Document:

exh_41.htm

EXHIBIT 4.1

 

	 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________________________

 

GLOBAL GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES, INC.

 

AND EACH OF THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO

 

101⁄2% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2017

 

_____________________________________________________

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of March 28, 2012

 

 

_____________________________________________________

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

 

Trustee

 

 

_____________________________________________________

 

 

 

  

  

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

 

 

	
Section 1.01

	
Definitions.

	
1

	
Section 1.02

	
Other Definitions.

	
23

	
Section 1.03

	
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

	
23

	
Section 1.04

	
Rules of Construction.

	
24

	
ARTICLE 2

	
THE NOTES

	
Section 2.01

	
Form and Dating.

	
24

	
Section 2.02

	
Execution and Authentication.

	
25

	
Section 2.03

	
Registrar and Paying Agent.

	
26

	
Section 2.04

	
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

	
26

	
Section 2.05

	
Holder Lists.

	
26

	
Section 2.06

	
Transfer and Exchange.

	
27

	
Section 2.07

	
Replacement Notes.

	
39

	
Section 2.08

	
Outstanding Notes.

	
39

	
Section 2.09

	
Treasury Notes.

	
40

	
Section 2.10

	
Temporary Notes.

	
40

	
Section 2.11

	
Cancellation.

	
40

	
Section 2.12

	
Defaulted Interest.

	
40

	
Section 2.13

	
Trustee Disclaimer.

	
41

	
Section 2.14

	
CUSIP and ISIN Numbers.

	
41

	
ARTICLE 3

	
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

	
Section 3.01

	
Notices to Trustee.

	
41

	
Section 3.02

	
Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.

	
42

	
Section 3.03

	
Notice of Redemption.

	
42

	
Section 3.04

	
Effect of Notice of Redemption.

	
43

	
Section 3.05

	
Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.

	
43

	
Section 3.06

	
Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.

	
43

	
Section 3.07

	
Optional Redemption.

	
43

	
Section 3.08

	
Mandatory Redemption.

	
44

	
Section 3.09

	
Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Asset Sale Proceeds.

	
44

	
ARTICLE 4

	
COVENANTS

	
Section 4.01

	
Payment of Notes.

	
46

	
Section 4.02

	
Maintenance of Office or Agency.

	
46

	
Section 4.03

	
Reports.

	
47

	
Section 4.04

	
Compliance Certificate.

	
48

	
Section 4.05

	
Taxes.

	
48

	
Section 4.06

	
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

	
48

	
Section 4.07

	
Restricted Payments.

	
49

	
Section 4.08

	
Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.

	
52

	
Section 4.09

	
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock..

	
53

  

  

  

Page

	
Section 4.10

	
Asset Sales.

	
56

	
Section 4.11

	
Transactions with Affiliates.

	
58

	
Section 4.12

	
Liens.

	
59

	
Section 4.13

	
Corporate Existence.

	
59

	
Section 4.14

	
Change of Control.

	
60

	
Section 4.15

	
Payments for Consent.

	
61

	
Section 4.16

	
Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.

	
61

	
Section 4.17

	
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

	
61

	
ARTICLE 5

	
SUCCESSORS

	
Section 5.01

	
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.

	
62

	
Section 5.02

	
Successor Corporation Substituted.

	
63

	
ARTICLE 6

	
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

	
Section 6.01

	
Events of Default.

	
64

	
Section 6.02

	
Acceleration.

	
65

	
Section 6.03

	
Other Remedies.

	
66

	
Section 6.04

	
Waiver of Past Defaults.

	
66

	
Section 6.05

	
Control by Majority.

	
66

	
Section 6.06

	
Limitation on Suits.

	
67

	
Section 6.07

	
Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

	
67

	
Section 6.08

	
Collection Suit by Trustee.

	
67

	
Section 6.09

	
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

	
67

	
Section 6.10

	
Priorities.

	
68

	
Section 6.11

	
Undertaking for Costs.

	
68

	
ARTICLE 7

	
TRUSTEE

	
Section 7.01

	
Duties of Trustee.

	
69

	
Section 7.02

	
Rights of Trustee.

	
69

	
Section 7.03

	
Individual Rights of Trustee.

	
70

	
Section 7.04

	
Trustee’s Disclaimer.

	
71

	
Section 7.05

	
Notice of Defaults.

	
71

	
Section 7.06

	
Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

	
71

	
Section 7.07

	
Compensation and Indemnity.

	
71

	
Section 7.08

	
Replacement of Trustee.

	
72

	
Section 7.09

	
Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

	
73

	
Section 7.10

	
Eligibility; Disqualification.

	
73

	
Section 7.11

	
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

	
73

	
ARTICLE 8

	
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

	
Section 8.01

	
Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

	
73

	
Section 8.02

	
Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

	
73

	
Section 8.03

	
Covenant Defeasance.

	
74

	
Section 8.04

	
Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

	
74

	
Section 8.05

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

	
76

	
Section 8.06

	
Repayment to Company.

	
76

 

ii

  

  

Page

 

	
Section 8.07

	
Reinstatement.

	
76

	
ARTICLE 9

	
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

	
Section 9.01

	
Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

	
77

	
Section 9.02

	
With Consent of Holders of Notes.

	
78

	
Section 9.03

	
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

	
79

	
Section 9.04

	
Revocation and Effect of Consents.

	
79

	
Section 9.05

	
Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

	
79

	
Section 9.06

	
Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

	
80

	
ARTICLE 10

	
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES

	
Section 10.01.

	
Guarantee.

	
80

	
Section 10.02.

	
Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

	
81

	
Section 10.03.

	
Execution and Delivery of Subsidiary Guarantee.

	
81

	
Section 10.04.

	
Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

	
82

	
Section 10.05.

	
Releases.

	
82

	
ARTICLE 11

	
satisfaction and discharge

	
Section 11.01

	
Satisfaction and Discharge.

	
83

	
Section 11.02

	
Application of Trust Money.

	
84

	
ARTICLE 12

	
MISCELLANEOUS

	
Section 12.01

	
Trust Indenture Act Controls.

	
84

	
Section 12.02

	
Notices.

	
84

	
Section 12.03

	
Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.

	
86

	
Section 12.04

	
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

	
86

	
Section 12.05

	
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

	
86

	
Section 12.06

	
Rules by Trustee and Agents.

	
86

	
Section 12.07

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

	
86

	
Section 12.08

	
Governing Law.

	
87

	
Section 12.09

	
No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

	
87

	
Section 12.10

	
Successors.

	
87

	
Section 12.11

	
Severability.

	
87

	
Section 12.12

	
Counterpart Originals.

	
87

	
Section 12.13

	
Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

	
87

	
Section 12.14

	
Waiver of Jury Trial.

	
87

	
Section 12.15

	
Force Majeure.

	
87

	
Section 12.16

	
U.S.A. Patriot Act.

	
88

 

EXHIBITS

 

	
Exhibit A1

	
FORM OF NOTE

	
Exhibit A2

	
FORM OF REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL 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 NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

	
Exhibit F

	
FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

iii  

  

  

INDENTURE dated as of March 28, 2012 among Global Geophysical Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Guarantors (as defined) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.

 

The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined) of the 101⁄2% Senior Notes due 2017 (the “Notes”):

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.01 Definitions.

 

“144A Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 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.

 

“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, including, without limitation, Indebtedness 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, but excluding, in any event, Indebtedness that is extinguished, retired or repaid in connection with such Person merging with or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person.

 

“Additional Interest” has the meaning assigned to that term 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 Initial Notes.

 

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue with respect to the Notes called for redemption (if no maturity is within three months before or after May 1, 2014, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per year equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date, in each case calculated on the third Business Day immediately preceding the redemption date, plus, in the case of each of clause (i) and (ii), 0.50%.

 

  

1

  

“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” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that, for purposes of Section 4.11 and the use of the term “Affiliates” thereunder, beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a specified Person shall be deemed to be control by the owner thereof.

 

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

 

“Applicable Premium” means, at any redemption date, the excess of (A) the present value at such redemption date of (1) the redemption price of the Notes on May 1, 2014 (such redemption price being described in Section 3.07(d)) plus (2) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on the Notes through May 1, 2014 (excluding accrued and unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Adjusted Treasury Rate, over (B) the principal amount of the Notes on such redemption date.  The Company will (x) calculate the Adjusted Treasury Rate prior to the applicable redemption date and (y) on the second Business Day prior to such redemption date, deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Applicable Treasury Rate and the Applicable Premium and showing the calculation thereof in reasonable detail.

 

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

 

“Asset Sale” means:

 

(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights (including, without limitation, by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction) other than in the ordinary course of business, or any damage or loss of property resulting in the payment of property insurance or condemnation proceeds to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by Section 4.14 and Section 5.01 and not by Section 4.10); and

 

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

 

in the case of either clause (1) or (2) above, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, that have a Fair Market Value in excess of $2.5 million; provided that the following will not be deemed to be Asset Sales:

 

(1) any sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition of inventory, equipment, accounts receivable (or the discounting thereof), data assets or other assets or rights in the ordinary course of business, including any Non-Monetary Exchanges;

 

  

2

  

(2) a transfer of assets by the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

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

 

(4) (A) a Permitted Investment or (B) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07;

 

(5) the trade, sale or exchange of Cash Equivalents;

 

(6) the sale, exchange or other disposition of obsolete assets not integral to any Permitted Business;

 

(7) the abandonment or relinquishment of assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

(8) any lease of assets entered into in the ordinary course of business and with respect to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company is the lessor and the lessee has no option to purchase such assets for less than fair market value at any time the right to acquire such asset occurs;

 

(9) the disposition of assets received in settlement of debts accrued in the ordinary course of business;

 

(10) the creation or perfection of a Lien on any assets (or any income or profit therefrom) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is not prohibited by any covenant of this Indenture;

 

(11) the surrender or waiver in the ordinary course of business of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contractual, non-contractual or other claims of any kind;

 

(12) sales or grants of non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses to use the inventory, patents, trade secrets, know-how and other intellectual property, and non-exclusive licenses, leases or subleases of other assets, of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent in the ordinary course of business and not materially interfering with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, and the grant in the ordinary course of business of any non-exclusive license of patents, trademarks, registrations therefor and other similar intellectual property; and

 

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

 

 “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States 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.

 

  

3

  

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board.

 

 “Broker-Dealer” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.  

 

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

 

“Capital Lease Obligations” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of one or more capital leases that would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Capital Stock” means (1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock; (2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; (3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); 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.

 

“Cash Equivalents” means:

 

(1) United States dollars;

 

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;

 

(3) certificates of deposit and Eurodollar time deposits with maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500 million and a Thompson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

 

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

 

(5) commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P with maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition; and

 

(6) money market funds 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalent of the types described in clauses (1) – (5) above.

 

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

 

(1) any direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person or group of related Persons as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act (a “Group”) together with any Affiliates thereof (whether or not otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this Indenture) other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

  

4

  

(2) the approval by the holders of Capital Stock of the Company of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

(3) the acquisition, in one or more transactions, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Voting Securities of the Company by any Person or Group that, as a result of such acquisition, either (A) beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities (measured by voting power rather than number of shares) or (B) otherwise has the ability to elect, directly or indirectly, a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, including, without limitation, by the acquisition of revocable proxies for the election of directors; or

 

(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors.

 

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, S.A.

 

“Commodity Hedging Agreements” means agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in the price of any commodity, in each case, in connection with the conduct of its business and not for speculative purposes.

 

“Commodity Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the net payment Obligations of such Person under Commodity Hedging Agreements.

 

 “Company”  means Global Geophysical Services, Inc., and any and all successors thereto.

 

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term from the redemption date to May 1, 2014, that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a maturity most nearly equal to May 1, 2014.

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, if clause (ii) of the definition of Adjusted Treasury Rate is applicable, the average of three, or such lesser number as is obtained by the Quotation Agent, Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the redemption date.

 

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

 

(1) an amount equal to any extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of Consolidated Net Income for such period, losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business) plus any net loss realized in connection with an Asset Sale (to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income), plus

 

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

 

  

5

  

(3) Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that any such expense or charge was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus

 

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

 

(5) depreciation and amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation and amortization and other non-cash charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, minus

 

(6) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period,

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision for taxes on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash charges of, a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cash Flow only to the extent (and in same proportion) that the Net Income of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in calculating the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and only if a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to such Person by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders.

 

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

 

(1) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary (the Company’s equity in the net loss of any such Person for such period will be included in determining Consolidated Net Income);

 

(2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, except that (a) the Company’s equity in the income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution and (b) the Company’s equity in the net loss of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included  in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

 

  

6

  

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

 

(4) any non-cash impairment charges resulting from the write-down of non-current assets shall be excluded, as if such write-down had not occurred;

 

(5) to the extent deducted in the calculation of Net Income, any charges associated with any write-offs of deferred financing costs or other financial recapitalization charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be added back to Consolidated Net Income; and

 

(6) any unrealized non-cash gains or losses in respect of hedges and other derivatives (including those under FASB ASC 815) shall be excluded.

 

“continuing” means, with respect to any Default or Event of Default, that such Default or Event of Default has not been cured or waived.  

 

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date or for any period of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who (i) was a member of such Board of Directors on the first day of such period or (ii) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election.

 

 “Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” 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 Company.

 

“Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities, commercial paper facilities or Debt Issuances, including the Revolving Credit Facility, with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, hedge funds, other institutional lenders, institutional investors or any of the foregoing providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders, other financiers or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from (or sell such receivables to) such lenders or other financiers against such receivables), letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, other borrowings or Debt Issuances, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, extended, refunded, replaced or refinanced (in each case, without limitation as to amount), in whole or in part, from time to time (including through one or more Debt Issuances) and any agreements and related documents governing Indebtedness or Obligations incurred to refinance amounts then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding, whether or not with the original administrative agent, lenders, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, other institutional lenders, institutional investors or any of the foregoing and whether provided under the original agreement, indenture or other documentation relating thereto.

 

 “Currency Hedging Agreements” means, at any time as to any Person, any foreign currency exchange agreement, option or futures contract or other similar agreement or arrangement entered into in the ordinary course of business and designed to protect against or manage such Person’s exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

 

“Currency Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the net payment Obligations of such Person under Currency Hedging Agreements.

 

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

 

  

7

  

 “Debt Issuances” means, with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, one or more issuances after the Issue Date of Indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar securities or instruments.

 

 “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 A1 hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 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.

 

“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock to the extent that by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event, it matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature, except such Capital Stock that is solely redeemable with, or solely exchangeable for, any Capital Stock of such Person that is not Disqualified Stock.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to repurchase Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07.

 

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia or that guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company.

 

“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 any public or private sale of Capital Stock of the Company or options, warrants or rights with respect to its Capital Stock (other than sales made to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and sales of Disqualified Stock) made for cash after the Issue Date.

 

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

 

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

 

“Exchange Notes” means Notes registered under the Securities Act that are issued under this Indenture in exchange for the Notes initially issued under this Indenture pursuant to the Exchange Offer or in replacement of any such initially issued Notes pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

 

  

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

 

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

 

“Existing Indebtedness” means the aggregate Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on the Issue Date.

 

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to consideration received or to be received, or given or to be given, pursuant to any transaction by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, the fair market value of such consideration as determined (unless otherwise specified in this Indenture) in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be conclusive and evidenced by a resolution of such Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Financial Hedging Agreements” means (1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates in connection with the conduct of its business and not for speculative purposes.

 

“Financial Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the net payment Obligations of such Person under Financial Hedging Agreements.

 

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any 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.  If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems or repays any Indebtedness (other than revolving credit borrowings under any Credit Facility) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but 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 shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption or repayment of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.  In addition, for purposes of making the computation referred to above:

 

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period and Consolidated Cash Flow for such reference period shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to any expense, cost reductions and operating improvements that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC and any regulation or policy related thereto;

 

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

 

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

 

  

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

 

(1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (including, without limitation or duplication, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net payments (if any) pursuant to Hedging Obligations);

 

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

 

(3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon); and

 

(4) all dividend payments, whether or not in cash, on any series of preferred stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividend payments on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock).

 

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are applicable at the date of determination.

 

“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 Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 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)(2) or 2.06(f) hereof.

 

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

 

“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, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof or pledging assets to secure), of all or any part of any Indebtedness.

 

“Guarantors” means:

 

  

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(1) each of the Company’s Domestic Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date;

 

(2) each of the Company’s Domestic Subsidiaries that becomes a guarantor of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.16; and

 

(3) each of the Company’s other Restricted Subsidiaries executing a supplemental indenture in which such Restricted Subsidiary agrees to guarantee the obligations of the Company under, or to be bound by the terms of this Indenture;

 

provided that any Person constituting a Guarantor as described above shall cease to constitute a Guarantor when its respective Subsidiary Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

 

“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, collectively, the Commodity Hedging Obligations of such Person, the Currency Hedging Obligations of such Person and the Financial Hedging Obligations of such Person.

 

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

 

“IAI Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 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 to Institutional Accredited Investors.

 

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

 

(1) the principal of and premium, if any, with respect to indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments;

 

(2) reimbursement obligations of such Person for letters of credit or banker’s acceptances;

 

(3) Capital Lease Obligations of such Person;

 

(4) obligations of such Person for the payment of the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable;

 

(5) Hedging Obligations (the amount of which at any time of determination shall be equal to the termination value of the agreement or arrangement giving rise to such Hedging Obligation that would be payable at such time); or

 

(6) preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);

 

in the case of the foregoing clauses (1) through (5) if and to the extent any of the foregoing obligations or indebtedness (other than letters of credit, banker’s acceptances and Hedging Obligations), but excluding amounts recorded in accordance with FASB ASC 815, would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.  In the case of the foregoing clause (6), the amount of Indebtedness attributable to such preferred stock shall be the repurchase price calculated in accordance with the terms of such preferred stock as if the preferred stock were repurchased on the date on which Indebtedness is required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture; provided that if the preferred stock is not then permitted to be repurchased, the amount of Indebtedness shall be the greater of the liquidation preference and the book value of the preferred stock.

 

  

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In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes, without duplication:

 

(A) obligations or indebtedness of other Persons of the type referred to in the foregoing clauses (1) through (6) that are secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person), but in an amount not to exceed the lesser of the amount of such other Person’s obligation or indebtedness or the Fair Market Value of such asset; and

 

(B) to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by such Person of any obligations or indebtedness of other Persons of the type referred to in the foregoing clauses (1) through (6), whether or not such guarantee is contingent, and whether or not such guarantee appears on the balance sheet of such Person.

 

“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 $50 million aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.

 

“Initial Purchasers” means Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse 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 are not also QIBs.

 

“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of direct or indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness or other Obligations), advances (other than advances to customers in the ordinary course of business which are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender and commissions, moving, travel and similar advances to employees and officers made in the ordinary course of business) or capital contributions, 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 Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company, or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the last paragraph of Section 4.17.

 

“Issue Date” means the first date on which the Notes are issued, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

“Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.  If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

 

  

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“Letter of Transmittal” means the letter of transmittal to be prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Notes for use by such Holders in connection with the Exchange Offer.

 

“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 any asset and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction).

 

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

 

“Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding, however, (1) any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with (a) any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to any Sale/Leaseback Transaction); or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and (2) any extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (but not loss).

 

“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds or Cash Equivalents received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of (i) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal, accounting, investment banking and brokers’ fees, sales and underwriting commissions and other reasonable costs incurred in preparing such asset for sale), any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof and any related severance and associated costs, expenses and charges of personnel related to the sold assets and related operations, (ii) taxes paid or reserved as payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), (iii) distributions and payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such Asset Sale, (iv) amounts paid in order to satisfy any Lien attaching to an asset in connection with such Asset Sale and (v) any reserve for adjustment (whether or not placed in escrow) in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Non-Monetary Exchange” means the grant by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to a customer of a non-exclusive license to selected data from its data library in exchange for ownership of separate seismic data supplied by such customer.

 

 “Non-Recourse Indebtedness” means Indebtedness:

 

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

 

  

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(2) the incurrence of which will not result in any recourse against any of the assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(3) no default with respect to which would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare pursuant to the express terms governing such Indebtedness a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity.

 

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

 

 “Notes” has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.  The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.

 

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

 

“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 or any Vice-President of such Person.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 12.05 hereof.

 

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

 

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

 

“Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness” means Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Guarantor to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock was Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of (i) a Subsidiary prior to the date on which such Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) a Person that merged or consolidated with or into the Company or a Guarantor; provided that on the date such Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or the date such Person was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, after giving pro forma effect thereto, (a) the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section 4.09 or (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company would be greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company immediately prior to such transaction.

 

  

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 “Permitted Business” means, with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries:

 

(1) any business engaged in by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date; and

 

(2) any business that is a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, or reasonably related to, any of the businesses referred to in clause (1).

 

“Permitted Investments” means:

 

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

 

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or deposit accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(4) any business engaged in by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date; and

 

(a) an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10; or

 

(b) a disposition of assets that does not constitute an Asset Sale;

 

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

 

(6) any Investment received in settlement of debts, claims or disputes owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that arose out of transactions in the ordinary course of business;

 

(7) any Investment received in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout or reorganization of any Person;

 

(8) advances and extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable arising from the sale or lease of goods or services or the licensing of property in the ordinary course of business;

 

(9) advances and loans to employees, officers and directors (including, without limitation, loans and advances the net cash proceeds of which are used solely to purchase Equity Interests of the Company in connection with restricted stock or employee stock purchase plans, or to exercise stock received pursuant thereto or other incentive plans in a principal amount not to exceed the aggregate exercise or purchase price), or loans to refinance principal and accrued interest on any such loans; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such loans, advances and allowances shall not exceed at any time $2.0 million;

 

  

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(10) other Investments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in any Person having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured as of the date each such Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10), not to exceed $10.0 million;

 

(11) Investments in the form of intercompany Indebtedness or guarantees of Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company permitted under clauses (4) and (8) of Section 4.09;

 

(12) Investments arising in connection with Hedging Obligations that are incurred in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of fixing or hedging commodity, currency or interest rate risk in connection with the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and not for speculative purposes;

 

(13) any Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility, worker’s compensation, performance and other similar deposits and prepaid expenses made in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(14) Investments pursuant to agreements and obligations of the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary in effect on the Issue Date and any renewals or replacements thereof on terms and conditions not materially less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than the terms of the Investment being renewed or replaced.

 

“Permitted Liens” means:

 

(1) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred under Credit Facilities pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” in Section 4.09;

 

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

 

(3) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by clause (5) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” in Section 4.09 covering only the assets acquired, constructed, improved or developed with, or secured by, such Indebtedness;

 

(4) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

 

(5) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as is required in conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;

 

(6) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairman’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(7) pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

 

  

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(8) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(9) any interest or title of a lessor under any Capital Lease entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of its business and covering only the property or assets so leased;

 

(10) Liens in favor of collecting or payor banks having a right of setoff, revocation, refund or chargeback with respect to money or instruments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on deposit with or in possession of such bank;

 

(11) Liens to secure Hedging Obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(12) Liens on property or assets of a Person existing at the time (a) such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (b) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (c) such property is otherwise acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger, consolidation or other acquisition and do not extend to any property or assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary in the case of a merger or consolidation pursuant to clause (a) or such property or assets in the case of such other acquisition in the case of clause (b) or (c);

 

(13) Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture; provided that (a) the new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property or assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to, such property or assets 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;

 

(14) Liens upon specific items of inventory, accounts receivables or other goods and proceeds of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary securing such Person’s obligations in respect of banker’s acceptances or receivables securitizations issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory, accounts receivables or other goods and proceeds and permitted by Section 4.09;

 

(15) any Lien resulting from the deposit of money or other Cash Equivalents or other evidence of indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(16) any Liens securing industrial development, pollution control or similar bonds; and

 

(17) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company with respect to Indebtedness that does not exceed in aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) $7.5 million at any one time outstanding.

 

  

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“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or portion of such Indebtedness, issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness), including Indebtedness that extends, refinances, renews, replaces, defeases or refunds Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that:

 

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

 

(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 Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;

 

(3) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, 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 or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, on terms at least as favorable to the this Indentures of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and

 

(4) such Indebtedness is not incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company if the Company is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, any Indebtedness incurred under Credit Facilities pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” in Section 4.09 shall be subject to the refinancing provisions of the definition of “Credit Facilities” and not pursuant to the requirements set forth in this definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

 

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

 

“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.

 

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

 

“Quotation Agent” means the Reference Treasury Dealer selected by the Company to act as Quotation Agent from time to time.

 

  

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 “Reference Treasury Dealer” means any nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Company that is a primary dealer of Government Securities.

 

 “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue with respect to the Notes, expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount, quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on the third Business Day immediately preceding the redemption date.

 

 “Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2012, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time and, with respect to any Additional Notes, one or more registration rights agreements among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, as such agreement(s) may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, relating to rights given by the Company to the purchasers of Additional Notes to register such Additional Notes under the Securities Act.

 

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

 

“Regulation S Global Note” means a Regulation S Temporary Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as appropriate.

 

“Regulation S Permanent Global Note” means a permanent Global Note in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon expiration of the Restricted Period.

 

“Regulation S Temporary Global Note” means a temporary Global Note in the form of Exhibit A2 hereto deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

 

“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture  and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his 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 referenced Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a direct or indirect Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that, on the Issue Date, all Subsidiaries of the Company shall be Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

  

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“Revolving Credit Facility” means the revolving credit facility as evidenced by the credit agreement among the Company, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, Credit Suisse, as syndication agent, and the lenders described therein, as amended, supplemented, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time with another revolving credit facility.

 

“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, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

 

“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property or assets owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary on the Issue Date or thereafter acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property or assets to a Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary leases such property or assets from such Person.

 

 “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

“Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, (A) all Indebtedness of such Person, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter created, incurred or assumed and (B) all other Obligations of such Person in respect of Indebtedness described in clause (A) above, unless, in the case of clauses (A) and (B), in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such Indebtedness or other Obligations are subordinate in right of payment to the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee; provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not include:

 

(1) any obligation of such Person to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company;

 

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

 

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

 

(4) any Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person that is subordinate or junior in any respect to any other Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person;

 

(5) the portion of any Indebtedness which at the time of incurrence is incurred in violation of this Indenture; and

 

(6) any Capital Stock.

 

“Shelf Registration Statement” means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.  

 

  

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

 

“Specified Date” means April 27, 2010.

 

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

 

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

 

 “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person,

 

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person; and

 

(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or an entity described in clause (1) and related to such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or more entities described in clause (1) and related to such Person (or any combination thereof).

 

“Subsidiary Guarantee” means the Guarantee of the Notes and the Exchange Notes by each of the Guarantors pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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

 

“Total Assets” means the total consolidated assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company then available, after giving pro forma effect for acquisitions or dispositions of Persons, divisions or lines of business that had occurred after such balance sheet date and on or prior to such date of determination.

 

“Trustee” means The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, 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.

 

  

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“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means: (1) any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company) that is designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors as certified in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee; and (2) each Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, whenever it shall become such a Subsidiary.

 

The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary of the Company to become an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(5) does not own any Capital Stock of, or own or hold any Lien on any property of, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

 

(6) would constitute an Investment which the Company could make in compliance with Section 4.07.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding, if, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred as of such date.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  

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Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

	  	
Defined in

	
Term

	
Section

	
“Affiliate Transaction”

	
4.11

	
“Asset Sale Offer”

	
4.10

	
“Authentication Order”

	
2.02

	
“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 Asset Sale Proceeds”

	
4.10

	
“incur”

	
4.09

	
“Legal Defeasance”

	
8.02

	
“Offer Amount”

	
3.09

	
“Offer Period”

	
3.09

	
“Paying Agent”

	
2.03

	
“Payment Default” 

	
6.01

	
“Permitted Debt”

	
4.09

	
“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 terms have the following meanings, to the extent that they are used in this Indenture:

 

“indenture securities” means the Notes;

 

“indenture security Holder” means a Holder of a Note;

 

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

 

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

 

“obligor” on the Notes and the Note Guarantees means the Company 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.

 

  

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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 will be deemed to include substitute, replacement of 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 Exhibits A1 and A2 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 issued only in fully registered form without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.  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 Exhibits A1 or A2 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 A1 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.

 

  

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(c) Temporary Global Notes.  Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S will be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which will be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided.  The Restricted Period will be terminated upon the receipt by the Trustee of:

 

(1) a written certificate from the Depositary, together with copies of certificates from Euroclear and Clearstream certifying that they have received certification of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note (except to the extent of any beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act and who will take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as contemplated by Section 2.06(b) hereof); and

 

(2) an Officers’ Certificate from the Company.

 

Within a reasonable time period after the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note will be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Regulation S Permanent Global Note pursuant to the Applicable Procedures.  Simultaneously with the authentication of the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, the Trustee will cancel the Regulation S Temporary Global Note.  The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

 

(3) Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable.  The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream will be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication.

 

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

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note 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 Company signed by two Officers (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 Company pursuant to one or more Authentication Orders, except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.

 

  

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

 

Additional Notes may be created and issued from time to time by the Company without notice to or consent of the Holders and shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes and shall have the same terms as the Initial Notes; provided that the Company's ability to issue Additional Notes shall be subject to the Company's compliance with this Section 2.02 and Section 4.09 and the other provisions hereof.

 

Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

The Company 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 Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents.  The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.  The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder.  The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture.  If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such.  The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

The Company 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 of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment.  While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) will have no further liability for the money.  If the Company 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 Company, 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 Company 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 Company shall otherwise comply with TIA §312(a).

 

  

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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 Company for Definitive Notes if:

 

(1) the Depositary (a) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Notes or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days;

 

(2) the Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of the Definitive Notes; provided that in no event shall the Regulation S Temporary Global Note be exchanged for Certificated Notes prior to (a) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (b) the receipt of any certificates required under the provisions of Regulation S; or

 

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

 

Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (1) or (2) 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 Temporary 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).

 

  

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(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

 

(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 (1) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903 under the Securities Act.

 

Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with Section 2.06(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.06(b)(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 Temporary Global Note or the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

 

  

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(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 the Exchange Offer in accordance with the 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 Company;

 

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

 

(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the 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 subparagraph (B) or (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company 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 subparagraph (B) or (D) above.

 

  

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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;

 

(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 Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; 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 Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, 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.

 

  

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(2) Beneficial Interests in Regulation S Temporary Global Note to Definitive Notes.  Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(1)(A) and (C) hereof, a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act, except in the case of a transfer pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.

 

(3) 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 the Exchange Offer in accordance with the 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 Company;

 

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

 

(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the 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 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.

 

  

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(4) 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 Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, 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)(4) 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)(4) 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;

 

(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;

 

  

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

 

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

 

(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

 

(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 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.

 

  

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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)(B), (2)(D) or (3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company 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:

 

(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:

 

  

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(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the 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 Company;

 

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

 

(C) any such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the 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 this subparagraph (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 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 the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company 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 Company; and

 

  

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(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 Company.

 

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 Company 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.  In addition to the legend appearing on the face of the form of the Notes in Exhibits A1 and A2 hereto relating to original issue discount, 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 HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE ‘‘SECURITIES ACT’’), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A ‘‘QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER’’ (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (‘‘RULE 144A’’)), (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN ‘‘OFFSHORE TRANSACTION’’ PURSUANT TO RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (‘‘REGULATION S’’), OR (C) IT IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1, (2), (3), OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR”)) (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR OF ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH GLOBAL GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES, INC.. (THE ‘‘COMPANY’’) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE, OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A ‘‘QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER’’ AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN 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 FOR THIS NOTE), (E) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED THAT THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING IN THE INDENTURE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE, IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY 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. ”

 

  

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(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(4), (c)(3), (c)(4), (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 GLOBAL GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES, INC.

 

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 COMPANY 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.”

 

  

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(3) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend.  The Regulation S Temporary Global Note will bear a Legend in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.  At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or 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 Company 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, exchange or redemption of Notes, but the Company or the Trustee 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 transfer, exchange or redemption of Notes 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 Company, 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 Company will be required:

 

(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes in respect of which a notice of redemption has been given or for a period of 15 days before a selection of the Notes to be redeemed under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of such selection;

 

  

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

 

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

 

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

 

(9) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by the terms of this Indenture and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

Section 2.07 Replacement Notes.

 

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee and the Company receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company 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 Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced.  The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.

 

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company 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 interest 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 Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note; however, Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07(a) hereof.

 

  

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If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them 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.

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or 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 Company or any Guarantor, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company 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 a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned will be so disregarded.

 

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes.

 

Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company 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 Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.  Without unreasonable delay, the Company 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 Company 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 in accordance with its customary policies.  Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes will be delivered to the Company.  The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest.

 

  

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If the Company 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 Company 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 Company 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 Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, if given prior notice in accordance with Section 12.02, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) 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.

 

Section 2.13 Trustee Disclaimer.

 

             The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depositary or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to the Notes.  All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Note).  The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary.  The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

 

Section 2.14 CUSIP and ISIN Numbers.

 

             The Company in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP numbers and/or ISIN numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers and/or ISIN numbers in notices (including notices of redemption) as a convenience to Holders; provided, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice.  The  Company will as promptly as possible notify the Trustee, in writing, of any change in the CUSIP number and ISIN number.

 

ARTICLE 3  

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.

 

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it must furnish to the Trustee, at least 45 days before a redemption date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate setting forth:

 

(1) the clause of this Indenture 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.

 

  

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Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.

 

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption or purchase on a pro rata basis (or, in the case of Notes issued in global form pursuant to Article 2 hereof, based on a method that most nearly approximates a pro rata selection as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate) unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange or depositary requirements.

 

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 or purchase date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase.

 

The Trustee will promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased.  Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed or purchased.  Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.

 

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, notices of redemption with respect to the Notes shall be mailed by first class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes 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.

 

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

 

(1) the redemption date;

 

(2) the redemption price;

 

(3) if any Note is being redeemed in part only, 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 in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note;

 

(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 Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes or portions of the Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

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

 

  

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(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 Company’s request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date, 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 date fixed for redemption at the redemption price.  Notices of redemption may not be conditional.

 

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.

 

One Business Day prior to the redemption or purchase date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of, accrued interest and Additional Interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date.  The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, accrued interest and Additional Interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

 

If the Company 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 Notes called for redemption or purchase.  If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record 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 purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or 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 Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company 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 and from time to time before May 1, 2013, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes (which amount includes any Additional Notes), at a redemption price of 1101⁄2% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of any one or more Equity Offerings; provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture (which amount includes Additional Notes, but excludes Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after each such redemption; and provided, further, that each such redemption shall occur within 90 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

 

  

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(b) At any time and from time to time prior to May 1, 2014  the Company may, at its option, redeem all or a portion of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium with respect to the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon to the redemption date.

 

(c) Except pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to May 1, 2014.

 

(d) On or after May 1, 2014, the Notes will be subject to redemption at any time and from time to time at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount redeemed) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 1 of the years indicated below.

 

	
Year

	
Percentage

	
2014                                                                                                  

	
105.250%

	
2015                                                                                                  

	
102.625%

	
2016 and thereafter                                                                                                  

	
100.000%

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on and after the applicable redemption date.

 

(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 Company 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 Asset Sale Proceeds.

 

In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company is required to commence an Asset Sale Offer, it will follow the procedures specified below.

 

The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders 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, prepay 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 Company will apply all Excess Asset Sale Proceeds (the “Offer Amount”) to the purchase of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered, if applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, 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.

 

  

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If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, 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 Company will send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders.  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 Company 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;

 

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

 

(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 Company, a Depositary, if appointed by the Company, 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 Company, 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 principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company 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 Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, 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).

 

  

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On or before the Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, 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 Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09.  The Company, 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 Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, 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 Company to the Holder thereof.  The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Asset Sale Offer is completed.

 

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

 

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes.

 

The Company will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes.  Principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, then due.  The Company will pay all Additional Interest, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at a rate that is 1% higher than 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 and Additional Interest, if any (without regard to any applicable grace period), at the same rate to the extent lawful.  

 

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

The Company will maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served.  The Company 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 Company 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 Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations.  The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

  

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The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.  

 

Section 4.03 Reports.

 

Whether or not required by the SEC’s rules and regulations, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Trustee and each Holder of Notes, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations:

 

(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 Company 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 Company 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 a report on the Company’s consolidated financial statements by the Company’s certified independent accountants.  In addition, the Company will file a copy of each of the reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the rules and regulations applicable to such reports (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and make such information available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request.

 

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

 

In addition, the Company and the Guarantors agree that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, at any time the Company is not required to file the reports required by the preceding paragraphs with the SEC, they will furnish to the Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

The Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports to the Trustee and the Holders of Notes if it has filed such reports with the SEC using the EDGAR filing system and such reports are publicly available.  If the Company fails to so file such reports, it shall promptly notify the Trustee and until the Trustee receives such notification, it is entitled to presume such reports were so filed.

 

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

 

  

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Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

 

(a) The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the TIA) 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 Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (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 Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03 above shall be accompanied by a written statement of the Company’s independent public accountants (who shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.

 

(c) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company will deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. 

 

Section 4.05 Taxes.

 

The Company 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 Company 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 Company 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.  

 

  

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Section 4.07 Restricted Payments.

 

The Company 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 Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as such, in each case other than dividends or distributions declared or paid in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or declared or paid to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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

 

(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, any Subordinated Obligation, except a payment of interest or principal at its Stated Maturity; or

 

(4) make any Investment other than a Permitted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (1) through (3) above and this clause (4) 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 shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(b) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and 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 the first paragraph Section 4.09; and

 

(c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Specified Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (8) or (9) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum of:

 

(i) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the Specified Date to the end of the Company’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 loss, less 100% of such loss), plus

 

  

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(ii) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds, or the Fair Market Value of assets or property other than cash, received by the Company from the issue or sale, in either case, since the Specified Date of (A) Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), or (B) Disqualified Stock or debt securities of the Company that have been converted into, or exchanged for, such Equity Interests, together with the aggregate cash received at the time of such conversion or exchange, other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities) sold to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and other than Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into or exchanged for Disqualified Stock, plus

 

(iii) in case any Unrestricted Subsidiary has been redesignated a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or has been merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or otherwise disposes of all of substantially all of its properties or assets to or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, the lesser of, at the date of such redesignation, merger, consolidation, transfer, disposition or liquidation (A) the book value (determined in accordance with GAAP) of the aggregate Investments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (or of the properties or assets disposed of, as applicable) and (B) the Fair Market Value of such Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case after deducting any Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus

 

(iv) to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income for such period, (A) if any Restricted Investment that was made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Specified Date is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment resulting from such sale, liquidation or repayment (less any out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with any such sale) and (B) the amount returned in cash to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from such Restricted Investment resulting from payments of interest, dividends, principal repayments and other transfers, in an amount not to exceed the aggregate amount of such Restricted Investment.

 

The preceding provisions of this Section 4.07 shall not prohibit:

 

(1) the payment of any dividend or the consummation of an irrevocable redemption of Subordinated Obligations within 60 days after the date of the declaration of such dividend or the delivery of the irrevocable notice of redemption, as the case may be, if at the date of the declaration or the date on which such irrevocable notice is delivered, such dividend or redemption would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2) the making of any Restricted Payments described in clause (2) or (3) of the preceding paragraph out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale or issuance (a sale or issuance will be deemed substantially concurrent if such Restricted Payment occurs not more than 60 days after such sale or issuance) (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of Equity Interests of the Company (other than any Disqualified Stock); provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment shall be excluded from clause (4)(c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph;

 

(3) the making of any principal payment on, or the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of, prior to its Stated Maturity, any Subordinated Obligation with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of, or in exchange for the issuance of, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

  

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(4) the payment of any dividend or distribution by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) on a pro rata basis and the payment of any dividend or distribution by the Company to the holders of its Disqualified Stock; provided that such Disqualified Stock is issued on or after the Specified Date in accordance with the first paragraph of Section 4.09;

 

(5) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company held by any current or former employee or director of the Company (or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) pursuant to the terms of any employee equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement, restricted stock agreement or any other similar employee benefit agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests in any calendar year will not exceed $2.0 million (with unused amounts carried over to subsequent years);

 

(6) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options to the extent such Equity Interests represent all or a portion of the exercise price thereof;

 

(7) repurchases of Subordinated Obligations at a purchase price not greater than (i) 101% of the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Subordinated Obligations and accrued and unpaid interest thereon in the event of a Change of Control or (ii) 100% of the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Subordinated Obligations and accrued and unpaid interest thereon in the event of an Asset Sale, in connection with any change in control offer or asset sale offer required by the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness, but only if:

 

(a) in the case of a Change of Control, the Company has first complied with and fully satisfied its obligations in accordance with Section 4.14; or

 

(b) in the case of an Asset Sale, the Company has complied with and fully satisfied its obligations in accordance with Section 4.10;

 

(8) the purchase by the Company of fractional shares arising out of stock dividends, splits or combinations or business combinations; and

 

(9) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount since the Specified Date not to exceed $10.0 million;

 

provided, further, that, with respect to clauses (2), (3), (5), (7) and (9) above, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the Fair Market Value on the date of the transfer, incurrence or issuance of such non-cash Restricted Payment.  Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by this Section 4.07 were computed.

 

  

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Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

(1) (x) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on its Capital Stock or (y) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, that the priority of any preferred stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to the payment of dividends or liquidating distributions on common stock shall not be deemed to be a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock;

 

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

 

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

 

However, the restrictions in the first paragraph of this Section 4.08 will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

(a) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to any Existing Indebtedness and the related documentation (including any Credit Facilities that are refinanced with the net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes on the Issue Date) and any Hedging Obligations and the related documentation;

 

(b) this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees;

 

(c) any future Liens that may be permitted to be granted under, or incurred not in violation of, any other provisions of this Indenture;

 

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

 

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

 

(f) restrictions of the nature described in clause (3) above by reason of customary non-assignment provisions in contracts, agreements, licenses and leases entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature described in clause (3) above on the property so acquired;

 

  

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(h) any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

 

(i) provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, agreements relating to Sale/Leaseback Transactions, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(j) encumbrances or restrictions contained in, or in respect of, Hedging Obligations permitted under this Indenture from time to time;

 

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

 

(l) any instrument governing Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary; provided that such Indebtedness was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

 

(m) any encumbrance or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (l) above; provided, that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Company, no more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing; and

 

(n) restrictions imposed by law.

 

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

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), other than Permitted Debt, and the Company shall not issue any Disqualified Stock, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any preferred stock or any Disqualified Stock; provided, however, that the Company or any Guarantor may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock and any Guarantor may issue preferred stock if the Company’s Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued 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 such additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

 

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

 

(1) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness pursuant to one or more Credit Facilities; provided, however, that, immediately after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $50.0 million or (b) 15.0% of Total Assets;

 

  

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

 

(3) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, the net proceeds of which are applied to refinance any Indebtedness incurred in respect of any Indebtedness described under clauses (2), (3), (5), (6), (8), (12), (13) or (14) of this paragraph or incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.09;

 

(4) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (A) if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor and a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor is the obligee on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness will be subordinated to the payment in full of all Obligations with respect to the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, and (B) (1) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (2) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that is not then permitted by this clause (4);

 

(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations (including any Acquired Debt), in each case, incurred in connection with the purchase of, or for the purpose of financing the purchase of, the cost of construction, improvement or development of, property, plant or equipment used in the Permitted Business of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease, or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (5), not to exceed $10.0 million as of any date incurrence;

 

(6) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Existing Indebtedness;

 

(7) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness consisting of Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

  

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(8) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred in connection with the disposition or acquisition of any business or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for the purposes of financing such acquisition; provided, however, that (A) such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet will not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause (A)) and (B) the maximum liability in respect of all such Indebtedness incurred in connection with a disposition shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds including noncash proceeds (the Fair Market Value of such noncash proceeds being measured at the time received and without giving effect to any subsequent changes in value) actually received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;

 

(9) the guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was permitted to be incurred by any other provision of this Section 4.09;

 

(10) the issuance by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that any subsequent event or issuance or transfer of any Equity Interests that results in the owner of such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock ceasing to be the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any subsequent transfer of such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock to a Person other than the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall be deemed to be an issuance of Disqualified Stock by such Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (10);

 

(11) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business under (A) documentary letters of credit, or surety bonds or insurance contracts, including in connection with insurance premium financing agreements, which are to be repaid in full not more than one year after the date on which such Indebtedness is originally incurred to finance the purchase of goods by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, (B) standby letters of credit, surety bonds or insurance contracts issued for the purpose of supporting (1) workers’ compensation or similar liabilities of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (2) performance, payment, deposit or surety obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (C) bid, advance payment and performance bonds and surety bonds or similar insurance contracts for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, and refinancings thereof;

 

(12) the incurrence by the Company or any Guarantor of Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;

 

(13) the incurrence by any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable), together with all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (13), not to exceed $10.0 million at any one time outstanding; and

 

(14) the incurrence by the Company or any Guarantor of Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable), together with all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (14), not to exceed $15.0 million at any one time outstanding.

 

Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will incur any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, on substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no Indebtedness of any Person will be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of such Person solely by virtue of being unsecured.

 

  

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For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.09, the Company will, in its sole discretion, classify (or later classify or reclassify) in whole or in part such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09 and such item of Indebtedness or a portion thereof may be classified (or later classified or reclassified) in whole or in part as having been incurred under more than one of the applicable clauses or pursuant to the first paragraph hereof.  Indebtedness under any Credit Facility, and any guarantees of such Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date will be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt in Section 4.09.  Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.09.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with any United States dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the United States dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable United States dollar-dominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such United States dollar-dominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company may incur pursuant to this Section 4.09 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Permitted Refinancing 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 Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

 

Section 4.10 Asset Sales.

 

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

 

(1) the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (measured as of the date of the definitive agreement with respect to such Asset Sale) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

 

(2) at least 75% of the consideration received in such Asset Sale is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that any of the following items shall be deemed to be cash and Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this clause (2):

 

(a) the assumption of any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or the Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to Notes issued under this Indenture or any Subsidiary Guarantee) by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary from further liability;

 

  

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(b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days following their receipt (to the extent of cash or Cash Equivalents received); and

 

(c) any stock or assets of the kind referred to in clauses (b) and (d) of the next paragraph of this Section 4.10.

 

Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, may apply such Net Proceeds, at its option:

 

(a) to prepay, repay, purchase, repurchase or redeem any secured Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(b) to acquire a controlling interest in another business or all or substantially all of the assets or operating line of another business, in each case engaged in a Permitted Business;

 

(c) to make capital expenditures; or

 

(d) to acquire other non-current assets to be used in a Permitted Business.

 

Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under any Credit Facility or otherwise expend or invest such Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.  Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales described in this paragraph that are not applied or invested as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph of this Section 4.10 shall be deemed to constitute “Excess Asset Sale Proceeds.”

 

When the aggregate amount of Excess Asset Sale Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the Company will be required under this Indenture to make an offer to the Holders of Notes issued thereunder and the holders of any other Senior Indebtedness that is subject to requirements with respect to the application of net proceeds from asset sales that are substantially similar to those contained in this Indenture (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to purchase on a pro rata basis (with the Excess Asset Sale Proceeds prorated between the Holders of the Notes and such holders of such other Senior Indebtedness based upon outstanding aggregate principal amounts) the maximum principal amount of the Notes and such other Senior Indebtedness that may be purchased or prepaid, as applicable, out of the prorated Excess Asset Sale Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture.  To the extent that the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Senior Indebtedness tendered (and electing to be redeemed or repaid, as applicable) pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Asset Sale Proceeds, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may use any remaining Excess Asset Sale Proceeds for general corporate purposes and any other purpose not prohibited by this Indenture.  Upon completion of the offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Asset Sale Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

 

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with an Asset Sale Offer.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.10, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.10 by virtue of the Company’s compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

 

  

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Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any 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 any such Person (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) unless:

 

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

 

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:

 

(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5.0 million, a resolution of its Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) above and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of its Board of Directors; and

 

(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20.0 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing.

 

provided, that none of the following shall be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and therefore shall not be subject to the provisions of the preceding paragraph:

 

(1) any employment, equity award, equity option or equity appreciation agreement or plan, agreement or other similar compensation plan or arrangement entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of its business;

 

(2) transactions between or among (A) the Company and one or more Restricted Subsidiaries and (B) any Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(3) the performance of any written agreement in effect on the Issue Date, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time; provided, however, that any amendment, modification or supplement entered into after the Issue Date will be permitted only to the extent that its terms do not materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holders of the Notes (as determined in good faith by an officer of the Company, and, if such amendment, modification or supplement involves aggregate consideration in excess of $5.0 million, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) as compared to the terms of the agreement in effect on the Issue Date;

 

(4) loans or advances to officers, directors and employees for moving, entertainment and travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures and other purposes, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

 

  

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(5) maintenance in the ordinary course of business of customary benefit programs or arrangements for employees, officers or directors, including vacation plans, health and life insurance plans, deferred compensation plans and retirement or savings plans and similar plans;

 

(6) fees and compensation paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in their capacity as such, to the extent such fees and compensation are reasonable and customary;

 

(7) sales of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) to Affiliates of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(8) Restricted Payments that are permitted by the provisions of this Indenture described above under Section 4.07.

 

Section 4.12 Liens.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of its property or assets (including Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary), whether owned on the Issue Date or acquired after that date, securing any Indebtedness, unless:

 

(1) in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Obligations of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, are contemporaneously secured by a Lien on such property or assets on a senior basis to the Subordinated Obligations so secured with the same priority that the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, have to such Subordinated Obligations until such time as such Subordinated Obligations are no longer so secured by a Lien; and

 

(2) in the case of Liens securing Senior Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, the Notes or Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, are contemporaneously secured by a Lien on such property or assets on an equal and ratable basis with the Senior Indebtedness so secured until such time as such Senior Indebtedness is no longer so secured by a Lien.

 

Section 4.13 Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:

 

(1) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary; and

 

(2) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

  

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Section 4.14 Change of Control.

 

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, all Holders of Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).  Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail to each Holder of Notes a notice describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering to repurchase the Notes on the date specified in such notice, which date 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”), pursuant to the procedures required by this Indenture and described in such notice.  The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes 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 Company 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 the Company’s compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

 

With respect to any Change of Control Offer, on the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

 

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

 

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

 

The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, with such payments to be made through the facilities of DTC for all Notes in global form, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, 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 by the Holder; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.  The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

 

The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer with respect to the Notes upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer with respect to the Notes in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture that are applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.  A Change of Control Offer may be made with respect to the Notes in advance of a Change of Control, and conditional upon the occurrence of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement for the Change of Control is in place at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

 

  

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With respect to the Notes, if Holders of not less than 95% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer and the Company, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company as described above, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Company or such third party will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price in cash equal to the applicable Change of Control Payment plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption.

 

Section 4.15 Payments for Consent.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any Holder of Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture 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 Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

If, after the Issue Date, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates another Domestic Subsidiary, then that newly acquired or created Domestic Subsidiary must become a Guarantor and execute a supplemental indenture and deliver an Opinion of Counsel satisfactory to the Trustee within 20 Business Days of the date on which it was acquired or created.

 

The Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to guarantee or pledge any assets to secure the payment of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any other Guarantor thereof unless such Restricted Subsidiary is a Guarantor or simultaneously becomes a Guarantor of the Notes and executes a supplemental indenture and delivers an Opinion of Counsel satisfactory to the Trustee, which Subsidiary Guarantee (i) if such other Indebtedness is a Subordinated Obligation, will be senior to such other guarantee with the same priority that the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, have to such Subordinated Obligation, and (ii) if such other indebtedness is Senior Indebtedness, will be pari passu with such other guarantee.  The form of such supplemental indenture is attached as Exhibit F hereto.

 

Section 4.17 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

The Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary only if:

 

(1) immediately after giving effect to such designation, the Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test under the first paragraph of Section 4.09;

 

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

 

(3) the Company certifies that such designation complies with this Section 4.17.  Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced by the Company promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding provisions.

 

  

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The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary of the Company to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary under the circumstances and pursuant to the requirements described in the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary,” which requirements include that such designation will be made in compliance with this Section 4.17.  For purposes of making the determination as to whether such designation would be made in compliance with this Section 4.17, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid in cash) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments at the time of such designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under the first paragraph of Section 4.07.  All such outstanding Investments will be deemed to constitute Investments in an amount equal to the greater of (1) the net book value (determined in accordance with GAAP) of such Investments at the time of such designation and (2) the Fair Market Value of such Investments at the time of such designation.

 

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.

 

The Company will not consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole in one or more related transactions, to another Person unless:

 

(1) the Company is the resulting, transferee or surviving Person or the resultant, transferee or surviving Person (if other than the Company) is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia and such resulting, transferee or surviving Person assumes, pursuant to a supplemental indenture and other documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all of the obligations and covenants of the Company under this Indenture, the Notes and, if then in effect, under the Registration Rights Agreement; provided, that unless such resulting, transferee or surviving Person is a corporation, a corporate co-issuer of the Notes will be added to this Indenture by such supplemental indenture;

 

(2) immediately before and after such transaction no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(3) except in the case of a consolidation or merger of the Company with or into a Restricted Subsidiary, or a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of properties or assets to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, either (a) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Company or the resultant, transferee or surviving Person (if other than the Company) would have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio that is greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to such transaction, or (b)  immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Company or the resultant transferee or surviving Person (if other than the Company) would be able to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09; and

 

  

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(4) The Company will have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental agreements (if applicable) comply with this Indenture.

 

This Indenture will provide that upon any consolidation, combination or merger or any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with the foregoing, in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, the surviving Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance or transfer is made will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture and the Notes with the same effect as if such surviving Person had been named as such, and in the case of any transfer of all (but not less than all) of the assets of the Company in accordance with the foregoing, the Company will be released from all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture.

 

In addition, the Company may not, directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any other Person.

 

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

 

(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person will expressly assume all of the obligations of such Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee and the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to a supplemental indenture reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the resulting, surviving or transferee Person as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by such Person at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default will have occurred or be continuing; and

 

(3) the Company will have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental agreements (if applicable) comply with this Indenture;

 

provided, however, that the foregoing will not apply to any such consolidation or merger with or into, or conveyance, transfer or lease to, any Person if the resulting, surviving or transferee Person will not be a Subsidiary of the Company and the other terms of this Indenture, including such terms as included in Section 4.10, are complied with.

Section 5.02 Successor Corporation 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 Company 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 Company 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 “Company” shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of the Company’s assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof.  

 

  

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ARTICLE 6 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

 

Each of the following will constitute an “Event of Default”:

 

(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes;

 

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

 

(3) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply Sections 4.10, 4.14 or 5.01 hereof and such failure continues for 30 days after written notice is given to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class;

 

(4) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with any of the other agreements in this Indenture or the Notes (other than a failure that is subject to clauses (1), (2) or (3) above) and such failure continues for 60 days after written notice is given to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class;

 

(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 Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Indenture, if that default:

 

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

 

(B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express 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 without duplication $10.0 million or more;

 

(6) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of $10.0 million (excluding amounts covered by insurance), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed, for a period of 60 days;

 

  

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(7) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company 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:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(9) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee (other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture).

 

Section 6.02 Acceleration.

 

Notwithstanding Section 6.01, in the case of an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.01 hereof, with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, 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.

 

  

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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 of all the Notes, rescind an acceleration and its consequences hereunder, if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived and the Trustee has been compensated for all amounts it is owed in connection with such Event of Default.

 

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 of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, 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.

 

In the case of an 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 with respect to the Notes, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes, if within 60 days after such Event of Default first arose the Company delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee stating that (1) the Indebtedness or Guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been paid or discharged, (2) the Holders of the Indebtedness have rescinded or waived the acceleration giving rise to such Event of Default or (3) the Default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been otherwise cured; provided, however, that in no event shall an acceleration of the principal amount of the Notes as described under Section 6.02, waived or rescinded upon the happening of any such events.

 

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase); provided, the Trustee has been compensated for all amounts it is owed in connection with such Default or Event of Default.

 

Upon any such waiver pursuant to this Section 6.04, the corresponding 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.

 

  

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Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of a Note may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

 

(1) such Holder has previously given 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 satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

 

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

 

(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 of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, 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 Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, 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.

 

  

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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 Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the 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:

 

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

 

Third:               to the Company 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.

 

  

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ARTICLE 7 

TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

 

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will, in the exercise of its rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, use the degree of care and skill a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances.

 

(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:

 

(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of clause (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 Holder, unless such Holder has 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 Company.  Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

 

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely 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.

 

  

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(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 Company will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.

 

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

 

(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received from the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Notes or from any Holder written notice thereof at its address set forth in Section 12.02 hereof, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

 

(h) The Trustee may from time to time request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of Officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.

 

(i) The permissive right of the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty to so act.

 

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

 

Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.  However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest after a Default has occurred and is continuing, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the TIA) or 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.

 

  

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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 Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it 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 on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, 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 May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, 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 transmitted by the Trustee to the Company 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 Company will promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.

 

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.

 

(a) The Company will pay to the Trustee from time to time 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 Company will reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all disbursements and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services.  Such expenses will include the compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

(b) The Company 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 Company and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, 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 gross negligence or bad faith.  The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.  Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company or any of the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder.  The Company or such Guarantor will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense.  The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company will pay the fees and expenses of such counsel.  Neither the Company nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

 

  

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(c) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

(d) To secure the Company’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 of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, 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 Company.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing.  The Company may remove the Trustee if:

 

(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.

 

(c) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company 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 Company.

 

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

 

  

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(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 Company.  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 Company’s and the Guarantors’ 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 Company.

 

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

 

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The Company may at any time, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, 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.

 

  

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Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company 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 Subsidiary Guarantees) and this Indenture on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”).  For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which 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, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on, such Notes when such payments are due (but not the Change of Control Payment or the payment pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer) from the trust referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

 

(2) the Company’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 Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(4) this Article 8.

 

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

 

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company 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 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 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 Subsidiary Guarantees, the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and 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 Subsidiary Guarantees will be unaffected thereby.  In addition, upon the Company’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, Sections 6.01(3), (4), (5), (6) and (9) hereof 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:

 

  

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(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to their Stated Maturity or to a particular redemption date;

 

(2) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

 

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

 

(B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,

 

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

 

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

 

(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the incurrence of Indebtedness or the grant of Liens securing such Indebtedness, all or a portion of the proceeds of which will be applied to such deposit) or insofar as Defaults from bankruptcy or insolvency events are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;

 

(5) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is bound, or if such breach, violation or default would occur, which is not waived as of, and for all purposes, on and after, the date of such deposit;

 

(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that after the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally;

 

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

 

  

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(8) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for 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 Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company 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 Company from time to time upon the request of the Company 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 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 Company.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, 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 Company 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 such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

Section 8.07 Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States 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 Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Subsidiary 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 Company makes any payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on, any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company 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.

 

  

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ARTICLE 9 

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(3) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders of the Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s properties or assets, including the addition of any required co-issuer of the Notes;

 

(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 Holder under this Indenture;

 

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

 

(6) to add any additional Guarantor or to release any Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee, to evidence or provide for the acceptance or appointment of a successor trustee or to add any additional Events of Default, in each case, as provided in this Indenture;

 

(7) to secure the Notes;

 

(8) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees to any provision of the “Description of the Notes” section of the Company’s Offering Memorandum dated March 23, 2012, to the extent that such provision in the “Description of the Notes” was intended to set forth, verbatim or in substance, a provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees; or

 

(9) to provide for the issuance of Exchange Notes and related Subsidiary Guarantees or Additional Notes and related Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

  

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Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company 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 in Section 9.01 and below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof) and the Notes and the Subsidiary 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, 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 on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, 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 Subsidiary 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 Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company 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 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 Company will mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver.  Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.  Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees.  However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

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

 

  

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(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (except as provided with respect to Secitons 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof);

 

(3) reduce the rate of or change 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, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, 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 the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes (except as permitted by clause (7) below in this Section 9.02);

 

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

 

(8) make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement 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 a 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 Company 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.

 

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

 

  

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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 Company may not sign an amended or supplemental indenture until the Board of Directors of the Company 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, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.04 hereof, 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

SUBSIDIARY 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 Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

(1) the principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company 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 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 Company, 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 Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that this Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

 

  

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(c) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

Section 10.03.                                Execution and Delivery of Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

To evidence its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E hereto will be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its Officers.

 

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

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

 

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

 

In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries creates or acquires any Domestic Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, if required by Section 4.16 hereof, the Company will cause such Domestic Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.16 hereof and this Article 10, to the extent applicable.

 

  

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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 Company 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 unconditionally assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee, this Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement on the terms set forth herein or therein, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance 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, including without limitation, Section 4.10 hereof.

 

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

 

Section 10.05.                                Releases.

 

The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Guarantor will be released:

 

(1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of such Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition complies with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

 

  

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(2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, if the sale or other disposition complies with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof.  Upon delivery by the Company and the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof, the Trustee will execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee;

 

(3) if such Guarantor is a Restricted Subsidiary and the Company designates such Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

 

(4) upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance pursuant to Article 8 or upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article 11; or

 

(5) upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Guarantor provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee as provided in this Section 10.05 will remain liable for the full amount of principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Interest, 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 (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes and as otherwise specified in this Indenture), when:

 

(1) either:

 

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

 

(b) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, in the form of cash in United States dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of stated maturity or redemption;

 

(2) in respect of subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section 11.01, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit or will occur as a result of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit), and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound;

 

  

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(3) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

 

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

 

In addition, the Company must deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel 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.

 

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 Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, 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 Company’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 Company has made any payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the 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 Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing 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:

 

  

84

  

 

If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:

 

Global Geophysical Services, Inc.

13927 South Gessner Road

Missouri City, Texas 77489

Fax: (713) 972-1008

Attention: General Counsel

 

With a copy to:

Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry, P.C.

1200 Smith Street

14th Floor

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: James J. Spring III

Fax: 713-656-2553

 

If to the Trustee:

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

601 Travis Street, 16th Floor

Houston, Texas  77002

Facsimile No.:  (713) 483-6954

Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration, re: Global Geophysical Services, Inc.

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

 

  

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

 

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

 

Section 12.04  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company 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 and Stockholders.

 

No director, officer, employee, manager, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.  Each Holder of a Note by accepting the 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, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

  

86

  

Section 12.08 Governing Law.

 

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

 

Section 12.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

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

 

Section 12.10 Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company 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.

 

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.

 

Section 12.14 Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

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

 

  

87

  

Section 12.15 Force Majeure.

 

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

 

Section 12.16 U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

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

 

 

Signatures on following page

 

  

88

  

SIGNATURES

 

Dated as of the day and year first above written.

 

GLOBAL GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES, INC.

 

By:           /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                                          

Name:     P. Mathew Verghese

	
  

	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

AUTOSEIS, INC.

 

By:           /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                                          

Name:     P. Mathew Verghese

	
  

	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

GGS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.

 

By:           /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                                          

Name:     P. Mathew Verghese

	
  

	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

AUTOSEIS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

 

By:           /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                                          

Name:     P. Mathew Verghese

	
  

	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Indenture Signature Page

 

  

  

  

 

GLOBAL EURASIA, LLC

 

By:           /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                                          

Name:     P. Mathew Verghese

	
  

	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

PAISANO LEASE CO., INC.

 

By:           /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                                          

Name:     P. Mathew Verghese

	
  

	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

GLOBAL MICROSEISMIC SERVICES, INC.

 

By:           /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                                          

Name:     P. Mathew Verghese

	
  

	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

STRM, LLC

 

By:           /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                                          

Name:     P. Mathew Verghese

	
  

	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Indenture Signature Page

 

  

  

 

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

 

 

By:           /s/ Julie Hoffman-Ramos                                                         

Name:     Julie Hoffman-Ramos

	
  

	
Title:

	
Vice President

 

 

Indenture Signature Page

 

  

  

EXHIBIT A1

 

	  

[Face of Note]

 

CUSIP ____________

 

101⁄2% Senior Notes due 2017

 

THIS NOTE IS BEING ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES.  FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE ISSUE PRICE, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, THE ISSUE DATE, AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THIS NOTE, PLEASE CONTACT THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF GLOBAL GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES, INC. AT 13927 SOUTH GESSNER ROAD

MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS 77489 (OR TELEPHONE HIM AT (713) 808-1750).

 

 

	No. ___ 	 	 	 $____________

 

 

 

GLOBAL GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES, INC.

 

promises to pay to                or registered assigns,

 

the principal sum of __________________________________________________________ DOLLARS on May 1, 2017.

 

Interest Payment Dates:  May 1 and November 1

 

Record Dates:  April 15 and October 15

 

Dated:  _______________, 20__

 

GLOBAL GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES, INC.

 

 

By:    ______________________________

        Name:

Title:

 

This is one of the Notes referred to

in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

 

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

  as Trustee

 

 

By:    ______________________________

Authorized Signatory

  

 

	 

 

 

  

A1-1

  

 

[Back of Note]

101⁄2% Senior Notes due 2017

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(1) Interest.  Global Geophysical Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay or cause to be paid interest on the principal amount of this Note at 101⁄2% per annum from ________________, ___  until maturity and shall pay the Additional Interest, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below.  The Company will pay interest and Additional Interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”).  Interest on the Notes 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 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 May 1, 2012.  The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at a rate that is 1% higher than 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 and Additional Interest, if any (without regard to any applicable grace period), at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

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

 

(2) Method of Payment.  The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Additional Interest, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the April 15 or October 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest.  The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Additional Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to the registered Holders at their respective 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 of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company 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, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Company may change the Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to the Holders of the Notes.  The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

  

A1-2

  

(4) Indenture.  The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of March 28, 2012 (the “Indenture”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee.  The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the 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 Company.  The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder.

 

(5) Optional Redemption.

 

(a) At any time and from time to time before May 1, 2013, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes (which amount includes Additional Notes), at a redemption price of 1101⁄2% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of any one or more Equity Offerings; provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture (which amount includes Additional Notes, but excludes Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after each such redemption; and provided, further, that each such redemption shall occur within 90 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

 

(b)       At any time and from time to time prior to May 1, 2014  the Company may, at its option, redeem all or a portion of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium with respect to the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon to the redemption date.  Notice of such redemption must be mailed to Holders of the Notes called for redemption in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof.

 

(c) Except pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to May 1, 2014.

 

(d) On or after May 1, 2014, the Notes will be subject to redemption at any time and from time to time at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount redeemed) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 1 of the years indicated below.

 

	
Year

	
Percentage

	
2014                                                                                                  

	
105.250%

	
2015                                                                                                  

	
102.625%

	
2016 and thereafter                                                                                                  

	
100.000%

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on and after the applicable redemption date.

 

(6) Mandatory Redemption.  The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

  

A1-3

  

(7) Repurchase at the Option of Holder.

 

(a) If there is a Change of Control, all Holders of Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).  Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail to each Holder of Notes a notice setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

 

(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Asset Sales, within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Asset Sale Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the Company will be required to make an offer to the Holders of Notes and the holders of any other Senior Indebtedness that is subject to requirements with respect to the application of net proceeds from assets sales that are substantially similar to those contained in the Indenture (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to purchase on a pro rata basis (with the Excess Asset Sale Proceeds prorated between the Holders of the Notes and such holders of such other Senior Indebtedness based upon outstanding aggregate principal amounts) the maximum principal amount of the Notes and such other Senior Indebtedness that may be purchased or prepaid, as applicable, out of the prorated Excess Asset Sale Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.  To the extent that the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Senior Indebtedness tendered (and electing to be redeemed or repaid, as applicable) pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Asset Sale Proceeds, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may use any remaining Excess Asset Sale Proceeds for general corporate purposes and any other purpose not prohibited by this Indenture.  Upon completion of the offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Asset Sale Proceeds shall be reset at zero.  Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes.

 

(8) Notice of Redemption.  Notices of redemption with respect to the Notes shall be mailed by first class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes 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 the Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 11 thereof.  Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed or purchased

 

(9) Denominations, Transfer, Exchange.  The Notes are in fully registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.   The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture.  The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.  The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.  Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

  

A1-4

  

(10) Persons Deemed Owners.  The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only registered Holders have rights under the Indenture.

 

(11) Amendment, Supplement and Waiver.  Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary 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 of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes or the Subsidiary 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 Notes, the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary 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 Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of the Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s properties or assets, including the addition of any required co-issuer of the Notes, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, to add any additional Guarantor or to release any Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee, to evidence or provide for the acceptance or appointment of a successor trustee or to add any additional Events of Default, in each case, as provided in the Indenture, to secure the Notes, to conform the text of the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees to any provision of the “Description of the Notes” section of the Company’s Offering Memorandum dated March 23, 2012, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of the Notes” was intended to set forth, verbatim or in substance, a provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, or to provide for the issuance of Exchange Notes and related Subsidiary Guarantees or Additional Notes and related Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

(12) Defaults and Remedies.  Events of Default include:  (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes; (ii) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium on, if any, the Notes; (iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply Sections 4.10, 4.14 or 5.01 of the Indenture and such failure continues for 30 days after written notice is given to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture or the Notes (other than a failure that is subject to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above) and such failure continues for 60 days after written notice is given to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class; (v) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of the Indenture, if that default (A) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on, if any, such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default 

 

  

A1-5

  

(a “Payment Default”); or (B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express 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 without duplication $10.0 million or more; (vi) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of $10.0 million (excluding amounts covered by insurance), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed, for a period of 60 days; (vii) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company 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; (viii) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (A) is for relief against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case; (B) appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or (ix) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee (other than by reason of the termination of the Indenture or the release of any such Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture).  In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, 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 such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately.  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 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.  Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, 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.  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 of all the Notes, rescind an acceleration and its consequences under the Indenture, if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.   The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

  

A1-6

  

(13) Trustee Dealings with Company.  The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

(14) No Recourse Against Others.  No director, officer, employee, manager, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.  Each Holder of a Note by accepting the 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, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

(15) Authentication.  This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

(16) Abbreviations.  Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as:  TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

(17) Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes.  In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 28, 2012, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof or, in the case of Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have the rights set forth in one or more registration rights agreements, if any, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, relating to rights given by the Company and the Guarantors to the purchasers of any Additional Notes (collectively, the “Registration Rights Agreement”).

 

(18) CUSIP Numbers.  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes, and 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.

 

(19) GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

 

  

A1-7

  

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement.  Requests may be made to:

 

Global Geophysical Services, Inc.

13927 South Gessner Road

Missouri City, Texas 77489

Fax: (713) 972-1008

Attention: General Counsel

 

  

A1-8

  

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 Company.  The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:  _______________

 

Your Signature:  _________________________________________                                                                         

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*:  _________________________

*           Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

 

  

A1-9

  

 

Option of Holder to Elect Purchase

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

 ̈ Section 4.10                                           ̈ Section 4.14

 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company 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).

  

A1-10

  

 

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. 

 

 

 

  

A1-11

  

EXHIBIT A2

 

	  

[Face of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]

 

 CUSIP/CINS __________

 

101⁄2% Senior Notes due 2017

THIS NOTE IS BEING ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES.  FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE ISSUE PRICE, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, THE ISSUE DATE, AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THIS NOTE, PLEASE CONTACT THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF GLOBAL GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES, INC. AT 13927 SOUTH GESSNER ROAD

MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS 77489 (OR TELEPHONE HIM AT (713) 808-1750).

 

	No. ___ 	 	 	 $____________

 

GLOBAL GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES, INC.

 

promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns,

 

the principal sum of __________________________________________________________ DOLLARS on May 1, 2017.

 

Interest Payment Dates:  May 1 and November 1

 

Record Dates:  April 15 and October 15

 

Dated:  _______________, 20__

 

GLOBAL GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES, INC.

 

 

By:    ______________________________

        Name:

Title:

 

 

 

This is one of the Notes referred to

in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

 

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

  as Trustee

 

 

By:    ______________________________

Authorized Signatory

  

 

	 

  

A2-1

  

[Back of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]

101⁄2% Senior Notes due 2017

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

 

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 COMPANY.

 

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 COMPANY 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.

 

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“REGULATION S”), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR OF ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH GLOBAL GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY 

 

  

A2-2

  

 

WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE, OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED THAT THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING IN THE INDENTURE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE.

 

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

 

(1) Interest.  Global Geophysical Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 101⁄2% per annum from ________________, 20__ until maturity and shall pay the Additional Interest, if any, payable pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below.  The Company will pay interest and Additional Interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”).  Interest on the Notes 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 May 1, 2012.  The Company 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, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful.  Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Until this Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchanged for one or more Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Holder hereof shall not be entitled to receive payments of interest hereon; until so exchanged in full, this Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall in all other respects be entitled to the same benefits as other Notes under the Indenture.

 

  

A2-3

  

(2) Method of Payment.  The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Additional Interest, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the April 15 or October 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest.  The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Additional Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to the registered Holders at their respective 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 of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company 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, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder.  The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

(4) Indenture.  The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of March 28, 2012 (the “Indenture”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee.  The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the 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 Company.  The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued thereunder.

 

(5) Optional Redemption.

 

(a) At any time and from time to time before May 1, 2013, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes (which amount includes Additional Notes), at a redemption price of 1101⁄2% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of any one or more Equity Offerings; provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture (which amount includes Additional Notes, but excludes Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after each such redemption; and provided, further, that each such redemption shall occur within 90 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

 

(b)       At any time and from time to time prior to May 1, 2014  the Company may, at its option, redeem all or a portion of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium with respect to the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon to the redemption date.  Notice of such redemption must be mailed to Holders of the Notes called for redemption in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof.

 

(c) Except pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to May 1, 2014.

 

  

A2-4

  

(d) On or after May 1, 2014, the Notes will be subject to redemption at any time and from time to time at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount redeemed) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 1 of the years indicated below.

 

	
Year

	
Percentage

	
2014                                                                                                  

	
105.250%

	
2015                                                                                                  

	
102.625%

	
2016 and thereafter                                                                                                  

	
100.000%

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on and after the applicable redemption date.

 

(6) Mandatory Redemption.  The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

(7) REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER.

 

(a) If there is a Change of Control, all Holders of Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).  Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail to each Holder of Notes a notice setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

 

(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Asset Sales, within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Asset Sale Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the Company will be required to make an offer to the Holders of Notes and the holders of any other Senior Indebtedness that is subject to requirements with respect to the application of net proceeds from assets sales that are substantially similar to those contained in the Indenture (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to purchase on a pro rata basis (with the Excess Asset Sale Proceeds prorated between the Holders of the Notes and such holders of such other Senior Indebtedness based upon outstanding aggregate principal amounts) the maximum principal amount of the Notes and such other Senior Indebtedness that may be purchased or prepaid, as applicable, out of the prorated Excess Asset Sale Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.  To the extent that the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Senior Indebtedness tendered (and electing to be redeemed or repaid, as applicable) pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Asset Sale Proceeds, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may use any remaining Excess Asset Sale Proceeds for general corporate purposes and any other purpose not prohibited by this Indenture.  Upon completion of the offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Asset Sale Proceeds shall be reset at zero.  Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes.

 

  

A2-5

  

(8) Notice of Redemption.  Notices of redemption with respect to the Notes shall be mailed by first class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes 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 the Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 11 thereof.  Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed or purchased.

 

(9) Denominations, Transfer, Exchange.  The Notes are in fully registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.  The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture.  The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.  The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.  Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

This Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchangeable in whole or in part for one or more Global Notes only (i) on or after the termination of the 40-day distribution compliance period (as defined in Regulation S) and (ii) upon presentation of certificates (accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel, if applicable) required by Article 2 of the Indenture.  Upon exchange of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note for one or more Global Notes, the Trustee shall cancel this Regulation S Temporary Global Note.

 

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

 

(11) Amendment, Supplement and Waiver.  Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary 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 of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes or the Subsidiary 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 Notes, the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary 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 Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of the Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s properties or assets, including the addition of any required co-issuer of the Notes, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, to add any additional Guarantor or to release any Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee, to evidence or provide for the acceptance or appointment of a successor trustee or to add any additional Events of Default, in each case, as provided in the Indenture, to secure the Notes, to conform the text of the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees to any provision of the “Description of the Notes” section of the Company’s Offering Memorandum dated March 23, 2012, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of the Notes” was intended to set forth, verbatim or in substance, a provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, or to provide for the issuance of Exchange Notes and related Subsidiary Guarantees or Additional Notes and related Subsidiary Guarantees.

 

  

A2-6

  

(12) Defaults and Remedies.  Events of Default include:  (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes; (ii) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium on, if any, the Notes; (iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply Sections 4.10, 4.14 or 5.01 of the Indenture and such failure continues for 30 days after written notice is given to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture or the Notes (other than a failure that is subject to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above) and such failure continues for 60 days after written notice is given to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class; (v) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of the Indenture, if that default (A) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on, if any, such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment Default”); or (B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express 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 without duplication $10.0 million or more; (vi) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of $10.0 million (excluding amounts covered by insurance), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed, for a period of 60 days; (vii) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company 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; (viii) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (A) is for relief against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case; (B) appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or (ix) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Subsidiary 

 

  

A2-7

  

Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee (other than by reason of the termination of the Indenture or the release of any such Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture).  In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, 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 such declaration, the Notes shall become immediately due and payable.  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 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.  Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, 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.  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 of all the Notes, rescind an acceleration and its consequences under the Indenture, if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal of, premium on, if any, interest or Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.   The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

(13)  Trustee Dealings with Company.  The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

(14) No Recourse Against Others.  No director, officer, employee, manager, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.  Each Holder of a Note by accepting the 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, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

(15) Authentication.  This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

 

(16) Abbreviations.  Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as:  TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

  

A2-8

  

(17) Additional Rights of Holders.  In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 28, 2012, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof or, in the case of Additional Notes, Holders thereof will have the rights set forth in one or more registration rights agreements, if any, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, relating to rights given by the Company and the Guarantors to the purchasers of any Additional Notes (collectively, the “Registration Rights Agreement”).

 

(18) CUSIP Numbers.  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes, and 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.

 

(19) GOVERNING LAW.  THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement.  Requests may be made to:

 

Global Geophysical Services, Inc.

13927 South Gessner Road

Missouri City, Texas 77489

Fax: (713) 972-1008

Attention: General Counsel

 

  

A2-9

  

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 Company.  The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:  _______________

 

Your Signature:   ____________________________________________                                                                        

(Sign exactly as your name appears 

on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*:  _________________________

	
*

	
Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

 

  

A2-10

  

 

Option of Holder to Elect Purchase

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

 

 ̈ Section 4.10                                           ̈ Section 4.14

 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company 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).

 

 

  

A2-11

  

 

Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note for an interest in another Global Note, or exchanges of a part of another other Restricted Global Note for an interest in this Regulation S Temporary 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

	  	  	  	  	  

  

A2-12

  

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

Global Geophysical Services, Inc.

13927 South Gessner Road

Missouri City, Texas 77489

 

[Registrar address block]

 

	
  

	
Re:  101⁄2% Senior Notes due 2017

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 28, 2012 (the “Indenture”), among Global Geophysical Services, Inc., as issuer (the “Company”), the Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, 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.   ̈   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.   ̈   Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S  Temporary Global Note, the Regulation S Permanent 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 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 Permanent Global Note, the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

  

B-1

  

3.   ̈   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)            ̈   such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

or

(b)            ̈   such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a subsidiary thereof;

or

(c)            ̈   such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;

 

or

 

(d)            ̈   such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144, 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) [if such Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes at the time of transfer of less than $250,000,] an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

4.   ̈   Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.

 

  

B-2

  

(a)   ̈   Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144.  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

(b)   ̈   Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S.  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

(c)   ̈   Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption.  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

                                                                                ___________________________________

[Insert Name of Transferor]

 

 

 

 

By: ___________________________________                                                                          

Name:

Title:

 

Dated:  _______________________

 

  

B-3

  

 

ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

 

1.           The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

 

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

(a)  ̈   a beneficial interest in the:

 

(i)             ̈   144A Global Note (CUSIP _________), or

 

(ii)            ̈   Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP _________), or

 

(iii)           ̈    IAI Global Note (CUSIP _________); or

 

(b)   ̈    a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

 

2.           After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

 

[CHECK ONE]

 

(a)   ̈   a beneficial interest in the:

 

(i)            ̈   144A Global Note (CUSIP _________), or

 

(ii)           ̈   Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP _________), or

 

(iii)          ̈   IAI Global Note (CUSIP _________); or

 

(iv)          ̈   Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP _________); or

 

(b)   ̈   a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

(c)   ̈   an Unrestricted Definitive Note,

 

in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

  

B-4

  

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

 

Global Geophysical Services, Inc.

13927 South Gessner Road

Missouri City, Texas 77489

[Registrar address block]

	
  

	
Re:  101⁄2% Senior Notes due 2017

 

(CUSIP [__________])

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 28, 2012 (the “Indenture”), among Global Geophysical Services, Inc., as issuer (the “Company”), the Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, 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)   ̈ 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)   ̈ 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)   ̈ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note.  In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

  

C-1

  

(d)   ̈ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note.  In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

2.           Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes

 

(a)   ̈ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note.  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer.  Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

(b)   ̈ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE]  ̈ 144A Global Note,  ̈ Regulation S Global Note,   ̈ IAI Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted 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 Company.

 

                                                                                                  ______________________________________

[Insert Name of Transferor]

 

 

 

By:  _______________________________________                                                                  

                                                                                                                    Name:

                                                                                                                    Title:

 

Dated:  ______________________

 

  

C-2

  

 EXHIBIT D

FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM

ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

 

Global Geophysical Services, Inc.

13927 South Gessner Road

Missouri City, Texas 77489

 

[Registrar address block]

 

	
  

	
Re:  101⁄2% Senior Notes due 2017

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 28, 2012 (the “Indenture”), among Global Geophysical Services, Inc., as issuer (the “Company”), the Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, 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)   ̈ a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or

 

(b)   ̈ a Definitive Note,

 

we confirm that:

 

1.           We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

2.           We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence.  We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein, we will do so only (A) to the Company or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Company a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and[, if such transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes, at the time of transfer of less than $250,000,] an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 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 Company such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions.  We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

 

  

D-1

  

4.           We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

 

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 Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

 

                                                                                                 ______________________________________

[Insert Name of of Accredited Investor]

 

 

By:  _______________________________________                                                                  

                                                                                                                    Name:

                                                                                                                    Title:

 

 

Dated:  _______________________

 

 

  

D-2

  

EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

 

For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture dated as of March 28, 2012 (the “Indenture”) among Global Geophysical Services, Inc., (the “Company”), the Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal of, premium on, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, the Notes, if any, if lawful, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the 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 or otherwise.  The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Subsidiary Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Subsidiary Guarantee.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

 

[Name of Guarantor(s)] 

 

 

 

By: ____________________________________                                                                          

Name:

Title:

 

E-1

  

  

EXHIBIT F

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

 

Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of ________________, among __________________ (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of Global Geophysical Services, Inc. (or its permitted successor), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of March 28, 2012 providing for the issuance of 101⁄2% Senior Notes due 2017 (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 Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary Guarantee and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 10 thereof.

 

3.           No Recourse Against Others.  No director, officer, employee, manager, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.  Each Holder of a Note by accepting the 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, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

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

 

5.           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.

 

  

F-1

  

6.           Effect of Headings.  The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

7.           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, the other Guarantors and the Company.

 

 

Signatures on the following page

 

 

  

F-2

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

 

[Guaranteeing Subsidiary]

 

 

By:  _______________________________

Name:

Title:

 

GLOBAL GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES, INC.

 

By:  _______________________________

Name:

Title:

 

AUTOSEIS, INC.

 

By:  _______________________________

Name:

Title:

 

GGS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.

 

By:  _______________________________

Name:

Title:

 

AUTOSEIS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

 

By:  _______________________________

Name:

Title:

 

GLOBAL EURASIA, LLC

 

By:  _______________________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

PAISANO LEASE CO., INC.

 

By: _______________________________

Name:

Title:

 

  

F-3

  

GLOBAL MICROSEISMIC SERVICES, INC.

 

By:  _______________________________

Name:

Title:

 

STRM, LLC

 

By:  _______________________________

Name:

Title:

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee

 

By:  _______________________________

Authorized Signatory

  

F-4exh_42.htm

EXHIBIT 4.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

	 

 

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of March 28, 2012

 

by and among

 

GLOBAL GEOPHYSICAL SERVICES, INC.,

THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO,

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.,

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

and

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

 

 

 

	 

  

  

  

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of March 28, 2012, by and among Global Geophysical, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the guarantors listed on Schedule I hereto (the “Guarantors”) and Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as representatives of the several initial purchasers named in Schedule 1 attached to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (each such initial purchaser, an “Initial Purchaser” and, together, the “Initial Purchasers”), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Company’s 101⁄2% Senior Notes Due 2017 (the “Initial Notes”) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

 

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated March 23, 2012 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers.  In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Initial Notes, the Company and the Guarantors have 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 7 of the Purchase Agreement.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Indenture, dated as of March 28, 2012, among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, relating to the Initial Notes and the Exchange Notes (the “Indenture”).

 

The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

 

As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Act:  The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Affiliate:  As defined in Rule 144 of the Act.

 

Broker-Dealer:  Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

 

Business Day:  Any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

 

Closing Date:  The date hereof.

 

Commission:  The Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Consummate:  An Exchange Offer shall be deemed “Consummated” for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and effectiveness under the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the maintenance of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, and (c) the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

  

  

  

Consummation Deadline:  As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.

 

Effectiveness Deadline:  As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.

 

Exchange Act:  The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Notes:  The Company’s 101⁄2% Senior Notes Due 2017 to be issued pursuant to the Indenture: (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as contemplated by Section 4 hereof.

 

Exchange Offer:  The exchange and issuance by the Company of a principal amount of Exchange Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of Initial Notes that are validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders in connection with such exchange and issuance.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement:  The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.

 

Filing Deadline:  As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.

 

Free Writing Prospectus:  Each offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Initial Notes or the Exchange Notes that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” (if the offering of the Initial Notes or the Exchange Notes was made pursuant to a registered offering under the Securities Act) 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 the sale of the Initial Notes or the Exchange Notes.

 

Holders:  As defined in Section 2 hereof.

 

Interest Payment Date:  As defined in the Initial Notes and Exchange Notes.

 

Prospectus:  The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, 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.

 

Recommencement Date:  As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.

 

Registration Default:  As defined in Section 5 hereof.

 

Registration Statement:  Any registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) including the Prospectus included therein, and (iii) including all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.

  

2

  

Rule 144:  Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.

 

Shelf Registration Statement:  As defined in Section 4 hereof.

 

Suspension Notice:  As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.

 

TIA:  The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture.

 

Transfer Restricted Securities:  Each Initial Note until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Initial Note has been exchanged in the Exchange Offer by a Person other than a Broker-Dealer for an Exchange Note entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) following the exchange by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer of an Initial Note for an Exchange Note, the date on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such Broker-Dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (c) the date on which such Initial Note has been effectively registered under the Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement (and the purchasers thereof have been issued Exchange Notes) or (d) the date on which such Initial Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144; provided that any Initial Note shall not cease to be a Transfer Restricted Security for purposes of the Exchange Offer by virtue of clause (d) of this paragraph.

 

SECTION 2. HOLDERS

 

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) The Company and the Guarantors shall (i) unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied with), cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission on or prior to the 120th day after the date hereof (such 120th day being the “Filing Deadline”), (ii) use their reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to the 180th day after the date hereof (such 180th day being the “Effectiveness Deadline”), (iii) in connection with the foregoing, (A) file all pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause it to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and (C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) on or prior to the date that is 45 days after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement became effective, commence and Consummate the Exchange Offer and use their reasonable best efforts to issue the Exchange Notes in exchange for all Initial Notes tendered prior thereto in the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting (i) registration of the Exchange Notes to be offered in exchange for the Initial Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) resales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer Initial Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Initial Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.

  

3

  

(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously, and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 Business Days.  The Company and the Guarantors shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws.  No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.  The Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event later than 45 Business Days or longer, if required by the federal securities laws, after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective (such 45th day, or such later date required by the federal securities laws, being the “Consummation Deadline”).

 

(c) The Company shall include a “Plan of Distribution”1 section in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities that were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Initial Notes acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) may exchange such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.  Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also contain all other information with respect to such sales by such Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such sales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer, except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy, rules or regulations after the date of this Agreement.  See the Shearman & Sterling no-action letter (available July 2, 1993).

 

Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Exchange Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company and Guarantors shall permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by such Broker-Dealer to satisfy such prospectus delivery requirement.  To the extent necessary to ensure that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers, the Company and the Guarantors agree to use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(a) and (c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of 180 days from the Consummation Deadline or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto. The Company and the Guarantors shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers, promptly upon request, and in no event later than two Business Days after such request, at any time during such period.

_________________________________

 

	
1 A form of “Plan of Distribution” is attached hereto as Annex A.

  

4

  

SECTION 4. SHELF REGISTRATION

 

(a) Shelf Registration.  If (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not (A) required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or (B) permitted to Consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the Company and the Guarantors have complied with the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii) any Holder notifies the Company and the Guarantors within 20 Business Days following Consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder is prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Notes 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 Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates, then the Company and the Guarantors, shall:

 

(x) use their reasonable best efforts on or prior to 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date as of which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement will not be or cannot be, as the case may be, filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above and (ii) the date on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above (30 days after such earlier date, the “Shelf Filing Deadline”), to file a shelf registration statement with the Commission pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (the “Shelf Registration Statement”)), covering the resale of all Transfer Restricted Securities, and

 

(y) use their reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 90 days after the Shelf Filing Deadline for the Shelf Registration Statement (such 90th day the “Shelf Effectiveness Deadline”).

 

If, after the Company and the Guarantors have filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company and the Guarantors are required to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely because the Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e., clause (a)(i)(B) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above; provided that, in such event, the Company and the Guarantors shall remain obligated to meet the Shelf Effectiveness Deadline set forth in clause (y).

 

  

5

  

 

To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement is available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other securities required to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and 6(c) hereof and in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of at least two years (as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i) or 6(d)) following the Closing Date, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto or are no longer Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement.  No Holder may include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 15 days after receipt of a request therefor, the information specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of the Act, or other information reasonably requested by the Company and required by Regulation S-K of the Act, for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein.  No Holder shall be entitled to additional interest pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until (and from and after such time) such Holder shall have provided all such information.  Each selling Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading and shall promptly supply such other information as the Company may from time to time reasonably request.

 

SECTION 5. ADDITIONAL INTEREST

 

If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii) any such Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated on or prior to the Consummation Deadline, or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose during the applicable periods specified herein without being succeeded in 30 days by a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a “Registration Default”), then the Company agrees to pay to each Holder affected thereby additional interest in an amount equal to $0.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that the Registration Default continues for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default.  The amount of the additional interest shall increase by an additional $0.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of additional interest of $0.50 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that the Company shall in no event be required to pay additional interest for more than one Registration Default at any given time.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of clause (i) above, (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of clause (ii) above, (3) upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of clause (iii) above, or (4) upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be declared effective or made usable in the case of clause (iv) above, the additional interest payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result of such clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv), as applicable, shall cease.

  

6

  

All accrued additional interest shall be paid by the Company (or the Company will cause the Paying Agent to make such payment on its behalf) to the Holders entitled thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture, on each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture, the Initial Notes and the Exchange Notes.  Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which additional interest are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of the Company to pay additional interest with respect to securities that accrued prior to the time that such securities ceased to be Transfer Restricted Securities shall survive until such time as such obligations with respect to such securities 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 (x) comply with all applicable provisions of Section 6(c) below, (y) use all commercially reasonable efforts to effect such exchange and to permit the resale of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered in the Exchange Offer Initial Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a result of its market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Initial Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and (z) comply with all of the following provisions:

 

(i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a change in Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange Offer, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company raises a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree either to (x) seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company and the Guarantors to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Transfer Restricted Securities, or (y) file, in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement to permit the registration and/or resale of the Transfer Restricted Securities that would otherwise be covered by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement but for the announcement of a chance in Commission policy.  In the case of clause (x) above, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level but shall not be required to take action not commercially reasonable to affect a change of Commission policy.  In connection with the foregoing, the Company and the Guarantors hereby agree to take all such other actions as may be requested by the Commission or otherwise required in connection with the issuance of such decision, including without limitation (A) participating in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering 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 an Exchange Offer should be permitted, and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable and which need not be a written resolution) by the Commission staff.

  

7

  

(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, each Holder (including, without limitation, any Holder who is a Broker-Dealer) shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written representation to the Company and the Guarantors (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 not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business, and (D) only if such Holder is a Broker-Dealer that will receive Exchange Notes in exchange for Initial Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own private account as a result of market making or other trading activities, it will deliver a Prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any sale of such Exchange Notes.  As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer each Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes shall acknowledge and agree that, if the resales are of Exchange Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Initial Notes acquired directly from the Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on the position of the Commission 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 (including, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction must 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.

 

(iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company and the Guarantors are registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a representation that the Company and Guarantor have not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the Exchange Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company’s and each Guarantor’s information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes received in the Exchange Offer, and (C) any other undertaking or representation required by the Commission as set forth in any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, if applicable.

 

  

8

  

(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

 

(i) comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and use all 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 (as indicated in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company and the Guarantors will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the 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 within the time periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof, and

 

           (ii) issue to any Holder or purchaser of Initial Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, upon the request of any such Holder or purchaser, registered Initial Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes in the names as such Holder or purchaser shall designate.

 

(c) General Provisions.  In connection with any Registration Statement and any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

 

(i) use all commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements 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 an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission review is required, use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable.

 

(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the applicable 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 the case may be; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully with Rules 424, 430A, and 462, as applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the 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;

  

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(iii) advise (a) each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement), and (b) each Holder who has provided notice to the Company promptly and, if requested by such Holder, 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 applicable 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 the Registration Statement under the 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, and (D) of the happening of any event that requires the Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein do not contain an untrue statement of material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.  If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities 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 all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;

 

(iv) subject to Section 6(d), if any fact or event contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the 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 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(v) furnish to each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and comment of such Holders in connection with such sale, if any, for a period of at least three Business Days, and the Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to which such Holders shall reasonably object within three Business Days after the receipt thereof. A Holder shall be deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act;

  

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(vi) promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, if any, provide copies of such document to each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, if any, make the Company’s and the Guarantors’ representatives available for discussion of such document and other customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such document prior to the filing thereof as such Holders may reasonably request;

 

(vii) make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents of the Company and the Guarantors reasonably requested and cause the Company’s and the Guarantors’ officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness; provided that any Holder or representative thereof requesting or receiving such information shall agree to be bound by reasonable confidentiality agreements and procedures with respect thereto;

 

(viii) if requested by any Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, promptly include in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such Holders may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted Securities and the use of the Registration Statement or Prospectus for market making activities; 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 included in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

 

(ix) furnish to each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) in connection with such exchange, registration or sale, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);

  

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(x) deliver to each Holder whose Transfer Restricted Securities have been included in a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holders reasonably may request; the Company and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use (in accordance with law and subject to Section 6(d) hereof) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each selling Holder in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

 

(xi) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement), and 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 Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be customarily and reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or, in the case of registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, by any Holder or Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who hold at least 50% in aggregate principal amount of such class of Transfer Restricted Securities; provided, that, the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to enter into any such agreement more than once with respect to all of the Transfer Restricted Securities and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, may delay entering into such agreement if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that it is in the best interests of the Company and the Guarantors not to disclose the existence of or facts surrounding any proposed or pending material corporate transaction involving the Company and the Guarantors.  In such connection, the Company and the Guarantors shall:

 

           (A) upon the request of any Holder, furnish (or in the case of paragraphs (2) and (3), use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be furnished) to each such Holder (in the case of the Shelf Registration Statement) and any underwriter, upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be:

          (1) a certificate, dated such date, signed on behalf of the Company and each Guarantor by (x) the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President, and (y) a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company and such Guarantor, confirming, as of the date thereof, such matters as such Holders may reasonably request;

 

  

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          (2) an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors in customary form and covering such other matters as such Holder may reasonably request, and in any event including a statement to the effect that such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company and the Guarantors and representatives of the underwriters, if any, and their counsel at which the contents of the Registration Statement and related matters were discussed and, although such counsel need not pass upon or assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements (relying as to materiality to the extent such counsel deems appropriate upon the statements of officers and other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and without independent check or verification), no facts came to such counsel’s attention that caused such counsel to believe that the applicable Registration Statement, at the time such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became effective and, in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as of the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, 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 Registration Statement as of its date and, in the case of the opinion dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  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, schedules or other financial data included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the related Prospectus and need express no view as to the accounting or financial records from which such financial statements, schedules and data are derived; and

 

          (3) a customary comfort letter, dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange Offer, or as of the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, from the Company’s independent accountants, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters to underwriters in connection with underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Purchase Agreement; and

 

       (B) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the selling Holders to evidence compliance with the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in any agreement entered into by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to this clause (xi);

 

  

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(xii) prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the selling Holders and their 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 may 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 applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now 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 Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;

 

(xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to register such Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and such names as the selling Holders may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of Transfer Restricted Securities;

 

(xiv) use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the 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 to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xii) above;

 

(xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;

 

(xvi) otherwise use all commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its security holders with regard to any applicable Registration Statement, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 under the Act (which need not be audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of Rule 158 under the Act);

 

(xvii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA 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 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 TIA; 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

 

  

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(xviii) provide promptly to each Holder, upon request, each document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(d) Restrictions on Holders.  Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of the notice referred to in Section 6(c)(i) or 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a “Suspension Notice”), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until (i) such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (in each case, the “Recommencement Date”).  Each Holder receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that it will either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession which have been replaced by the Company with more recently dated Prospectuses, or (ii) 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 the Suspension Notice.  The time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by a number of days equal to the number of days in the period from and including the date of delivery of the Suspension Notice to the Recommencement Date.

 

SECTION 7. REGISTRATION EXPENSES

 

All expenses incident to the Company’s and the Guarantors’ performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses; (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 Notes 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 and one counsel for all of the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities being registered; (v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Notes on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; 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); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company or the Guarantors be responsible for any underwriting discounts, commissions or fees attributable to the sale or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities.

 

  

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The Company will, in any event, bear its and the Guarantors’ 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 or the Guarantors.

 

SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION

 

(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree, 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 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, (including without limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action that could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or 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 any amendment or supplement thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by an 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 by or on behalf of any of the Holders.

 

(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors, and their respective directors and officers, and each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, or the Guarantors 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 by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement.  In no event shall any Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls such Holder be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount received by such Holder with respect to its 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, its directors, officers or any Person who controls such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

  

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(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the “indemnified party”), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required to assume the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of the Holder).  Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel has been specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (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 action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party has been advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party).  In any such case, the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties and 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 indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action effected with (i) its written consent, or (ii) effected without its written consent if the settlement is entered into more than 20 Business Days after the indemnifying party received a request from the indemnified party for reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees and expenses are at the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such settlement, the indemnifying party has failed to comply with such reimbursement request.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action in respect of which the indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims that are or could have been the subject matter of such action, 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 in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein for which such indemnification would otherwise be available pursuant to its terms, then each indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (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 which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, 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, liabilities and judgments referred to 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.

  

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The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) 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 the immediately preceding paragraph.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph 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 matter, including any action that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments.  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 paid or become liable to pay by reason of any 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 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(d) 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 AND RULE 144

 

The Company and each Guarantor agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the Company or such Guarantor (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make available, upon request of any Holder, to such Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Act, and (ii) is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make all filings required thereby in a timely manner in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144.

  

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SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS

 

(a) Remedies.  The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that any failure by the Company and/or the Guarantors to comply with their respective obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof.  The Company and the Guarantors further 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 represents, warrants and covenants that it (including its agents and representatives) will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) in connection with the issuance and sale of the Initial Notes and the Exchange Notes, other than (i) any communication pursuant to Rule 134, Rule 135 or Rule 135c under the Securities Act, (ii) any document constituting an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Initial Notes or the Exchange Notes that falls within the exception from the definition of prospectus in Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act, or (iii) a prospectus satisfying the requirements of section 10(a) of the Securities Act or of Rule 430, Rule 430A, Rule 430B, Rule 430C or Rule 431 under the Securities Act.

 

(c) No Inconsistent Agreements.  The Company and any Guarantor will not, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.  The Company and any Guarantor have not previously entered into, nor is currently a party to, 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 filed hereunder.  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 and the Guarantors’ securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

 

(d) 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 (i) in the case of Section 5 hereof and this Section 10(d)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities, and (ii) in the case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the Company or its Affiliates).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted 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 subject to such Exchange Offer.

  

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(e) Additional Guarantors.  The Company shall cause any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) that becomes, prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, a Guarantor in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Indenture to become a party to this Agreement as a Guarantor.

 

(f) Third Party Beneficiary.  The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

 

(g) 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), telex, telecopier or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

 

(i)   if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the Indenture; and

 

(ii)  if to the Company or the Guarantors:

Global Geophysical Services, Inc.

13927 South Gessner Road

Missouri City, Texas 77489

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (713) 972-1008

With a copy to:

Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry, P.C.

1200 Smith Street

14th Floor

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: James J. Spring III

Fax: 713-656-2553

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.

 

(h) 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; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities in violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture.  If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Transfer Restricted Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.

  

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(i) 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.

 

(j) Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(k) Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THEREOF.

 

(l) 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.

 

(m) Entire Agreement.  This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein.  There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities.  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

  

21

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	  	
By:              /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                           

	  
	  	
Name:

	
P. Mathew Verghese

	  
	  	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	
Autoseis, inc.

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	
By:              /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                           

	  
	  	
Name:

	
P. Mathew Verghese

	  
	  	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	

GGS International holdings, Inc.

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	
By:              /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                           

	  
	  	
Name:

	
P. Mathew Verghese

	  
	  	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	

Autoseis Development Company

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	
By:              /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                           

	  
	  	
Name:

	
P. Mathew Verghese

	  
	  	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	

Global Eurasia, LLC

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	
By:              /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                           

	  
	  	
Name:

	
P. Mathew Verghese

	  
	  	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

	  

 

 

Regisration Rights Agreement

 

  

  

  

 

	  	

Paisano Lease Co., Inc.

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	
By:              /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                           

	  
	  	
Name:

	
P. Mathew Verghese

	  
	  	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	

Global Microseismic Services, Inc.

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	
By:              /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                           

	  
	  	
Name:

	
P. Mathew Verghese

	  
	  	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	

STRM, LLC

	  
	  	  	  	  
	 	 	 	 
	  	
By:              /s/ P. Mathew Verghese                                           

	  
	  	
Name:

	
P. Mathew Verghese

	  
	  	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

	  

 

 

Registration Rights Agreement

  

  

  

	  	

Barclays Capital Inc.

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	
By:              /s/ Robert J. Anderson                                             

	  
	  	
Name:

	
Robert J. Anderson

	  
	  	
Title:

	
Director

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	
By:         /s/ Ian Patel                                                                    

	  
	  	
Name:

	
Ian Patel

	  
	  	
Title:

	
Vice President

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	
By:          /s/ Ryan E. Tull                                                             

	  
	  	
Name:

	
Ryan E. Tull

	  
	  	
Title:

	
Director

	  
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	As representatives of the several Initial Purchasers	 
	 	   named in Schedule 1 of the Purchase Agreement	 

 

 

Registration Rights Agreement

    

  

  

  

SCHEDULE I

Guarantors

(i)      Autoseis, Inc.

 

(ii)     GGS International Holdings, Inc.

 

(iii)    Autoseis Development Company

 

(iv)    Paisano Lease Co., Inc.

 

(v)     Global Eurasia, LLC

 

(vi)    Global MicroSeismic Services, Inc.

 

(vii)   STRM, LLC

  

  

  

ANNEX A

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for unregistered notes where such unregistered notes were acquired as a result of market−making activities or other trading activities. To the extent any such broker-dealer participates in the exchange offer, we have agreed that for a period of up to 180 days we will use commercially reasonable efforts to make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to such broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale, and will deliver as many additional copies of this prospectus and each amendment or supplement to this prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus as such broker-dealer may reasonably request.

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of exchange notes by broker-dealers. Exchange notes received by broker-dealers for their own accounts pursuant to the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over−the−counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the exchange notes or a combination of these methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such exchange notes. Any broker-dealer that resells exchange notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such exchange notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of exchange notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer and will indemnify the holders of outstanding notes, including any broker-dealers, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

  

Annex A-1

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