares are not held, directly or indirectly, by any Foreign Subsidiary.

 

“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any specified Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, all of the Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or nominee or other similar shares required pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

Section 1.02                                        Other Definitions.

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Defined in
    
	
Term
    	
 
    	
Section
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Affiliate   Transaction”
    	
 
    	
4.11
    
	
“Asset   Sale Offer”
    	
 
    	
3.09
    
	
“Authentication   Order”
    	
 
    	
2.02
    
	
“Calculation   Date”
    	
 
    	
1.01 under “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”
    
	
“Change   of Control Offer”
    	
 
    	
4.14
    
	
“Change   of Control Payment”
    	
 
    	
4.14
    
	
“Change   of Control Payment Date”
    	
 
    	
4.14
    
	
“Covenant   Defeasance”
    	
 
    	
8.03
    
	
“DTC”
    	
 
    	
2.03
    
	
“Event   of Default”
    	
 
    	
6.01
    
	
“Excess   Proceeds”
    	
 
    	
4.10
    
	
“incur”
    	
 
    	
4.09
    
	
“Legal   Defeasance”
    	
 
    	
8.02
    
	
“Offer   Amount”
    	
 
    	
3.09
    
	
“Offer   Period”
    	
 
    	
3.09
    
	
“Paying   Agent”
    	
 
    	
2.03
    
	
“Permitted   Debt”
    	
 
    	
4.09
    
	
“Payment   Default”
    	
 
    	
6.01
    

 

26

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Defined in
    
	
Term
    	
 
    	
Section
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“Purchase   Date”
    	
 
    	
3.09
    
	
“Registrar”
    	
 
    	
2.03
    
	
“Restricted   Payments”
    	
 
    	
4.07
    

 

Section 1.03                                        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.

 

The following TIA term used in this Indenture has the following meaning:

 

“obligor” on the Notes and the Note Guarantees means the Issuer and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and the Note Guarantees, respectively.

 

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

 

Section 1.04                                        Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

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

 

(3)                                 “or” is not exclusive;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(7)                                 references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act or the TIA will be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.

 

ARTICLE 2
 THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01                                        Form and Dating.

 

(a)                                 General.  The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication 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 of $2,000.

 

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

 

(b)                                 Global Notes.  Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto).  Notes issued in definitive form 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 shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.  Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.

 

Section 2.02                                        Execution and Authentication.

 

At least one Officer must sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid.

 

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

 

The Trustee will, upon receipt of a written order of the Issuer signed by at least one Officer (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate Notes for original issue that may be validly issued under this Indenture, including any Additional Notes.  The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance by the Issuer pursuant to one or more Authentication Orders, except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.

 

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

 

Section 2.03                                        Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

The Issuer will maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”).  The Registrar will keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange.  The Issuer may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents.  The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.  The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder.  The Issuer will notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture.  If the Issuer fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such.  The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

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

 

The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.  The place of payment with respect to the Notes, in addition to the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, shall be New York, New York, and at such time, if ever, as the Notes are no longer represented by one or more Global Notes, the Issuer shall appoint and maintain a Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, the intention of the Issuer being that, after giving effect to the procedures of the Depositary respecting payments on Global Notes, the Notes shall at all times be payable in New York, New York.

 

The immunities, protections and exculpations available to the Trustee under this Indenture shall also be available to each Agent, and the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof to compensate and indemnify the Trustee shall extend likewise to each Agent.

 

Section 2.04                                        Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

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

 

Section 2.05                                        Holder Lists.

 

The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).  If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer will furnish to the Trustee 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 the Holders of Notes and the Issuer shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).

 

Section 2.06                                        Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a)                                 Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.  A Global Note may not be transferred 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 Global Notes will be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes if:

 

(1)                                 the Issuer 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 Issuer within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;

 

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(2)                                 the Issuer in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee;  or

 

(3)                                 there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes.

 

Upon the occurrence of any 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 2.07 and 2.10 hereof.  Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note.  A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f) hereof.

 

(b)                                 Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes.  The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures.  Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act.  Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

 

(1)                                 Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note.  Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser).  Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note.  No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(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 2.06(b)(1) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

 

(A)                               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 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

 

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(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 the transfer or exchange referred to in (B)(i) above.

 

Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Issuer in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement and Section 2.06(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.06(b)(2) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the letter of transmittal delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes.  Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

 

(3)                                 Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note.  A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and the Registrar receives the following:

 

(A)                               if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

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

 

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

 

(4)                                 Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note.  A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and:

 

(A)                               such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable letter of transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer;

 

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

 

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

 

(D)                               the Registrar receives the following:

 

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

 

(ii)                                  if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

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

 

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (A) through (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraphs (A) through (D) above.

 

Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

 

(c)                                  Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(C)                               if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(G)                               if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

 

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant.  The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(1) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

 

(2)                                 Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.  A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:

 

(A)                               such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of such beneficial interest, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable letter of transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer;

 

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

 

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

 

(D)                               the Registrar receives the following:

 

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

 

(ii)                                  if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

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

 

(3)                                 Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.  If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuer 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 2.06(c)(3) 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.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(3) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

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

 

(1)                                 Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes.  If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(E)                                if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

 

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

 

(G)                               if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

 

the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note, and in all other cases, the IAI Global Note.

 

(2)                                 Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes.  A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:

 

(A)                               such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable letter of transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer;

 

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

 

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

 

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(D)                               the Registrar receives the following:

 

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

 

(ii)                                  if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

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

 

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(2), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

 

(3)                                 Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes.  A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time.  Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.

 

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (2) or (3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

 

(e)                                  Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes.  Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar 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.  In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e).

 

(1)                                 Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes.  Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

 

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(A)                               if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

(B)                               if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

 

(C)                               if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

 

(2)                                 Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.  Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:

 

(A)                               such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to an Exchange Offer in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable letter of transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer;

 

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

 

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

 

(D)                               the Registrar receives the following:

 

(i)                                     if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or

 

(ii)                                  if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

and, in each such case set forth in subparagraphs (A) through (D), if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

(3)                                 Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.  A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in 

 

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the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.  Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

 

(f)                                   Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of an Exchange Offer in accordance with a Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuer will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate:

 

(1)                                 one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable letters of transmittal that (A) they are not broker-dealers, (B) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (C) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer; and

 

(2)                                 Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable letters of transmittal that (A) they are not broker-dealers, (B) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (C) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer.

 

Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Issuer will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amount.

 

(g)                                  Legends.  The following legends 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)                                 Private Placement Legend.

 

(A)                               Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS NOTE AND THE RELATED GUARANTEES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN “INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR”), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THESE NOTES, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO WALTER ENERGY, INC. OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (D) PURSUANT TO THE 

 

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EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES (OR HAS FURNISHED ON ITS BEHALF BY A U.S. BROKER-DEALER) TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF REQUESTED BY WALTER ENERGY, INC., (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO WALTER ENERGY, INC.) OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THESE NOTES, THE HOLDER MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE. IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND WALTER ENERGY, INC. SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

 

(B)                               Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(4), (c)(2), (c)(3), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e)(2), (e)(3) or (f) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

(2)                                 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 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER.

 

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 

 

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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 ISSUER OR ITS AGENT 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.”

 

(h)                                 Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.  At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or 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 2.11 hereof.  At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the 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.

 

(i)                                     General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

 

(1)                                 To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 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 Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.14 and 9.05 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 Issuer, 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 Issuer will be required:

 

(A)                               to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of 

 

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Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;

 

(B)                               to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note 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, the Issuer and the Guarantors may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent, or the Issuer and the Guarantors 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 2.02 hereof.

 

(8)                                 All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

 

Section 2.07                            Replacement Notes.

 

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Issuer and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Issuer will issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met.  If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced.  The Issuer may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.

 

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

 

Section 2.08                            Outstanding Notes.

 

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interests in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding.  Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Note.

 

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser.

 

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

 

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If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof) holds, by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on a redemption date or other maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will cease to accrue interest.

 

Section 2.09                            Treasury Notes.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer or any Guarantor, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or any Guarantor, will be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned will be so disregarded.

 

Section 2.10                            Temporary Notes.

 

Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate temporary Notes.  Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.  Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer will prepare and the Trustee will authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

 

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

 

Section 2.11                            Cancellation.

 

The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation.  The Registrar and Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment.  The Trustee and no one else will cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will destroy canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act).  Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes will be delivered to the Issuer upon written request.  The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.12                            Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it will pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.  The Issuer will notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment.  The Issuer will fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest.  At least 15 days before the special record date, the Issuer (or, upon the written request of the Issuer, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer) will mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

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ARTICLE 3
 REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

Section 3.01                            Notices to Trustee.

 

If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it must furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth:

 

(1)                                 the paragraph of Section 3.07 hereof pursuant to which the redemption shall occur;

 

(2)                                 the redemption date;

 

(3)                                 the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and

 

(4)                                 the redemption price (if then determined and otherwise the basis for its determination).

 

Section 3.02                            Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.

 

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption 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 will be redeemed by such method as DTC may require).

 

In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

 

The Trustee will promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000; provided that no Notes of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

Section 3.03                            Notice of Redemption.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Issuer will mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 11 hereof.

 

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

 

(1)                                 the redemption date;

 

(2)                                 the redemption price (if then determined and otherwise the basis for its determination);

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(6)                                 that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

(7)                                 the paragraph in Section 3.07 of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and

 

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

 

At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee, at least five Business Days prior to the giving of such notice of redemption, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

 

Section 3.04                            Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price, unless the condition described in the notice of redemption, to the extent one exists, does not occur.  A notice of redemption may not be conditional.

 

Section 3.05                            Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.

 

By 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the redemption or purchase date, the Issuer will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date.  The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to the Issuer any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

 

If the Issuer complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of the Notes called for redemption or tendered for purchase.  If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record 

 

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date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date.  If any Note called for redemption or tendered for purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or tendered for purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

 

Section 3.06                            Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Issuer will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuer a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered.

 

Section 3.07                            Optional Redemption.

 

(a)                                 At any time, prior to April 15, 2016, the Issuer may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 108.500% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that:

 

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

 

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

 

(b)                                 At any time prior to April 15, 2017, the Issuer may also redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the applicable redemption date, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

 

(c)                                  Except pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) above, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuer’s option prior to April 15, 2017.  The Issuer is not, however, prohibited from acquiring the Notes by means other than a redemption, whether pursuant to a tender offer, open market purchase or otherwise, so long as the acquisition does not violate the terms of this Indenture.

 

(d)                                 On or after April 15, 2017, the Issuer may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes redeemed, to, but not including, the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 15 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date:

 

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Year
    	
 
    	
Percentage
    	
 
    
	
2017
    	
 
    	
104.250
    	
%
    
	
2018
    	
 
    	
102.125
    	
%
    
	
2019 and thereafter
    	
 
    	
100.000
    	
%
    

 

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

 

Section 3.08                                        Mandatory Redemption.

 

The Issuer is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

Section 3.09                            Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

 

In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Issuer is required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an “Asset Sale Offer”), it will follow the procedures specified below.

 

The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets.  The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement and not more than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”).  No later than three Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Issuer will apply all Excess Proceeds (the “Offer Amount”) to the purchase of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis, if applicable) or, if the Excess Proceeds exceeds the purchase price of the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness, all Notes and other Indebtedness tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer.  Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

 

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

 

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

 

(1)                                 that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer will remain open;

 

(2)                                 the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

 

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

 

(4)                                 that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

 

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(5)                                 that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in the principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000;

 

(6)                                 that Holders electing to have Notes purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Issuer, a depositary, if appointed by the Issuer, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase Date;

 

(7)                                 that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Issuer, the depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, 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;

 

(8)                                 that, if the aggregate purchase price of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Issuer so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, will be purchased); and

 

(9)                                 that Holders whose Notes were 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).

 

On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuer will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, and will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09.  The Issuer, the depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) 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 Issuer for purchase, and the Issuer will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Issuer, will authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book entry) 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 Issuer to the Holder thereof.  The Issuer will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.

 

Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

 

ARTICLE 4
 COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01                                        Payment of Notes.

 

The Issuer will 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 will 

 

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be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Issuer in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. The Issuer shall pay all Additional Interest, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in a Registration Rights Agreement. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, principal, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Notes, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Interest, to the extent that, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to paragraph 1 of the Notes, provided, however, that the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of the requirement that Additional Interest is due unless the Trustee receives written notice from the Issuer stating that such amounts are due and specifying the dollar amounts thereof.

 

The Issuer will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it will 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) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

Section 4.02                                        Maintenance of Office or Agency

 

The Issuer will maintain in the continental United States, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or Registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer will 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 Issuer fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails 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 Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission will in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation under Section 2.03 hereof to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York where any Definitive Notes may be presented or surrendered for any payment. The Issuer will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

The Issuer hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof. In case the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such office or agency or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, such surrenders, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the designated Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to receive at the aforesaid office all such surrenders, presentations, notices and demands.

 

Section 4.03                                        Reports

 

(a)                                 So long as any Notes are outstanding, the Issuer will file with the SEC for public availability, within 30 days of the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing, in which case the Issuer will furnish to the Holders of Notes or cause the Trustee to furnish to the Holders of Notes, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations):

 

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(1)                                 all quarterly and annual reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Issuer were required to file such reports; and

 

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

 

All such reports will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules and regulations applicable to such reports. Each annual report on Form 10-K will include an audit report on the Issuer’s consolidated financial statements by a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants.

 

If, at any time, the Issuer is no longer subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for any reason, the Issuer will nevertheless continue filing the reports specified in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 4.03(a) with the SEC within the time periods specified above unless the SEC will not accept such a filing. The Issuer will not take any action for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept any such filings. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the SEC will not accept the Issuer’s filings for any reason, the Issuer will post the reports referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 4.03(a) on its website within 30 days of the time periods that would apply if the Issuer were required to file those reports with the SEC.

 

(b)                                 If the Issuer has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then, to the extent material as determined by the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith, the quarterly and annual financial information required by paragraph (a) of this Section 4.03 will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

 

(c)                                  For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, if at any time they are not required to file the reports required by paragraph (a) of this Section 4.03 with the SEC, the Issuer and the Guarantors will furnish to the Holders of Notes and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

Section 4.04                                        Compliance Certificate.

 

(a)                                 The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Issuer 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 Issuer 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 has occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

(b)                                 So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days of any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default that has not been cured, an 

 

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Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 4.05                                        Taxes.

 

The Issuer will pay, and will 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 4.06                                        Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

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

 

Section 4.07                                        Restricted Payments.

 

(a)                                 The Issuer 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 Issuer’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Issuer’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 Issuer and other than dividends or distributions payable to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer);

 

(2)                                 purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Issuer) any Equity Interests of the Issuer;

 

(3)                                 make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or to any Note Guarantee (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Issuer and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), except (x) the purchase, repurchase or other acquisition of Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or to any Note Guarantee, as the case may be, purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase or acquisition or (y) a payment of interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof; or

 

(4)                                 make any Restricted Investment;

 

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(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:

 

(A)                               no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment;

 

(B)                               the Issuer would, after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof; and

 

(C)                               such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the 2020 Notes Issue Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2) through (18) of Section 4.07(b) hereof), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(i)                                     50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) from October 1, 2012 to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit); plus

 

(ii)                                  100% of the aggregate net proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash received by the Issuer since the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock, Designated Preferred Stock or Excluded Contributions) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Issuer); plus

 

(iii)                               to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the 2020 Notes Issue Date is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, 100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash received; plus

 

(iv)                              to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer designated as such after the 2020 Notes Issue Date is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after the 2020 Notes Issue Date or has been merged into, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Issuer’s Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable) after deducting any Indebtedness associated with the Unrestricted Subsidiary so designated or combined or any Indebtedness associated with the assets so transferred or conveyed; plus

 

(v)                                 100% of any dividends or distributions received by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer after the 2020 Notes Issue Date from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, to the extent that such dividends or 

 

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distributions were not otherwise included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for such period.

 

(b)                                 The provisions of Section 4.07(a) hereof will not prohibit:

 

(1)                                 the payment of any dividend or distribution or the consummation of any redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or distribution or giving of the redemption notice, as the case may be, if, at the date of declaration or notice, the dividend, distribution or redemption payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2)                                 the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) of, Equity Interests of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the substantially concurrent contribution of common equity capital to the Issuer; provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will be excluded from clause (a)(C)(ii) of Section 4.07(a) hereof;

 

(3)                                 the repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or to any Note Guarantee with the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(4)                                 any Restricted Payment made by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

 

(5)                                 the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer held by any current or former officer, director, consultant or employee of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the requirements of any equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement, employment agreement, shareholders’ or members’ agreement or similar agreement, plan or arrangement or otherwise in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6)                                 the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options or warrants to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of those stock options or warrants;

 

(7)                                 the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer issued on or after the Issue Date in accordance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section 4.09(a) hereof;

 

(8)                                 Restricted Payments arising as a result of Qualified Receivables Financing;

 

(9)                                 the declaration and payment of dividends or other distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date; provided, however, that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Issuer could incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio;

 

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(10)                          Investments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

 

(11)                          the satisfaction of change of control obligations once the Issuer has fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture with respect to a Change of Control;

 

(12)                          the repayment of intercompany Indebtedness that was permitted to be incurred under this Indenture;

 

(13)                          the payment of dividends, distributions on or the repurchase of, the Issuer’s common equity of up to $50 million per calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over for the next succeeding calendar year up to a maximum of $100 million in any calendar year); provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, such Restricted Payment, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

 

(14)                          the repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or to any Note Guarantee with any Excess Proceeds that remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer;

 

(15)                          cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issuable as dividends on preferred stock, upon the exercise of any warrants or options or upon the conversion of any convertible debt securities of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(16)                          the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale of Disqualified Stock that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof;

 

(17)                          the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(18)                          other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200 million since the 2020 Notes Issue Date; provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, such Restricted Payment, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

 

(c)                                  The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment.

 

(d)                                 For purposes of determining compliance with the provisions set forth above, in the event that a Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Restricted Payments described in the above clauses, the Issuer, in its sole discretion, may order and classify, and from time to time may reorder and reclassify, such Restricted Payment if it would have been permitted at the time such Restricted Payment was made and at the time of any such reclassification.

 

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Section 4.08                            Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(a)                                 The Issuer 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 Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

(2)                                 make loans or advances to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(b)                                 The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) hereof will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(1)                                 applicable law, rule, regulation, order, approval, license, permit or similar restriction;

 

(2)                                 restrictions contained in any documents or agreements evidencing, relating to or otherwise governing a Receivables Financing with respect to any Receivables Subsidiary;

 

(3)                                 contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect under (a) any Indebtedness represented by the Initial Notes, (b) any Indebtedness outstanding on the 2020 Notes Issue Date (including contractual encumbrances and restrictions under the 2020 Notes Indenture) and (c) under any Indebtedness otherwise permitted pursuant to this Indenture; provided that with respect to clause (c) the restrictions contained in the agreements or instruments governing such Indebtedness are not materially less favorable to Holders of the Notes than is customary for comparable financings (as determined in good faith by the Issuer);

 

(4)                                 any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Indenture to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

(5)                                 any agreement in effect at the time such Restricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of or in connection with such person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(6)                                 customary restrictions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any asset permitted under Section 4.10 hereof pending the consummation of such sale;

 

(7)                                 customary provisions in joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, limited liability company documents and other similar agreements, in each case, applicable to joint ventures entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(8)                                 customary provisions contained in leases or licenses and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(9)                                 customary restrictions in connection with deposits or net worth in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(10)                          customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(11)                          encumbrances on property that exist at the time the property was acquired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(12)                          restrictions described in clauses (1) and (2) of Section 4.08(a) hereof, but only to the extent that such restrictions do not materially adversely affect the consolidated cash position of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(13)                          any amendment, restatement, renewal, replacement or refinancing of an agreement referred to above; provided such restrictions are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those under the agreement being amended, restated, renewed, refinanced or replaced.

 

Section 4.09                            Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Equity.

 

(a)                                 The Issuer 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 Issuer will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred equity; provided, however, that the Issuer may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock, and the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue preferred equity, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer’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 such preferred equity is issued, as the case may be, 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 the Disqualified Stock or the preferred equity had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

 

(b)                                 The provisions of Section 4.09(a) hereof will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “Permitted Debt”):

 

(1)                                 the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness and letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder under Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding under this clause (1) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed the greater of (x) $2.6 billion or (y) an amount equal to 3.5 times Consolidated Cash Flow of the Issuer for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters of the Issuer for which internal financial statements are available;

 

(2)                                 the incurrence by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness to the extent outstanding on the 2020 Notes Issue Date (including the 2020 Notes);

 

(3)                                 the incurrence by the Issuer and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes issued on the Issue Date and the Guarantees of such Notes and the Exchange Notes and related Guarantees to be issued pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

(4)                                 the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings, industrial revenue bonds,

 

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purchase money obligations or other Indebtedness or preferred stock, or synthetic lease obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, development, construction, lease, installation or improvement of property (real or personal and including Capital Stock), plant or equipment used or useful in the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case, whether through the direct purchase of such assets or the Equity Interests of any Person owning such assets), in an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this clause (4), not to exceed at any time outstanding the greater of (x) $375 million or (y) 7.5% of Total Tangible Assets;

 

(5)                                 Capital Lease Obligations incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any sale leaseback transaction;

 

(6)                                 the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge, any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) or any Disqualified Stock or preferred stock that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under Section 4.09(a) hereof or clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) or (11) of this Section 4.09(b);

 

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

 

(A)                               if the Issuer or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the payee is not the Issuer or a Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations then due with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Issuer, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a 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 Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (7);

 

(8)                                 the issuance by any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the Issuer or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of shares of preferred equity; provided, however, that:

 

(A)                               any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred equity being held by a Person other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, and

 

(B)                               any sale or other transfer of any such preferred equity to a Person that is not either the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer,

 

will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred equity by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (8);

 

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

 

(10)                          the guarantee by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09 (including Section 4.09(a) hereof); provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to or pari passu with the Notes, then the Guarantee shall be subordinated or pari passu, as applicable, to the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;

 

(11)                          (x) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred equity of Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or merged into a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, (y) Indebtedness incurred to finance the acquisition of a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date or a corporation merged into or consolidated with the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date and (z) Indebtedness incurred in connection with the acquisition of assets, where such acquisition, merger or consolidation is permitted under the terms of this Indenture; provided that if at the time of any such acquisition, merger, consolidation or incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this clause (11) (after giving effect to such acquisition, merger, consolidation or incurrence and including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this clause (11)) exceeds the greater of (x) $375 million and (y) 7.5% of Total Tangible Assets (after giving effect to any such acquisition, merger or consolidation), such Indebtedness may only be incurred pursuant to this clause (11) to the extent either:

 

(A)                               the Issuer would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof; or

 

(B)                               the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would not be less than immediately prior to such incurrence and such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

 

(12)                          Indebtedness incurred by a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing that is not recourse to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer other than a Receivables Subsidiary (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings);

 

(13)                          the incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness or the issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred equity in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) or having an aggregate liquidation preference at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (x) $350 million and (y) 7% Total Tangible Assets;

 

(14)                          standby letters of credit, performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, bankers acceptances, insurance obligations, surety bonds, completion guarantees or bank guarantees (other than letters of credit issued under Credit Facilities permitted by clause (1) of this Section 4.09(b)) in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to self-insurance obligations and not in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances;

 

(15)                          Guarantees of Indebtedness of contractors and suppliers of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or of persons who are not Affiliates of the Issuer and with whom the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has an existing business relationship in support of financing or bonding arrangements for such contractors or suppliers or such other person in

 

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connection with such business relationship, including self-bonding arrangements; provided that the obligations of the Issuer or any of the Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause (15) shall not exceed $25 million at any time outstanding;

 

(16)                          Indebtedness relating to the financing of insurance policy premiums; provided that (x) such insurance is for the benefit of the Issuer or any of its Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries and (y) the aggregate principal amount outstanding of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (16) shall not exceed $50 million at any time outstanding;

 

(17)                          Indebtedness consisting of installment payment obligations owed to any governmental agency in connection with the acquisition of coal leases or oil, gas or other real property interests in the ordinary course of business;

 

(18)                          Indebtedness arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price of similar obligations, or guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing any obligations of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to such agreements, in any case incurred in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition), so long as the amount does not exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof in connection with such disposition; and

 

(19)                          Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five business days of its incurrence.

 

The Issuer will not incur, and will not permit any Guarantor to incur, any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the applicable Note Guarantee on substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no Indebtedness will be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of being secured on a first or junior Lien basis.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred equity meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (19) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, the Issuer will be permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred equity on the date of its incurrence and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred equity in one of the above clauses, although the Issuer may divide and classify an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred equity in one or more of the types of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred equity and may later reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred equity, in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09. The accrual of interest or dividends, 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, the reclassification of preferred equity as Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock or preferred equity in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock or preferred equity will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred equity

 

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for purposes of this Section 4.09; provided, in each such case (other than preferred stock that is not Disqualified Stock), that the amount of any such accrual, accretion or payment is included in Fixed Charges of the Issuer as accrued (other than the reclassification of preferred equity as Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09 the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 4.09 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values. For purposes of this Indenture, on any date of determination, the principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred by the JV Subsidiary shall be deemed to be (a) the principal amount of such Indebtedness on such date, determined in accordance with this Indenture, multiplied by (b) the percentage of any dividends or distributions that, if paid on such date by the JV Subsidiary, would be paid to the Issuer or any of its other Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced, plus the amount of any reasonable premium (including reasonable tender premiums), defeasance costs and any reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness. The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(A)                               the Fair Market Value of such assets at the date of determination; and

 

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

 

Section 4.10                            Asset Sales.

 

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

 

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

 

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(2)                                 at least 75% of the consideration received in the Asset Sale by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash, Cash Equivalents or a combination thereof. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

 

(A)                               any liabilities of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Note Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and as a result of which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary is released from further liability;

 

(B)                               any securities, notes, other obligations or assets received by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents within 270 days of the receipt thereof, to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received in that conversion;

 

(C)                               any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale; provided that at the time of receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, the aggregate Fair Market Value of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, taken together with all previously received Designated Non-cash Consideration (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) less the amount of Net Proceeds previously realized in cash from the sale of previously received Designated Non-cash Consideration is less than the greater of (x) $375 million and (y) 7.5% of Total Tangible Assets; and

 

(D)                               any Capital Stock or assets of the kind referred to in clause (2) or (4) of the next paragraph of this Section 4.10.

 

Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Issuer (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may:

 

(a)                                 apply such Net Proceeds, at its option:

 

(1)                                 to repay (w) any secured Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, (x) any Indebtedness that was secured by the assets sold in such Asset Sale, (y) other pari passu Indebtedness (provided that the Issuer shall also equally and ratably reduce Indebtedness under the Notes by making an offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale, to all Holders to purchase the pro rata principal amount of Notes, in each case at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date)), or (z) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer;

 

(2)                                 to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or any Capital Stock of, another Permitted Business;

 

(3)                                 to make a capital expenditure; or

 

(4)                                 to acquire other assets that are not classified as current assets under GAAP and that are used or useful in a Permitted Business; or

 

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(b)                                 enter into a binding commitment to apply the Net Proceeds pursuant to clauses (a)(2), (3) or (4) above, provided that such acquisition or expenditure is consummated within 180 days following the expiration of the aforementioned 365 day period.

 

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Issuer may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.

 

Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the second paragraph of this Section 4.10 will constitute “Excess Proceeds.” Within ten Business Days after the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $250.0 million, the Issuer will make an Asset Sale Offer to Holders of all Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other 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 the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of purchase and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuer may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the purchase price for the Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

 

The Issuer 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 Asset Sale provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Asset Sale provisions of this Indenture by virtue of such compliance.

 

Section 4.11                                        Transactions with Affiliates.

 

(a)                                 The Issuer 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 of the Issuer (each, an “Affiliate Transaction”), involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20.0 million, unless:

 

(1)                                 the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

 

(2)                                 the Issuer 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, (x) a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Issuer certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this covenant and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members, if any, of the Board of Directors of the Issuer or (y) an opinion as to the fairness to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing.

 

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(b)                                 The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of Section 4.11(a) hereof:

 

(1)                                 any employment agreement, consulting service or termination agreement, employee benefit plan, officer or director indemnification agreement or any similar arrangement entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and payments pursuant thereto;

 

(2)                                 transactions (including a merger) between or among the Issuer and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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

 

(4)                                 payment of fees to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(5)                                 any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to employment arrangements, equity incentive awards or equity incentive plans and the granting and performance of registration rights that have been approved by, or pursuant to authority delegated by, the Board of Directors of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(6)                                 Restricted Payments permitted under this Indenture and Permitted Investments;

 

(7)                                 loans or advances (or cancellation of loans or advances) to employees or consultants in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;

 

(8)                                 any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Receivables Financing;

 

(9)                                 transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, contractors, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or lessors or lessees of property, in each case in the ordinary course of business (including, without limitation, pursuant to joint venture agreements) and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which are, in the aggregate (taking into account all the costs and benefits associated with such transactions), not materially less favorable to the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person, as determined in good faith by the Issuer;

 

(10)                          (x) guarantees of performance by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries of Unrestricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, except for guarantees of Indebtedness in respect of borrowed money, and (y) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the benefit of lenders of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

 

(11)                          any obligations or transactions effected pursuant to agreements in effect on the 2020 Notes Issue Date and any amendment, modification or replacement of such agreement (so long as such amendment or replacement is not materially more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Notes, taken as a whole); and

 

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(12)                          any transaction in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the trustee an opinion as to the fairness to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing.

 

Section 4.12                                        Liens.

 

The Issuer 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) upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, securing Indebtedness of the Issuer or the Guarantors unless all payments due under this Indenture and the Notes (or a Guarantee in the case of Liens of a Guarantor) are secured on an equal and ratable basis with the obligations so secured until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.

 

Section 4.13                                        Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article 5 hereof, so long as any of the Notes shall remain outstanding, the Issuer will at all times do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.

 

Section 4.14                                        Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

 

(a)                                 Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of Notes will have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase (a “Change of Control Offer”) all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of that Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% 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 purchase, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuer will mail a notice to the Trustee and to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and stating:

 

(1)                                 that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.14 and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment;

 

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

 

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

 

(4)                                 that, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

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

 

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(6)                                 that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, 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 his election to have the Notes purchased; and

 

(7)                                 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, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

 

(b)                                 The Issuer 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 the repurchase of the 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 4.14, the Issuer will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.14 by virtue of such compliance.

 

(c)                                  On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuer will, to the extent lawful:

 

(1)                                 accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

 

(2)                                 deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

 

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

 

The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Issuer will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

 

(d)                                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.14, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditioned upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer is made, and such Change of Control Offer is otherwise made in compliance with this Section 4.14.

 

(e)                                  The Issuer will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.14 and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, or (2) notice of redemption with respect to all outstanding Notes has been given pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.

 

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(f)                                   The provisions described above that require the Issuer to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control will be applicable regardless of whether or not any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable.

 

Section 4.15                                        Payments for Consent.

 

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

 

Section 4.16                                        Additional Note Guarantees.

 

The Issuer shall cause each Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary that guarantees the Credit Agreement or any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (unless such Subsidiary is a Receivables Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary) to become a Guarantor and execute a supplemental indenture and deliver an Opinion of Counsel satisfactory to the Trustee within 30 days of becoming a guarantor of such Indebtedness.

 

Section 4.17                                        Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

The Board of Directors of the Issuer may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the Fair Market Value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary designated as Unrestricted will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07 hereof or under one or more clauses of the definition of Permitted Investments, as determined by the Issuer. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Issuer as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions of this Section 4.17 and was permitted by Section 4.07 hereof.

 

If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements of this Section 4.17 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 Issuer as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 hereof, the Issuer will be in default of such covenant.

 

The Board of Directors of the Issuer may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, and such designation will only be permitted if (1) (x) the Issuer could incur such Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section 4.09(a) hereof, or (y) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation; and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

 

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Section 4.18                                        Covenant Termination.

 

If on any date following the Issue Date, the Issuer certifies in a notice to the Trustee that:

 

(1)                                 a Ratings Event has occurred; and

 

(2)                                 at the time of the giving of such notice, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,

 

then, beginning on the day such notice is given, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will cease to be subject to the provisions of Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.17 and clause (4) of Section 5.01 hereof.

 

ARTICLE 5
 SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.01                                        Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.

 

The Issuer will not, directly or indirectly: (i) consolidate or merge with or into another Person; or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s properties or assets (determined on a consolidated basis for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in one or more related transactions to another Person, unless:

 

(1)                                 either:

 

(A)                               the Issuer is the surviving entity; or

 

(B)                               the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; provided that at any time such Person is a partnership or a limited liability company, there shall be a co-issuer of the Notes that is a corporation that also satisfies the requirements of this Section 5.01;

 

(2)                                 the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of the Issuer, as the case may be, under the Notes, this Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

(3)                                 immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(4)                                 (A)                               the Issuer or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Issuer), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made would, 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

 

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additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof; or

 

(B)                               the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer or successor entity, as applicable, and its Restricted Subsidiaries would not be less than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction.

 

In addition, the Issuer will not, directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of the properties and assets of it and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to any other Person.

 

This Section 5.01 will not apply to:

 

(1)                                 a merger of the Issuer with an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Issuer in another jurisdiction; or

 

(2)                                 any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets between or among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the JV Subsidiary).

 

Section 5.02                                        Successor Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Issuer in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Issuer is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Issuer” shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Issuer), and may exercise every right and power of the Issuer, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Issuer herein; provided, however, that the predecessor shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s properties or assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof.

 

ARTICLE 6
 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01                                         Events of Default.

 

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

 

(1)                                 default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes;

 

(2)                                 default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes;

 

(3)                                 failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Section 5.01 hereof;

 

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(4)                                 failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days (or, in the case of Section 4.03 hereof, 120 days) after notice to the Issuer by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in this Indenture;

 

(5)                                 default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken as a whole would constitute a Significant Subsidiary (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date (but excluding Indebtedness owing to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary), if that default:

 

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

 

(B)                               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 $100 million or more;

 

(6)                                 failure by the Issuer or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken as a whole would constitute a Significant Subsidiary to pay final and nonappealable judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of $100 million (net of any amounts which are covered by insurance or bonded), which judgments are not paid, waived, satisfied, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;

 

(7)                                 the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

 

(A)                               commences a voluntary case,

 

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

 

(C)                               consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

 

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

 

(E)                                generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

 

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

 

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(A)                               is for relief against the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

 

(B)                               appoints a custodian of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

 

(C)                               orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;

 

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

 

(9)                                 any Note Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken as a whole would constitute a Significant Subsidiary is held in any final and nonappealable judgment or decree to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such Note Guarantee and this Indenture), or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee and such Default continues for 10 days after receipt of the notice pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof.

 

In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (5) of Section 6.01 hereof, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default) will be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Issuer delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee stating that (x) the Indebtedness or Guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged or (y) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default or (z) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured, it being understood that in no event shall an acceleration of the principal amount of the Notes as described in Section 6.02 hereof be annulled, waived or rescinded upon the happening of any such events.

 

Section 6.02                                         Acceleration.

 

In the case of an Event of Default specified in clauses (7) or (8) of Section 6.01 hereof, with respect to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer that taken as a whole would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.

 

Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately.

 

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written 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

 

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nonpayment of principal, interest or premium or that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.

 

Section 6.03                                         Other Remedies.

 

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

 

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 6.04                                         Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive an 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, premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase).  Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.05                                         Control by Majority.

 

Holders of a majority in aggregate 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 law or this Indenture, 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.

 

Section 6.06                                         Limitation on Suits.

 

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

 

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

 

(2)                                 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;

 

(3)                                 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;

 

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

 

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(5)                                 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 6.07                                         Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, 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 6.08                                         Collection Suit by Trustee.

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer 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, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

Section 6.09                                         Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

The Trustee 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 and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof.  To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien 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 6.10                                         Priorities.

 

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

 

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

 

Second:                      to Holders 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 Issuer 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 6.10.

 

Section 6.11                                         Undertaking for Costs.

 

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

 

ARTICLE 7
 TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01                                         Duties of Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

(1)                                 the duties of the Trustee will 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 will 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:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(g)                                  The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice, nor shall it be charged with knowledge, of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of such Default or Event of Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

 

Section 7.02                                         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 will 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 will 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 will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

 

(d)                                 The Trustee will 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 the Issuer will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer.

 

(f)                                   The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to

 

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the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against the losses, liabilities or expenses that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

Section 7.03                                         Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.  However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must (i) eliminate such conflict within 90 days, (ii) apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the TIA) or (iii) resign.  Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties.  The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

 

Section 7.04                                         Trustee’s Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuer or upon the Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will 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 7.05                                         Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee will mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs.  Except in the case of a Default 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 7.06                                         Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

 

(a)                                 Within 60 days after each March 15 beginning with the March 15 following the Issue Date, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee will 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 will comply with TIA § 313(b)(2).  The Trustee will also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).

 

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

 

Section 7.07                                         Compensation and Indemnity.

 

(a)                                 The Issuer will pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder.  The Trustee’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust.  The Issuer will reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition

 

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to the compensation for its services.  Such expenses will include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

(b)                                 The Issuer and the Guarantors will indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuer and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, the Guarantors, 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, willful misconduct or bad faith.  The Trustee will notify the Issuer promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.  Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuer will not relieve the Issuer or any of the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder.  The Issuer or such Guarantor will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense.  The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuer will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel.  Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

 

(c)                                  The obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

(d)                                 To secure the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee will 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 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

(e)                                  When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) 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.

 

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

 

Section 7.08                                         Replacement of Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(2)                                 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;

 

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

 

(4)                                 the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 7.09                                         Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee.

 

Section 7.10                                         Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

There will 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 $100.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

This Indenture will 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 7.11                                         Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer.

 

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.

 

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ARTICLE 8
 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.01                                         Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

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

 

Section 8.02                                         Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuer and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”).  For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes, the Note Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

(1)                                 the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

 

(2)                                 the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof;

 

(3)                                 the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(4)                                 this Article 8.

 

Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

 

Section 8.03                                         Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuer and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16 and 4.17 hereof and clause (4) of Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes will 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 will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes).  For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees, the Issuer and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and

 

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will 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 will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Note Guarantees will be unaffected thereby.  In addition, upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, clauses (4), (5), (6) and, with respect to Significant Subsidiaries, clauses (7) and (8) of Section 6.01hereof will not constitute Events of Default.

 

Section 8.04                                         Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof:

 

(1)                                 the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, or interest and premium on, the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuer must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular redemption date;

 

(2)                                 in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee (subject to customary exceptions and exclusions) confirming that:

 

(A)                               the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

 

(B)                               since the Issue Date, 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 will confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(3)                                 in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Issuer must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee (subject to customary exceptions and exclusions) confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(4)                                 no Default 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 and the grant of any Lien securing such borrowing);

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will 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 Issuer 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 Issuer will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon the request of the Issuer any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

Section 8.06                                         Repayment to Issuer.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on its request or (if then held by the Issuer) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuer 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 will not be less than 30 days from the date of

 

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such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer.

 

Section 8.07                                         Reinstatement.

 

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

 

ARTICLE 9
 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 9.01                                         Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(3)                                 to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of Notes and Note Guarantees in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s or such Guarantor’s assets, as applicable, and the corresponding release of the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture or such Guarantor’s obligations under the Note Guarantees;

 

(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 hereunder of any such Holder;

 

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

 

(6)                                 to conform the text of this Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Issuer’s Offering Memorandum dated March 22, 2013, relating to the initial offering of the Notes, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes;

 

(7)                                 to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of the Issue Date;

 

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(8)                                 to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture with respect to the Notes and to release Guarantors from the Note Guarantees in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

 

(9)                                 to evidence and provide for the acceptance under this Indenture of appointment of a successor trustee; or

 

(10)                          to grant any Lien in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of Holders of the Notes.

 

Upon the request of the Issuer, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 12.04 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Issuer 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 will not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 9.02                                         With Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Issuer and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including, without limitation, Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof) and the Notes and the Note Guarantees with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, Additional Notes, if any) voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, Additional Notes, if any) voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes).   Section 2.08 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for purposes of this Section 9.02.

 

Upon the request of the Issuer, 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 12.04 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Issuer and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.

 

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

 

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer will mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver.  Any failure of the Issuer to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.  Without the consent of each Holder of Notes affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

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

 

(2)                                 reduce the principal of or extend the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other than the provisions of Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof);

 

(3)                                 reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any Note;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(7)                                 waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Sections 3.09, 4.10 or 4.14 hereof);

 

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

 

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

 

Section 9.03                                         Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

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

 

Section 9.04                                         Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

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

 

Section 9.05                                         Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 9.06                                         Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

 

The Trustee will sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee.  The Issuer may not sign an amended or supplemental indenture until the Board of Directors of the Issuer approves it.  In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) will be fully protected in relying upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE 10
 NOTE GUARANTEES

 

Section 10.01                                  Guarantee.

 

(a)                                 Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuer hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

(1)                                 the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Issuer to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

 

(2)                                 in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise.

 

Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately.  Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

 

(b)                                 The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder are unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.  Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Note Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

 

(c)                                  If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the

 

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Issuer or the Guarantors, any amount paid to either the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

(d)                                 Each Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby.  Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee.  The Guarantors will 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 Note Guarantee.

 

Section 10.02                                  Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

 

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee.  To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

Section 10.03                                  Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee.

 

To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each initial Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture has been executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its Officers.

 

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Note Guarantee.

 

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

 

Upon execution of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture by a new Guarantor substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E hereto, the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor set forth in this Indenture shall be deemed duly delivered, without any further action by any Person, on behalf of such Guarantor.

 

Following the Issue Date, the delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, will constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this Indenture or any supplemental indenture on behalf of the Guarantors who are signatories thereto.

 

In the event that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries creates or acquires any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary after the Issue Date, if required by Section 4.16 hereof, the Issuer will cause

 

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such Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.16 hereof and this Article 10, to the extent applicable.

 

Section 10.04                                  Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

 

Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.05 hereof, no Guarantor may sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person, other than the Issuer or another Guarantor, unless:

 

(1)                                 immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

 

(2)                                 either:

 

(a)                                 subject to Section 10.05 hereof, the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor under this Indenture, its Note Guarantee and the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; or

 

(b)                                 the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

 

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person will succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor.  All the Note Guarantees so issued will in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding clauses 2(a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Notes will prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Issuer or another Guarantor, or will prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Issuer or another Guarantor.

 

Section 10.05                                  Releases.

 

A Note Guarantee of a Guarantor will be released:

 

(a)                                 in connection with any sale, disposition or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of that Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Issuer or a Guarantor, if the sale, disposition or transfer does not violate the provisions of Section 4.10 hereof;

 

(b)                                 in connection with any sale, disposition or transfer of all of the Capital Stock of that Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Issuer or a Guarantor, if the sale, disposition or transfer does not violate the provisions of Section 4.10 hereof;

 

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(c)                                  if the Issuer designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

 

(d)                                 upon the release or discharge of such Guarantors’ Guarantee of the Credit Agreement or under the Indebtedness that triggered such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such other Guarantee;

 

(e)                                  upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Guarantor; provided that no Default or Event of Default shall occur as a result thereof or has occurred and is continuing; or

 

(f)                                   upon Legal Defeasance as provided in Section 8.02 hereof or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as provided in Section 11.01 hereof.

 

Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee as provided in this Section 10.05 will remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 10.

 

ARTICLE 11
 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 11.01                                  Satisfaction and Discharge.

 

This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder, when:

 

(1)                                 either:

 

(a)                                 all Notes that have been authenticated and, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer, 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 by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee and the Issuer 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 (including all principal, premium and accrued interest) on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(2)                                 the Issuer or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

 

(3)                                 the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be.

 

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In addition, the Issuer must deliver an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section 11.01, the provisions of Sections 11.02 and 8.06 hereof will survive.  In addition, nothing in this Section 11.01 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.07 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or to relieve the Issuer from its obligations with respect to the Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof.

 

Section 11.02                                  Application of Trust Money.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 11.01 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof; provided that if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

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), the imposed duties will control.

 

Section 12.02                                  Notices.

 

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

 

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If to the Issuer and/or any Guarantor:

 

Walter Energy, Inc.
 3000 Riverchase Galleria
 Suite 1700
 Birmingham, AL 35244 
 Facsimile No.:  205-776-7859
 Attention:  General Counsel

 

With a copy to:
 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
 425 Lexington Avenue
 New York, NY 10017
 Facsimile No.:  212-455-2502
 Attention:  Risë B. Norman

 

If to the Trustee:

 

Union Bank, N.A.

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 19th Floor

New York, NY 10020

Facsimile No.:  646-452-2001

Attention:  Corporate Trust and Escrow Services

 

The Issuer, any Guarantor 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) will be deemed to have been duly given:  at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

Any notice or communication to a Holder will 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 will 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 will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

 

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

 

If the Issuer mails a notice or communication to Holders, it will 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 Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

 

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Section 12.04                                  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

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

 

(1)                                 an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must 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

 

(2)                                 an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must 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)) must comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and must include:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(4)                                 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, Stockholders and Members.

 

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

 

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Section 12.08                      Governing Law.

 

THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE AND ENFORCE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES.

 

Section 12.09                      No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

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

 

Section 12.10                      Successors.

 

All agreements of the Issuer in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors.  All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors.  All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture will bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.05 hereof.

 

Section 12.11                      Severability.

 

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

 

Section 12.12                      Counterpart Originals.

 

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture.  Each signed copy will 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 instrument as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original instrument 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 12.13                      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 will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Dated as of March 27, 2013

 

	
 
    	
WALTER   ENERGY, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Earl H. Doppelt
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Earl   H. Doppelt
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President, General Counsel and
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Secretary
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ON   BEHALF OF THE GUARANTORS LISTED
    
	
 
    	
ON   SCHEDULE I HERETO
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Earl H. Doppelt
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Earl   H. Doppelt
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Secretary
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
UNION   BANK, N.A., as Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Rafael E. Miranda
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Rafael   E. Miranda
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

Name of Guarantor

 

J.W. Walter, Inc.

 

J.W.I. Holdings Corporation

 

Land Holdings Corporation

 

Walter Black Warrior Basin, LLC

 

Walter Coke, Inc.

 

Walter Exploration & Production, LLC

 

Walter Land Company

 

Walter Minerals, Inc.

 

Walter Natural Gas, LLC

 

Blue Creek Coal Sales, Inc.

 

Clearwater Energy, Inc.

 

Hamer Properties, Inc.

 

Jim Walter Resources, Inc.

 

Taft Coal Sales & Associates, Inc.

 

Tuscaloosa Resources, Inc.

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Face of Note]

 

CUSIP:  [          ]
 ISIN:  [          ]

 

8.500% Senior Notes due 2021

 

	
No. 
    	
$[                        ]
    

 

WALTER ENERGY, INC.

 

promises to pay to [      ] or registered assigns,

 

the principal sum of                                                                                                                      DOLLARS on April 15, 2021.

 

Interest Payment Dates:  April 15 and October 15

 

Record Dates:  April 1 and October 1

 

Dated:  [                    ], 20[    ]

 

[Signature pages to follow]

 

A-1

 

IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

	
 
    	
WALTER   ENERGY, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

A-2

 

This is one of the 8.500% Senior Notes due 2021 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

	
 
    	
UNION   BANK, N.A., as Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Authorized   Signatory
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

A-3

 

[Back of Note]

8.500% Senior Notes due 2021

 

[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 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER.

 

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 ISSUER OR ITS AGENT 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.  [Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]]

 

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (C) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN “INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR”), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THESE NOTES, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO WALTER ENERGY, INC. OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (D) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES (OR HAS FURNISHED ON ITS BEHALF BY A U.S. BROKER-DEALER) TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED

 

A-4

 

LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF REQUESTED BY WALTER ENERGY. INC., (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO WALTER ENERGY, INC.) OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THESE NOTES, THE HOLDER MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE. IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND WALTER ENERGY, INC. SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. [Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]]

 

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

 

(1)                                 INTEREST.  Walter Energy, Inc., Delaware corporation  (the “Issuer”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 8.500% per annum from [March 27, 2013](1) until maturity [and shall pay Additional Interest, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below](2).  The Issuer will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”).  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 issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be [October 15, 2013](3).  The Issuer will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest [and Additional Interest](4) (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on

 

(1) For Additional Notes, insert the appropriate date for such Additional Notes.

 

(2) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

(3) For Additional Notes, insert the appropriate Interest Payment Date for such Additional Notes.

 

(4) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

A-5

 

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.  Whenever in the Notes there is mentioned, in any context, principal, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Notes, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Interest, to the extent that, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to this paragraph, provided, however, that the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of the requirement that Additional Interest is due unless the Trustee receives written notice from the Issuer stating that such amounts are due and specifying the dollar amounts thereof.

 

(2)                                 METHOD OF PAYMENT.  The Issuer will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) [and Additional Interest, if any,](5) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the April 1 or October 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest.  The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest [and Additional Interest, if any,](6) at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Issuer, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal, interest, premium [and Additional Interest](7), if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuer or the Paying Agent.  Such payment will 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, Union Bank, N.A., the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder.  The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

(4)                                 INDENTURE.  The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of March 27, 2013 (the “Indenture”) among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee.  The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA.  The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms.  To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.  The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Issuer.  The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder.

 

(5)                                 Optional Redemption.

 

(a)                                 Except as set forth in subparagraphs (b) and (c) of this Paragraph 5, the Issuer will not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to April 15, 2017.  On or after April 15, 2017, the Issuer may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest

 

(5) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

(6) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

(7) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

A-6

 

[and Additional Interest, if any,](8) on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 15 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest [and Additional Interest, if any,](9) on the relevant interest payment date:

 

	
Year
    	
 
    	
Percentage
    	
 
    
	
2017
    	
 
    	
104.250
    	
%
    
	
2018
    	
 
    	
102.125
    	
%
    
	
2019 and thereafter
    	
 
    	
100.000
    	
%
    

 

Unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to April 15, 2016 the Issuer may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 108.500% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest [and Additional Interest, if any,](10) to, but not including, the redemption date,  subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture (excluding Notes held by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and that the redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

 

(c)                                  At any time prior to April 15, 2017, the Issuer may also redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest [and Additional Interest](11) to, but not including, the applicable redemption date, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest [and Additional Interest, if any,](12) due on the relevant interest payment date.

 

(6)                                 Mandatory Redemption.

 

The Issuer is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

(6)                                 Repurchase at the Option of Holder.

 

(a)         Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of Notes will have the right to require the Issuer to make an offer (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 that Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes

 

(8) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

(9) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

(10) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

(11) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

(12) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

A-7

 

repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any [and Additional Interest, if any,](13) on the Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest [and Additional Interest, if any,](14) due on the relevant interest payment date (the “Change of Control Payment”).  Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuer will mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

 

(b)         If the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer consummates any Asset Sales, within ten Business Days after the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $250.0 million, the Issuer will make an offer to all Holders of Notes (an “Asset Sale Offer”) and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest [and Additional Interest, if any,](15) thereon to, but not including, the date of purchase. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuer may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the purchase price for the Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero. Any Asset Sale Offer will be conducted in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 3.09 of the Indenture.

 

 

(c)          Holders that are the subject of a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale Offer (each, an “Offer to Purchase”), will receive notice of an Offer to Purchase from the Issuer prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form titled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” appearing below.

 

(7)                                 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.  Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction or discharge of the Indenture.  No Notes of $2,000 principal amount or less will be redeemed in part.

 

(8)                                 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 Issuer may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.  The Issuer need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.  Also, the Issuer need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be

 

(13) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

(14) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

(15) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

A-8

 

redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

(9)                                 PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.  The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

(10)                          AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER.  Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes including Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class, and any existing Default or Event or Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes including Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class.  Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented:  to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of Notes and Note Guarantees in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s or such Guarantor’s assets, as applicable, and the corresponding release of the Issuer’s obligations under the Indenture or such Guarantor’s obligations under the Note Guarantees; 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 such Holder; to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA; to conform the text of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Issuer’s Offering Memorandum dated March 22, 2013, relating to the initial offering of the Notes, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes; to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture as of the Issue Date; to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes and to release Guarantors from the Note Guarantees in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; to evidence and provide for the acceptance under the Indenture of appointment of a successor trustee; or to grant any Lien in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of Holders of the Notes.

 

(11)                          DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES.  Events of Default include:  (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on[, or Additional Interest, if any, with respect to,](16) the Notes; (ii) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes, (iii) failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Section 5.01 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days (or, in the case of the provisions of Section 4.03 of the Indenture, 120 days) after notice to the Issuer by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture; (v) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness for money borrowed of the Issuer or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken as a whole would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, if such default is caused by a failure to pay principal, interest or premium on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness following the Stated Maturity of such Indebtedness, or results in the acceleration of such

 

(16) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

A-9

 

Indebtedness prior to its express maturity, and, in each case, aggregates $100 million or more; (vi) certain final judgments for the payment of money in excess of $100 million that remain undischarged for a period of 60 days; (vii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; and (viii) any Note Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that taken as a whole would constitute a Significant Subsidiary is held in any final and nonappealable judgment or decree to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such Note Guarantee and the Indenture), or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee and such Default continues for 10 days after receipt of the notice pursuant to Section 4.04 of the Indenture.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice.  Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture.  Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.  The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium [or Additional Interest](17), if any, or interest on, any Note) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, rescind an acceleration or waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium [or Additional Interest](18), if any, or interest on, the Notes.  The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Issuer is required, within 30 days of becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default that has not been cured, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

(12)                          TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH ISSUER.  The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Issuer or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

(13)                          NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS.  No director, manager, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or member of the Issuer, or any Subsidiary, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

(14)                          AUTHENTICATION.  This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

(17) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

(18) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

A-10

 

(15)                          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).

 

(16)                          [ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF REGISTRABLE NOTES. In addition to the rights provided to Holders under the Indenture, Holders of Registrable Notes (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of [March 27, 2013](19) (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.](20)

 

(17)                          CUSIP NUMBERS.  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders.  No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption, and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

(18)                          GOVERNING LAW.  THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE AND ENFORCE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES.

 

The Issuer will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture [and the Registration Rights Agreement](21).  Requests may be made to:

 

Walter Energy, Inc.
 3000 Riverchase Galleria
 Suite 1700
 Birmingham, AL 35244

Facsimile No.: 205-776-7859
 Attention:  General Counsel 

 

(19) For Additional Notes, insert the date of the Registration Rights Agreement applicable to such Additional Notes.

 

(20) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

(21) Not to be included in Exchange Notes.

 

A-11

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

	
(I) or   (we) assign and transfer this Note to:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(Insert assignee’s legal name)
    
	
 
    
	
 
    
	
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
    
	
 
    
	
 
    
	
(Print or type assignee’s   name, address and zip code)
    

 

	
and   irrevocably appoint
    	
 
    
	
to transfer this Note on the books of the   Issuer.  The agent may substitute   another to act for him.
    

 

	
Date:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Your   Signature:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Signature   Guarantee*:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
							

 

*                                         Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-12

 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

oSection 4.10                                                                                                           oSection 4.14

 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

 

$              

 

	
Date:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Your   Signature:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Tax   Identification No.:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Signature   Guarantee*:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
							

 

*                                         Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-13

 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE *

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

	
Date of Exchange
    	
 
    	
Amount of decrease in
   Principal Amount
   of 
   this Global Note
    	
 
    	
Amount of increase in
   Principal Amount
   of 
   this Global Note
    	
 
    	
Principal Amount
   of this Global Note
   following such
   decrease
   (or increase)
    	
 
    	
Signature of authorized
   officer of Trustee or
   Custodian
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

*                 This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-14

 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

Walter Energy, Inc.
 3000 Riverchase Galleria
 Suite 1700
 Birmingham, AL 35244

 

Union Bank, N.A.

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 19th Floor

New York, NY 10020

 

Re:  $450,000,000 8.500% Senior Notes due 2021

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 27, 2013 (the “Indenture”), among Walter Energy, Inc., as issuer (the “Issuer”), the Guarantors party thereto and Union Bank N.A., as trustee.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

                                  , (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $                       in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to                                            (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto.  In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

 

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

 

1.  o  Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A.  The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

2.  o  Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S.  The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration

 

B-1

 

requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser).  Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

3.  o  Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S.  The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

 

(a)                                 o   such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

 

or

 

(b)                                 o   such Transfer is being effected to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof;

 

or

 

(c)                                  o   such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;

 

or

 

(d)                                 o  such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) based upon an Opinion of Counsel if requested by Walter Energy, Inc. (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

4.  o  Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.

 

(a)  o  Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144.  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not

 

B-2

 

required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

(b)  o  Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S.  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

(c)  o  Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption.  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer.

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
[Insert   Name of Transferor]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
					

 

B-3

 

ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1.                                      The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

 

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

(a)               o a beneficial interest in the:

 

(i)                               o   144A Global Note (CUSIP 93317Q AD7), or

 

(ii)                            o   Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP U9312C AA2), or

 

(iii)     o   IAI Global Note (CUSIP                   ); or

 

(b)   o    a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

2.                                      After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

 

[CHECK ONE]

 

(a)  o   a beneficial interest in the:

 

(i)                               o   144A Global Note (CUSIP 93317Q AD7), or

 

(ii)                            o   Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP U9312C AA2), or

 

(iii)     o   IAI Global Note (CUSIP                   ); or

 

(iv)                        o   Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP                   ); or

 

(b)  o   a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

(c)  o   an Unrestricted Definitive Note,

 

in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-4

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

 

Walter Energy, Inc.
 3000 Riverchase Galleria
 Suite 1700
 Birmingham, AL 35244

 

Union Bank, N.A.

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 19th Floor

New York, NY 10020

 

Re:  $450,000,000 8.500% Senior Notes due 2021

 

(CUSIP                         )

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 27, 2013 (the “Indenture”), among Walter Energy, Inc., as issuer (the “Issuer”), the Guarantors party thereto and Union Bank, N.A., as trustee.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

                                                           , (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $                         in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”).  In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

 

1.                                      Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note

 

(a)  o  Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note.  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(b)  o  Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note.  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

C-1

 

(c)  o  Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note.  In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(d)  o  Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note.  In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

2.                                      Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes

 

(a)  o  Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note.  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer.  Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

(b)  o  Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] o 144A Global Note, o Regulation S Global Note, o IAI Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.  Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer.

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[Insert   Name of Transferor]
    

 

C-2

 

	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
					

 

C-3

 

EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM
 ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

 

Walter Energy, Inc.
 3000 Riverchase Galleria
 Suite 1700
 Birmingham, AL 35244

 

Union Bank, N.A.

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 19th Floor

New York, NY 10020

 

Re:  8.500% Senior Notes due 2021

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 27, 2013 (the “Indenture”), among Walter Energy, Inc., as issuer (the “Issuer”), the guarantors party thereto and Union Bank, N.A., as trustee.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

In connection with our proposed purchase of $                         aggregate principal amount of:

 

(a)  o a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or

 

(b)  o a Definitive Note,

 

we confirm that:

 

1.                                      We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

2.                                      We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence.  We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein, we will do so only (A) to the Issuer or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Issuer a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and based upon an Opinion of Counsel if requested by the Issuer, (D) in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or (F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any Person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.

 

3.                                      We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Issuer such certifications, legal opinions and other information

 

D-1

 

as you and the Issuer may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions.  We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

 

4.                                      We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

 

5.                                      We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.

 

You and the Issuer are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
[Insert   Name of Accredited Investor]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
					

 

D-2

 

 

EXHIBIT E

 

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
 TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of                                 , 20    , among                                      (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of                                          (or its permitted successor), a [Delaware] corporation (the “Issuer”), the Issuer, the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and                                         , as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer has heretofore executed and delivered to [the Trustee]/[Union Bank, N.A.] an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of March 27, 2013 providing for the issuance of 8.500% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Note Guarantee”); and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

 

1.                                      CAPITALIZED TERMS.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

2.                                      AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE.  The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Note Guarantee and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 10 thereof.

 

4.                                      NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS.  No director, manager, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or member of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, the Indenture, any Note Guarantees or this Supplemental 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.  Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

5.                                      NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN.  THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE AND ENFORCE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

 

6.                                      COUNTERPARTS.  The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this instrument as to the parties hereto

 

E-1

 

and may be used in lieu of the original instrument for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

7.                                      EFFECT OF HEADINGS.  The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

8.                                      THE TRUSTEE.  The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Issuer.

 

E-2

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

Dated:                                , 20

 

	
 
    	
[GUARANTEEING   SUBSIDIARY]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[ISSUER]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[EXISTING   GUARANTORS]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[TRUSTEE],
    
	
 
    	
   as   Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Authorized   Signatory
    

 

E-3Exhibit 4.3

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

WALTER ENERGY, INC.,

 

THE GUARANTORS

 

party hereto

 

and

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC,

 

as representative of the Initial Purchasers (as defined herein)

 

Dated as of March 27, 2013

 

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of March 27, 2013 by and among Walter Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), each of the guarantors named on Schedule A hereto (the “Guarantors”) and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representative of the initial purchasers listed on Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement (each an “Initial Purchaser” and, collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”), who have agreed to purchase $450,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 8.500% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “Initial Notes”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

 

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2013 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Guarantors and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representative of the Initial Purchasers, (i) for the benefit of each Initial Purchaser and (ii) for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Initial Securities (as defined below) (including each Initial Purchaser).  In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Initial Securities, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 5(i) of the Purchase Agreement.

 

The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1.  Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Additional Interest:  As defined in Section 5 hereof.

 

Additional Interest Payment Date:  With respect to the Initial Securities, each Interest Payment Date for the Initial Securities.

 

Broker-Dealer:  Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

 

Closing Date:  The date of this Agreement.

 

Commission:  The Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Consummate:  A registered Exchange Offer shall be deemed “Consummated” with respect to the Initial Securities for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and effectiveness under the Securities Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Initial Securities, (ii) the maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (iii) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Securities in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities that were validly tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

 

 

Exchange Act:  The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Notes:  The 8.500% Senior Notes due 2021, the same series under the Indenture as the Notes, to be issued to Holders in exchange for Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Exchange Offer:  An offer registered under the Securities Act by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to which the Company and the Guarantors shall offer the Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holders for Exchange Securities in the aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in such exchange offer by such Holders and with terms that are identical in all respects to the Transfer Restricted Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will not contain terms with respect to the interest rate step-up provision and transfer restrictions).

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement:  Any Registration Statement relating to an Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.

 

Exchange Securities:  The Exchange Notes and the Guarantees attached thereto.

 

Exchanging Dealers:  Any Holder (which may include any Initial Purchaser) that is a Broker-Dealer and elects to exchange any Initial Securities that it acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (but not directly from any Guarantor or any Affiliate of any Guarantor) for Exchange Securities.

 

Exempt Resales:  The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers propose to sell the Initial Securities to certain “qualified institutional buyers,” as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and to persons in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S.

 

FINRA:  The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

Free Writing Prospectus:  Each “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with each offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Initial Notes or the Exchange Notes.

 

Guarantees:  As defined in the Purchase Agreement.

 

Holders:  As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.

 

Indemnified Party:  As defined in Section 8(c) hereof.

 

Indemnifying Party:  As defined in Section 8(c) hereof.

 

2

 

Indenture:  The Indenture, dated as of March 27, 2013, among the Company, the Guarantors and Union Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to which the Initial Securities are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

Initial Notes: As defined in the preamble hereto, but only for so long as such securities constitute Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

Initial Placement:  The issuance and sale by the Company of the Initial Securities to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

Initial Purchaser:  As defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Initial Securities: The Initial Notes and the Guarantees thereof.

 

Interest Payment Date:  As defined in the Notes and Exchange Notes, as applicable.

 

Person:  An individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, unincorporated organization or other legal entity, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Prospectus:  The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.

 

Record Holder:  With respect to any Interest Payment Date relating to the Securities of a series on which Additional Interest is to be paid, each Person who is a Holder of Securities on the record date with respect to the Interest Payment Date on which such Additional Interest Payment Date shall occur.

 

Registration Default:  As defined in Section 5 hereof.

 

Registration Statement:  Any Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, in each case, including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.

 

Securities:  The Initial Securities and the Exchange Securities.

 

Securities Act:  The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Shelf Filing Deadline:  As defined in Section 4 hereof.

 

Shelf Registration Statement:  As defined in Section 4 hereof.

 

Trust Indenture Act:  The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, in each case as in effect on the date of the Indenture.

 

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Transfer Restricted Securities:  Each (i) Initial Security, until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Security is exchanged in the Exchange Offer and entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act and (b) the date on which such Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) Exchange Security issued to a Broker-Dealer until the date on which such Security has been distributed by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein).

 

Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering:  A registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

 

SECTION 2.  Securities Subject to this Agreement.

 

(a)  Transfer Restricted Securities.  The securities entitled to the benefits of this Agreement are the Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

(b)  Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities.  A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each, a “Holder”) whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

SECTION 3.  Registered Exchange Offer.

 

(a)  Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) below have been complied with), the Company and the Guarantors shall (i) file with the Commission an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to a registered offer to exchange the Initial Securities for Exchange Securities under the Indenture in the same aggregate principal amount as and with terms that shall be identical in all respects to the Initial Securities (except that the Exchange Securities shall not contain terms with respect to the interest rate step-up provision and transfer restrictions), (ii) use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act, (iii) in connection with the foregoing, file (A) all pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective, (B) if applicable, a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act and (C) cause all necessary filings in connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange Securities to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer and (iv) promptly after such Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective, commence the Exchange Offer.  The Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the Exchange Securities to be offered in exchange for the Transfer Restricted Securities and to permit resales of Securities held by Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.

 

(b)  If an Exchange Offer Registration Statement is required pursuant to Section 3(a) above, the Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 business

 

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days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders.  The Company and the Guarantors shall cause each Exchange Offer to comply in all material respects with all applicable federal and state securities laws.  No securities other than the Securities and the Company’s 9.875% Senior Notes due 2020 shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.  If an Exchange Offer Registration Statement is required pursuant to Section 3(a) above, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to Consummate the Exchange Offer, on or prior to the 365th calendar day following the Closing Date.

 

(c)  Unless not permitted under applicable law or Commission policy, the Company shall indicate in a “Plan of Distribution” section contained in the Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement that any Broker-Dealer who holds Initial Securities that are Transfer Restricted Securities and that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Transfer Restricted Securities acquired directly from the Company), may exchange such Initial Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales of the Exchange Securities received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.  Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also contain all other information with respect to such resales by Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy after the date of this Agreement.

 

If an Exchange Offer Registration Statement is required pursuant to Section 3(a) above, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section 6(c) below to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Securities acquired by Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period ending on the earlier of (i) 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and (ii) the date on which Broker-Dealers are no longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with market-making or other trading activities.

 

The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any time during such 180-day (or shorter as provided in the foregoing sentence) period in order to facilitate such resales.

 

SECTION 4.  Shelf Registration.

 

(a)  Shelf Registration.  If either (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not required to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange Offer for the

 

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Initial Securities because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) below have been complied with), (ii) for any reason the Exchange Offer for the Initial Securities is not Consummated within 365 calendar days following the Closing Date, or (iii) with respect to any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (A) such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Initial Securities acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates, then, upon such Holder’s request, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

 

(x)  cause to be filed, at their expense, a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the “Shelf Registration Statement”) as promptly as reasonably practicable (the “Shelf Filing Deadline”), which Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for resales of all Transfer Restricted Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof; and

 

(y)  use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or before the 180th calendar day after the Shelf Filing Deadline.

 

The Company and the Guarantors shall keep any such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Securities by the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of two years following the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement), provided, however, upon the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development or any other material event that, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, makes it appropriate to suspend the availability of the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, the Company shall give notice (without notice of the nature or details of such events) that the availability of the Shelf Registration Statement is suspended and, upon actual receipt of any such notice, each Holder agrees not to sell any Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus provided for hereof, or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the Prospectus may be used, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.  The period during which the availability of the Shelf Registration Statement, and any Prospectus is suspended (the “Deferral Period”) shall not exceed 45 days in any three-month period or 90 days in any 365-day period.

 

(b)  Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement.  No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may include any of its

 

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Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 10 business days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as the Company may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein.  Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.

 

SECTION 5.  Additional Interest.  If either (a) the applicable Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to the 365th calendar day following the applicable Closing Date, (b) a Shelf Registration Statement applicable to the Securities is not filed or declared effective when required or (c) a Registration Statement applicable to the Securities is declared effective as required but thereafter fails to remain effective or usable in connection with resales for more than 30 calendar days (each such event referred to in clauses (a) through (c) above, a “Registration Default”), the Company shall pay liquidated damages in the form of additional interest (“Additional Interest”) in cash to each Holder of Securities in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum of the aggregate principal amount of Securities for the period of occurrence of the Registration Default until such time as no Registration Default is in effect, which rate shall increase by 0.25% per annum for each subsequent 90-day period during which such Registration Default continues up to a maximum of 1.00% per annum.  Following the cure of all Registration Defaults, Additional Interest will cease to accrue and the interest rate on the Securities will revert to the original rate; provided, however, that, if after the date such Additional Interest ceases to accrue, a different Registration Default occurs, Additional Interest may again commence accruing pursuant to the foregoing provisions.

 

All obligations of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such Note shall have been satisfied in full.

 

SECTION 6.  Registration Procedures.

 

(a)  Exchange Offer Registration Statement.  In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all of the provisions of Section 6(c) below, shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to effect such exchange to permit the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and shall comply with all of the following provisions:

 

(i)  If in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company there is a question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable law, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company and the Guarantors to Consummate the Exchange Offer for the Initial Securities.  The Company and the Guarantors each hereby agree to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level but shall not be required to take commercially unreasonable action to effect a change of Commission policy.  The Company and the Guarantors each hereby agree, however, to (A) participate

 

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in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) deliver to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursue a favorable resolution by the Commission staff of such submission.

 

(ii)  As a condition to its participation in an Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation thereof, a written representation to the Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an affiliate of the Company, (B) it is acquiring the Exchange Securities in its ordinary course of business and (C) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer, it has no arrangement with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer.  In addition, all such Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall otherwise cooperate in the Company’s preparations for the Exchange Offer.  Each Holder will be required to acknowledge and agree that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer (1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission staff enunciated in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (which may include any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction should be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of Exchange Securities obtained by such Holder in exchange for Initial Securities acquired by such Holder directly from the Company.

 

(b)  Shelf Registration Statement.  In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company and the Guarantors will as expeditiously as possible prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof.

 

(c)  General Provisions.  In connection with any Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to permit resales of Securities by Broker-Dealers), the Company and each of the Guarantors shall:

 

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(i)  use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements (including, if required by the Securities Act or any regulation thereunder, financial statements of the Guarantors) for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable; upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company shall file promptly (other than during any Deferral Period) an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the case of either clause (A) or (B), use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for their intended purposes as soon as practicable thereafter;

 

(ii)  prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, and to comply fully with the applicable provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Securities Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

(iii)  advise (1), in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement, the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders and (2), in connection with an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, any Exchanging Dealer, promptly and, if requested by such Persons, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement under the Securities Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes or (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in such Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in such Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading.  If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities

 

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commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;

 

(iv)  furnish without charge to each of the Initial Purchasers, each selling Holder named in any Shelf Registration Statement, and each of the underwriter(s), if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Shelf Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus, which documents will be subject to the review of such Holders and underwriter(s) in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least five business days, and the Company will not file any such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus to which an Initial Purchaser of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement or the underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object in writing within five business days after the receipt thereof (such objection to be deemed timely made upon confirmation of facsimile transmission within such period).  The objection of an Initial Purchaser or underwriter, if any, shall be deemed to be reasonable if such Shelf Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or omission;

 

(v)  make available, upon request, at reasonable times for inspection by any managing underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement or any Exchanging Dealer and any attorney or accountant retained by any of the underwriter(s) or such Exchanging Dealer, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and the Guarantors and cause the Company’s and the Guarantors’ officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness; provided, however, that such information may not be used for any other purposes than due diligence; and provided further, however, that any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by the Initial Purchasers or any such underwriter, legal counsel, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality;

 

(vi)  if requested by any selling Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, promptly incorporate in any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included therein, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted Securities, information with respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities to

 

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be sold in such offering; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

 

(vii)  cause (1) the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement, if so requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities covered thereby or the underwriter(s), if any and (2) the Exchange Securities covered by the Exchange Offer, to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies;

 

(viii)  furnish without charge (1), in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement, to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, and (2) in connection with any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, any Exchanging Dealer, at least one copy of such Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto;

 

(ix)  deliver to, without charge, (1) in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement, each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, and (2), in connection with an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, each Exchanging Dealer and each other person required to deliver a Prospectus, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

 

(x)  enter into, and cause the Guarantors to enter into, such agreements (including an underwriting agreement), and make, and cause the Guarantors to make, such representations and warranties, and take all such other actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be reasonably requested by any Initial Purchaser or by any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities or underwriter in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement; and whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten Registration, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

 

(A)  furnish to each Initial Purchaser, each selling Holder and each underwriter, if any, in such substance and scope as they may request and as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings, upon the date of the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement:

 

(1)  a certificate, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, signed by (y) the President or any Vice President and (z) a principal financial or accounting officer of each of the Company

 

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and the Guarantors, confirming, as of the date thereof, such matters as such parties may reasonably request;

 

(2)  opinions, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, covering such matters as such parties may reasonably request, and in any event including a statement to the effect counsel for the Company and the Guarantors has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company, the Initial Purchasers’ representatives and the Initial Purchasers’ counsel in connection with the preparation of such Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and have considered the matters required to be stated therein and the statements contained therein, although such counsel has not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements; and that such counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing, no facts came to such counsel’s attention that caused such counsel to believe that the Shelf Registration Statement, at the time such Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in such Shelf Registration Statement as of its date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  Without limiting the foregoing, such counsel may state further that such counsel assumes no responsibility for, and has not independently verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the financial statements, notes and schedules and other financial, accounting and statistical data included in any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the related Prospectus; and

 

(3)  a customary comfort letter, dated as of the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement from the Company’s independent accountants, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters by underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Sections 5(h) of the Purchase Agreement;

 

(B)  set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the underwriting agreement, if any, the indemnification provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and

 

(C)  deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such parties to evidence compliance with clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other

 

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agreement entered into by the Company or the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (x), if any.

 

If at any time the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors contemplated in clause (A)(1) above cease to be true and correct, the Company or the Guarantors shall so advise the Initial Purchasers and the underwriter(s), if any, and each selling Holder promptly and, if requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;

 

(xi)  prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders or underwriter(s) may reasonably request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Shelf Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

 

(xii)  shall issue, upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, Exchange Securities having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities surrendered to the Company by such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Exchange Securities to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the purchasers of such Securities, as the case may be; in return, the Initial Securities held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation;

 

(xiii)  in  connection  with  any  Shelf  Registration  Statement,  cooperate  with the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two business days prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities made by such underwriter(s);

 

(xiv)  use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xi) above;

 

(xv)  if any fact or event contemplated by clause (c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer

 

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Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(xvi)  provide a CUSIP number for all Exchange Notes and Transfer Restricted Securities not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement and provide the Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for the Exchange Notes and Transfer Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company;

 

(xvii)  cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with FINRA and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter (including any “qualified independent underwriter”) that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement;

 

(xviii)  otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earning statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited) for the twelve-month period (A) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm or commercially reasonable best efforts Underwritten Offering or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement;

 

(xix)  cause each Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders of Securities to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and

 

(xx)  if the Initial Securities are listed on any securities exchange, cause (1) all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, if requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities or the managing underwriter(s), if any and (2) all Exchange Securities to be listed on such securities exchange.

 

Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of (1) the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof or (2) the commencement of a Deferral Period, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any

 

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additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus.  If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of such notice.  In the event the Company shall give any such notice (other than with respect to any Deferral Period), the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof or shall have received the Advice; provided, however, no such extension shall be taken into account in determining whether Additional Interest is due pursuant to Section 5 hereof or the amount of such Additional Interest, it being agreed that the Company’s option to suspend use of a Registration Statement pursuant to this paragraph shall be treated as a Registration Default for purposes of Section 5.

 

SECTION 7.  Registration Expenses.

 

(a)  All expenses incident to the Company’s and the Guarantors’ performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company or the Guarantors, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings made by any Initial Purchaser or Holder with FINRA (and, if applicable, the reasonable fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” and its counsel that may be required by the rules and regulations of FINRA)); (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors; (v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Securities on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements thereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

 

The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company.

 

(b)  In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities being resold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be White & Case LLP or such other counsel as may be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Shelf Registration Statement is being prepared.  Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,

 

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relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

 

SECTION 8.  Indemnification.

 

(a)  The Company and each Guarantor agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its directors, officers and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and each affiliate of any Holder within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is based upon information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company expressly for use therein by or on behalf of any of the Holders.

 

(b)  Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each Guarantor, their respective directors, its officers, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company or the Guarantors (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors set forth in section (a) above, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished in writing to the Company and the Guarantors by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(c)  In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b), such Person (the “Indemnified Party”), shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing and the Indemnifying Party, upon request of the Indemnified Party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party and any others the Indemnifying Party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.  In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the Indemnifying Party has failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, or (iii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party and representation of

 

16

 

both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the Indemnifying Party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any Indemnified Party in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.  Such firm shall be designated in writing by a majority of the Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company and Guarantors, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnified Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Party shall have requested an Indemnifying Party to reimburse the Indemnified Party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the Indemnifying Party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such Indemnifying Party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such Indemnifying Party shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.  No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such settlement, (i) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are or could have been the subject matter of such proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party.

 

(d)  To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale of Transfer Restricted Securities, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or such Guarantor, on the one hand, or by the Holder, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to

 

17

 

above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c) hereof, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.

 

(e)  The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 8(d).  The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Holder, its directors, its officers or any Person, if any, who controls such Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount received by such Holder with respect to the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the sum of: (i) the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities plus (ii) the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Party at law or in equity.  The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.

 

SECTION 9.  Rule 144A.  Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding, to make available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A.

 

SECTION 10.  Participation In Underwritten Registrations.  No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

SECTION 11.  Selection Of Underwriters.  The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer Restricted Securities in an Underwritten Offering.  In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the

 

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Transfer Restricted Securities included in such offering; provided that such investment bankers and managers must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

 

SECTION 12.  Miscellaneous.

 

(a)  Remedies.  The Company and the Guarantors each hereby agree that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

(b)  Free Writing Prospectus.  The Company and the Guarantors represent, warrant and covenant that neither the Company nor any Guarantor (including their respective agents and representatives) will prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act) in connection with any sale of the Securities.

 

(c)  No Inconsistent Agreements.  The Company and the Guarantors will not, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to their securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.  Except for this Agreement and the registration rights agreement, dated as of November 21, 2012, by and among the Company, the Guarantors and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representative of the initial purchasers named therein, neither the Company nor the Guarantors have entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person that would require such securities to be included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement.  The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

 

(d)  Adjustments Affecting the Securities.  The Company and the Guarantors will not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to the Securities that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer.

 

(e)  Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities affected thereby.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to an Exchange Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being tendered or registered; provided that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser with respect to which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver, consent or departure is to be effective.

 

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(f)  Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

 

(i)  if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the Registrar under the applicable Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture; and

 

(ii)  if to the Company or the Guarantors:

 

Walter Energy, Inc.
 3000 Riverchase Galleria, Suite 1700
 Birmingham, Alabama 35244
 Attention: General Counsel

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

 

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address specified in the Indenture.

 

(g)  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities from such Holder.

 

(h)  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(i)  Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(j)  Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(k)  Severability.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

 

(l)  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement is intended by the parties to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities.  There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or

 

20

 

referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities.  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

21

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	
 
    	
WALTER ENERGY, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Earl H. Doppelt 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Earl H. Doppelt
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and   Secretary
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ON BEHALF OF THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON SCHEDULE   A HERETO
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Earl H. Doppelt
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Earl H. Doppelt
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Secretary
    

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:

 

	
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC,
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Acting on behalf of themselves
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
and as the Representative of
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
the several Initial Purchasers
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
MORGAN   STANLEY & CO. LLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ James R. Pearson
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
James R. Pearson
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Authorized Signatory
    	
 
    

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

Schedule A

 

GUARANTORS

 

J.W. Walter, Inc., a Delaware corporation

J.W.I. Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation

Land Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation

Walter Black Warrior Basin LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Walter Coke, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Walter Exploration & Production LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Walter Land Company, a Delaware corporation

Walter Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Walter Natural Gas, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Blue Creek Coal Sales, Inc., an Alabama corporation

Clearwater Energy, Inc., an Alabama corporation

Hamer Properties, Inc., a West Virginia corporation

Jim Walter Resources, Inc., an Alabama corporation

Taft Coal Sales & Associates, Inc., an Alabama corporation

Tuscaloosa Resources, Inc., an Alabama corporation

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